On October 27, in front of the grand Wu-Yue Kingdom hall at the Hengdian World Studios in Zhejiang, the major historical drama "Year of Peace" officially commenced production. This epic drama, themed around Wu-Yue culture and supported by the Ministry of Culture's annual cultural industry development project, the National Radio and Television Administration, and the Zhejiang Provincial Arts Fund, carries the heavy mission of historical heritage, leading viewers into the tumultuous years of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
Production Launch Event
Fu Binxing, the president of Huace Group, stated that to complete the creation of "Year of Peace," Huace Group has spent five years planning and three years refining the script, assembling a team of leading creators and actors from across the country. Industry elites, including writer Dong Zhe, director Yang Lei, co-director Lu Beike, art director Shao Changyong, and styling director Chen Tongxun, have come together to ensure production is of international first-class standards, aiming to make "Year of Peace" a global calling card for Chinese film and television. The drama features a powerful cast including Bai Yu, Zhou Yutong, Zhu Yawen, Yu Haoming, Dong Yong, and Ni Dahong.
During the press conference, writer Dong Zhe mentioned that the title "Year of Peace" symbolizes the longing for peace shared by the people of the Wu-Yue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, resonating deeply with historical significance. The actors shared their interpretations and expectations for their roles, particularly Bai Yu and Zhou Yutong, who expressed profound insights after taking on lead roles in a significant historical drama for the first time.
Director Yang Lei
"Year of Peace" centers on the historical narrative of Qian Hongchu of the Wu-Yue Kingdom actively "submitting land to Song," detailing the chaotic winds of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms through the early Northern Song Dynasty. This decision for peace ensured the continuation of Chinese civilization, reflecting the choice of "protecting the homeland and ensuring civil peace." Zhang Yongdi, the director of the Institute of Chinese Historical Studies, pointed out that "Year of Peace" serves as a model for historical drama creation in the new era, as creators forge an epic masterpiece rooted in a deep sense of respect and sincere historical belief.
Bai Yu
To ensure the quality of the series, the National Radio and Television Administration arranged a specialized training session for the "Year of Peace" team in September, marking the first training course dedicated to a single drama in recent years. Experts from Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences provided academic support to the core creative team. The production also invested in creating a 60,000-square-meter filming location, with the costume design team crafting over 8,000 outfits to authentically represent the style of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Director Yang Lei stated that the drama will adopt internationally leading filming technologies and will be produced to film-level standards.
At the launch ceremony, the "Wu-Yue Splendor, Millennium Zhejiang" promotional event was held to showcase the deep cultural heritage of Wu-Yue culture. Representatives from different areas of Zhejiang took the stage to present the rich cultural relics, unveiling a tapestry of cultural and tourism empowerment. This production not only serves as a historical drama but also as a cultural blockbuster, allowing viewers to experience the essence of Zhejiang's millennium-long Wu-Yue culture through film and television.
