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THE FOUNDATION (1983)
CAST
BACKGROUND "The Foundation" at 20 episodes long, was filmed in 1983 featuring an all-star cast. Yung Mei Ling had been paired up successfully with Wong Yat Wah in "Legend of the Condor Heroes". In this series Yung Mei Ling was paired of with Wong Yat Wah at the beginning of the series, but would later end up with Miu Kiu Wai. Even though Tong Chun Yip, Yung Mei Ling's boyfriend at the time was in the cast, it was fitting that she was paired with Miu Kiu Wai. Yung Mei Ling and Miu Kiu Wai have a distinct on screen chemistry that made them the best couple during the 1980's. This series covers how 2nd Prince of the Lee Ying, Lee Sai Mun gains control of the throne and ruled as Tong Tai Jong. It is a topic that is usually avoided in many TV series covering the Tong Dynasty. Miu Kiu Wai gets the honour of playing the great Emporer, Lee Sai Mun. Wong Yat Wah plays Kong Fung, a man obsessed with learning kung fu. Yung Mei Ling plays Chun Sik Sik, Kong Fung's girlfriend at the beginning. Tong Chun Yip plays the 3rd Prince, Lee Wai Gut and Au Yeung Chun Wai plays heir to the throne, Lee King Sing. Wai Tin Chi plays another top kung fu expert, Man Ching Ping. Cameos by Lawerence Ng Kai Wah, Seung Tin Ngor, To Tai Yu, and Kwan Lai Kit rounds out the cast. HISTORY In the early part of the 600's peasants began an uprising which eventually led to the collapse of the Siu Dynasty. War raged in China as warlords battled for the throne. Lee Ying emerged as the victor of the battles. He ascended the throne in 618 and changed the title of his rule to Tong Kwok Kong. The period of the Tong Dynasty was from 618-907 AD and was one of the Golden Periods in China's history. However shortly after becoming King, Lee Ying, abducted his throne to his 2nd son Lee Sai Mun. Four months before Lee Ying abducted his throne, Lee Sai Mun ambushed and killed his older brother, Lee King Sing, who was the rightful heir to the throne and his third brother, Lee Wai Gut. Despite this Lee Sai Mun goes down in history as one of China's greatest Emperor's. Lee Sai Mun ascended the throne in 627 as Tong Tia Jong and was known as a wise and intelligent ruler. His rule ended in 649AD. "The Foundation", casts a different perspective on the famous folk heroes of that time "Fung Chun Sam Hup", who are Cheung Sam Long, Cheung Chut Chun and Lee Jing. In "The Foundation", Cheung Sam Long is a foreign Emperor from Tibet who visits China in an attempt to recruit the services of wise and noble men. Lee Ching is a former General who helped Lee Ying gain the throne and has since retired. Cheung Chut Chun is a normal wife more worried about fame and fortune rather than be a fierce female warrior.
SERIES REVIEW
CREDITS Thanks
to Eliza for the series cover
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