Part 1: DVD Review on Da Qing Feng Yun

This DVD series depicts the epic tale of the Qing Dynasty.

Key Characters:
- Huang Tai Ji
- Duo Er Gun
- Da Yu Er
- Hao Ge
- Fu Lin
- Kang Xi

The story starts from Huang Tai Ji, the 2nd generation Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Upon the death of his father, Nie Er Har Ci, the throne was to have gone to his fourteen brother Duo Er Gun; however his lust for the throne made him plot against his own brother and Duo Er Gun's mother. His plot succeeds, he manages to remove Duo Er Gun's mother and claims the throne as his own on the pretext that Duo Er Gun was merely a boy and unable to manage the throne.

Years later, Duo Er Gun grows up to be a leader of exceptional abilities. Huang Tai Ji employs him as an able general to help him win numerous battles.

But the seed of Huang Tai Ji's betrayal of him and his mother was to take root in his heart and play a pivotal role in the history of the Qing Dynasty.

Meanwhile, Duo Er Gun as a young man falls in love with a ravishing Mongolian princess, Da Yu Er... she too falls in love with him... Sadly, their desire to be together is thwarted when Huang Tai Ji takes a liking to her as well and asks for her as his concubine...

From this point on, fate was to play a cruel joke upon Duo Er Gun and Da Yu Er... destined to fall in love yet never to let their love come to light... they were fated as chess pieces forever to be playing on different sides.

Part 1:

Huang Tai Ji is suddenly taken critically ill in a strange turn of events; at this point of time, the Qing dynasty is just about to overthrown the decrepit Ming Dynasty. This sudden turn of events creates internal turmoil caused by the tricky situation of succession.

The vying candidates are the Crown Prince, Hao Ge and his fourteen uncle, Duo Er Gun.

Hao Ge hopes that Duo Er Gun will be tempted to rebel at this time, so that Duo Er Gun who has always been a thorn may be removed from his flesh forever.

It is apparent that Hao Ge lacks the foresight to be a great ruler as he is narrow minded and more concerned with removing those he dislikes and those whom he perceives as a threat to him, rather than considering the overall game plan and the fact that some of those he dislikes, are the key players in the overall chess game.

Duo Er Gun definitely is a stronger leader and of a better caliber to lead the country, however it is natural that Huang Tai Ji would like to hand the throne over to his own son, his other fear is that by handing the throne to Duo Er Gun, his sons who have been against Duo Er Gun thus far might be endangered,

In his heart of hearts, he knows that Duo Er Gun is the best possible choice for the country. He decides upon a test for Duo Er Gun, one which if he should fail, it would be a test that would warrant his death and removal.

Huang Tai Ji stages a scenario where Duo Er Gun’s loyalty to his country is tested against his love for Da Yu Er. He issues a decree that he wants Da Yu Er to accompany him in his royal grave to the netherworlds.

Da Yu Er is torn between her fear and her love for Duo Er Gun. While fearful for her life and the fate of her son, she is tempted to seek Duo Er Gun’s aid in saving her from her untimely death, yet she does not want to jeopardize Duo Er Gun’s life or well-being by standing up to the Emperor for her life.

Her love for Duo Er Gun prevents her from telling him or seeking his assistance, the news of her impending death is however deliberately leaked out to Duo Er Gun’s ears by the Emperor.

Duo Er Gun is duly agitated by this news; he contemplates storming to the Emperor to demand he withdraws his decree. He makes a visit to the fretful Da Yu Er to assure her that he will not watch her accompany Huang Tai Ji to the grave.

Da Yu Er tries to stop him, to dissuade him from confronting the Emperor over this matter and possibly risking his life in the process. Da Yu Er finds it strange that the news has passed so quickly to Duo Er Gun’s ears, upon further contemplation; they both realize the plot behind Huang Tai Ji’s decree.

Having realized this plot, they both realize that Huang Tai Ji may not be really dying but possibly exaggerating his condition to test Duo Er Gun’s loyalty to him and to his sons.

They decide to take a step at a time and not act rashly and possibly rocking the boats… They wait in cold sweat as Huang Tai Ji speaks his last, Duo Er Gun is ready to battle it out if the Emperor should insist upon his request for Da Yu Er to accompany him on his dying bed. Fortunately, Huang Tai Ji decided against it with his last breath, he decides that the Empress should accompany him to the Netherworlds.

With Huang Tai Ji having passed on, an internal strife ensues with Hao Ge’s and Duo Er Gun’s struggles to claim the throne as their own.