Based on the novel Dunhuang by Yasushi Inoue, the movie was shot on location in China with an investment of 200 million RMB, a huge sum in the last century, and a box office of 4.5 billion yen. At that time, Japan invested 27 million dollars in Dunhuang to build an ancient city as a location, restoring Dunhuang in the Song Dynasty of 1,000 years ago, which became a 3A scenic spot in Dunhuang after the movie was finished.
The movie tells the story of the adventures of Zhao Xingde, a scholar from the Northern Song Dynasty, in Western Xia. Zhao Xingde was captured by a small force in Western Xia, and was rewarded and valued by the captain Zhu Wangli, who became the secretary. In the battle with the migratory birds, he saved the migratory bird princess and became emotionally attached to her, and he was sent out to learn the language of Western Xia, and then he entrusted the migratory bird princess to Zhu Wangli, and it was not expected that when Zhao Xingde returned two years later When Zhao Xingde returned two years later, he found that the migratory princess had already been occupied by the Western Xia Emperor Li Yuanhao, and at the time of their wedding, the migratory princess failed in her attempt to assassinate Li Yuanhao and committed suicide by jumping off the city wall, and the disillusioned Zhao Xingde came to Dunhuang to study the Buddhist scriptures, and ultimately, a large number of cultural books were protected during the war.
Texts are culture, and as long as they can be passed on, culture will not perish.
1988 / China Japan / Drama History Costume / Jinya Sato / Toshiyuki Nishida Hiroshi Sato
During the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhao Xingde (Hiroshi Sato), a scholar, is speechless when confronted with the questions of the Western Xia, and regrets his failure to take the exam.
Disillusioned, Gyung-tak decides to travel far beyond the borders of the Western Xia, a place he has always imagined.
During his travels, Xingde’s caravan is attacked by a mercenary force of Han Chinese, and he is forced to join the force, and is gradually recognized and valued by the captain, Zhu Wangli.
During a battle with the migratory birds, he saves and hides the migratory bird princess Slubia (Yasuna Nakagawa).
The two of them turn from hate to love and agree to run away to Western Xia. Unable to do so, Xingde has to leave his lover behind and go on his journey alone.
He goes away for two years, during which time Slubia is taken over by Li Yuanhao (Tsunehiko Watase), a prince of Western Xia.
Suffering from the sway and play of fate, Xingde is destined to leave a legend in the dust of history …… This film is an adaptation of the famous book by Yasushi Inoue, a famous author of Japanese historical novels, and won the Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor awards (Toshiyuki Nishida) at the 12th Japan Movie Awards in 1988.
