Hsi Shin: Beauty Of Beauties

Adapted from the story of Hsi Shin, one of the Four Great Beauties of China. During the reign of King Jing of the Zhou Dynasty, King Fuchai of Wu attacked the State of Yue. After King Goujian of Yue was defeated and became a captive of Wu, the people of Yue sought to undermine Wu's defenses and regain their kingdom. Hsi Shin, a commoner from Yue, was ordered by King Goujian to enter the State of Wu and distract King Fuchai. King Fuchai doted on Hsi Shin, building the Gǔanwá Palace for her amusement. Only Wu's important official, Wu Zixu, was wary of Hsi Shin and repeatedly advised Fuchai not to neglect state affairs. As Hsi Shin gradually guided the plan for the restoration of Yue onto the right track, the time for their inevitable parting arrived. This film mobilized 120,000 extras and took 334 days to shoot, making it an unprecedented and magnificent historical epic in the history of Taiwanese cinema.