The Sino-Dutch War 1661

The Sino-Dutch War 1661

DVD cover art
Traditional 英雄鄭成功
Simplified 英雄郑成功
Directed by Wu Ziniu
Produced by Li Ning
Written by Zhang Jiping
Starring Vincent Zhao
Jiang Qinqin
Du Zhiguo
Shimada Yôko
Xu Min
Zhang Shan
Music by Zhang Shaotong
Cinematography Yi Huhewula
Edited by He Wenzhang
Production
company
Fujian Film Studio
Release dates
  • 2000 (2000)
Running time
 101 minutes
Country China
Language Mandarin

The Sino-Dutch War 1661 (Chinese: 鄭成功1661), also known as Hero Zheng Chenggong, is a 2000 Chinese historical drama film directed by Wu Ziniu, starring Vincent Zhao, Jiang Qinqin, Du Zhiguo, Shimada Yôko, Xu Min and Zhang Shan. The film is loosely based on the life of Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) and focuses on his battle with the Dutch East India Company for control of Taiwan at the Siege of Fort Zeelandia. The film was released in 2002 in Japan under the title Kokusenya Kassen (Chinese: 國姓爺合戰).

Plot

The movie is set in the mid-17th century, when most of China is conquered by the Manchu-led Qing dynasty after the collapse of the Ming dynasty. Ming remnants have fled south and established a Southern Ming regime based in Fujian, with the Longwu Emperor as their figurehead monarch. The Qing armies are closing in on Fujian and the southern areas independent of their control.

Zheng Sen is the son of Zheng Zhilong, a former pirate who became a Southern Ming general. The Longwu Emperor has heard of Zheng Sen's strong sense of loyalty and is so impressed with him that he grants him the imperial family's surname, Zhu, and a new personal name, "Chenggong" (literally "success"). Zheng Sen is known as the "Imperial Name-keeper" (transliterated "Koxinga") or "Zheng Chenggong" from then on. Around the time, Taiwan has been colonised by the Dutch East India Company for over three decades and many people have signed a petition requesting Zheng Chenggong to help them claim back Taiwan from the Dutch.

Zheng Zhilong defects to the Qing dynasty after seeing that he has no future in Southern Ming. Despite his father's betrayal, Zheng Chenggong remains loyal to the Longwu Emperor and continues to resist the Qing invaders even after the fall of Southern Ming. He plans to retreat to Taiwan and establish a new base of operations there in preparation for retaking the mainland from the Manchus. In 1661, Zheng Chenggong's fleet sets sail from Xiamen to attack the Dutch on Taiwan. Nine months later, he defeats the Dutch at the Siege of Fort Zeelandia and forces them to surrender and relinquish their control of Taiwan to him.

Cast

Casting

Director Wu Ziniu originally had Tony Leung in mind for the role of Zheng Chenggong before Vincent Zhao took over.[1]

References

  1. ↑ "吴子牛透露赵文卓辞演《笑傲江湖》内幕". Sina. 11 May 2000. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
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