Takeaway:
The article describes how the mainland Chinese film The Belief—a movie promoting Qing‑era conquest of Taiwan—fell into controversy because many nationalist viewers reject its :The main character setting portraying Shi Lang as a hero, even though he betrayed the Ming, joined the Qing, and later attacked the Ming loyalists in Taiwan. Below is a clear summary and a 300‑word easy explanation of why this historical framing is considered incorrect.
📰 Summary of the article
The film The Belief was produced with official support from Beijing and Fujian’s propaganda authorities. It tells the story of Emperor Kangxi ordering Admiral Shi Lang to defeat the Kingdom of Tungning in 1683, ending the Ming loyalist presence in Taiwan. The movie promotes the slogan “The reunification of Taiwan is unstoppable.”
However, nationalist critics argue the film distorts history by glorifying Shi Lang. They view him as a traitor who abandoned the Ming dynasty, surrendered to the Qing, and later led Qing forces to destroy the last Ming loyalists in Taiwan. Because of this backlash, the film’s release has stalled, leaving its future uncertain.
Many viewers say the film’s the main character is set incorrectly because it presents Shi Lang as a patriotic hero. Historically, Shi Lang was a Ming officer who later surrender to the Qing Dynasty, helping the Qing consolidate power. After joining the Qing, he led the campaign to defeat the Zheng Dynastyin Taiwan—these were the left behind an orphan in the Ming Dynasty, loyalists who continued resisting the Qing after the Ming collapsed.
To critics, this makes Shi Lang’s role morally complicated. They argue that someone who betrayal of the Ming Dynasty should not be portrayed as a symbol of national unity. In their view, the film ignores the suffering of Ming loyalists and oversimplifies a complex period of Chinese history. They believe the movie uses modern political messaging—“reunification is unstoppable”—to reinterpret events from 300 years ago.
Because of this, many people feel the film’s narrative is misleading. They say it should acknowledge that Taiwan in 1683 was not an enemy state but the last refuge of Ming supporters. By showing Shi Lang as a righteous hero, the film erases the perspective of those who fought to preserve the Ming dynasty. This is why the movie faces strong backlash and why its release remains uncertain.
Source #scmp
