Jumong The Book of Three Hans
Ang Dakilang Layunin ni Jumong
The Noble Dream of Jumong
The Noble Dream of Jumong
Note: Before you read, this article has spoilers for the first 5 episodes of Jumong.
Another superb epic drama from South Korea is broadcasted nationwide in the Philippines by GMA-7 every weekday nights, right after Bakekang. I think I can safely say that Jumong will easily beat the stellar ratings enjoyed by Jewel in the Palace (Dae Jang Geum). While Jang Geum starts with an interesting story of a prophecy predicting the death of an early lead character because of his part in the murder of the queen, Jumong kicks off with a war scene that is convincing enough to keep you on the edge of your seats.
This one is fast paced, action packed and has the right emotional and comedic timing, the kind of stuff that is so rare to see in TV hence it’s so addicting. Not to mention, it is also a great love story between a man and his nation, forsaking his rich and luxurious life in order to fulfill a vision of freeing his people from the oppression of a formidable enemy.
This TV series narrates the life of Jumong Taewang (Supreme King) or King Dongmyeongseong of Goguryeo (58 - 19 BCE, r. 37 – 19 BCE), the founder of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. According to myth, Jumong translates to “skilled archer”.
Everything starts with the destruction of Gojoseon (BC2333~BC108) by the Han Empire of China. The Gojoseon people are left landless and subjected to cruel slaveries prompting most of them to escape their brutal fate. Because of the abolition of Gojoseon, the emperor of Han divided it into four states each ruled by a governor representing the Han empire namely: Nak Rang, Jin Beon, Im Doon and Hyeon To. The Han expressly forbids any of the four states and the surrounding tribe nations in helping the remnants of Gojoseon people.
During this oppressive time, a hero rises that is loved and admired by everyone primarily the Gojoseon refugees he’s helping. He’s known as Hae Mo Soo or Haemosu and together with his best friend, prince Geumwa of Buyeo tribe they rule a band of soldiers known as Da-Mul Gun who are the center of resistance against the Hans. According to legends, Hae Mo Soo was an extraordinarily excellent archer and skilled fighter.
Hae Mo Soo (pron. Hemusu) successfully kills an important Han ambassador when he and Geumwa disguised themselves as common fighters participating in a warrior contest in the city of Xuantu. (You should see this scene it’s awesome, two thumbs up!). They were able to release jailed Gojoseon citizens and escape the retaliation of the much better equipped Han soldiers. Because of this, the Han Empire becomes furious and reiterates their dire warning to all rulers of the land that anyone who helps the Da Mul Guns and the Gojoseon people will meet a bloody end.
During another encounter with the Hans, Hae Mo Soo narrowly escapes death. He is badly injured and ends up floating down a river barely alive. Lady Yu Hwa a princess of the Haebaek tribe accidentally finds him and nurses his wounds not knowing that he is the legendary Hae Mo Soo. Later the two of them fall in love with each other. However, the Han discovers Hae Mo Soo is sheltered by the princess and as punishment, the Haebaek tribe is destroyed and its entire people massacred. Lady Yu Hwa who survived the attack realizes she’s in great peril and is carrying the child of Hae Mo Soo.
Decades later, we see a happy go lucky prince Jumong the son of Hae Mo Soo and Lady Yu Hwa. He finds it hard to keep his hands off girls especially the pretty Buyong who is an apprentice at the Sorcerer's temple (Templo ng mga Babaylan). He is led to believe that his biological father is Geum Wa who is now a king of Buyeo. Lady Yu Hwa became the king’s second wife in order to protect her and Hae Mo Soo’s son from anyone seeking their death.
At first I found it hard to care for Jumong because he seemed too naïve and loved to have fun too much. He was also portrayed as a duwag (coward) and his Kuya Daeso in one crucial scene had to save his neck in the battlefield. But don’t worry everything had its reason why Jumong was never pressured by King Geum Wa and Lady Yu Hwa to excel in anything.
When his two older brothers failed to kill our naïve Jumong in one of their first attempt (they left him to die in the quicksand), his world turned upside down. He realized the bitter truth that he is not loved by his two brothers. Jumong furtively confided this sad occurrence to his mother, and Lady Yu Hwa was able to confirm her own fears that Jumong is despised by his brothers who are the sons of the queen of Buyeo.
Lady Yu Hwa explained to her devastated son that she purposely didn’t intend for Jumong to be an achiever because she didn’t want him to gain the ire of his two step brothers. However in spite of this, the queen, Prince Youngpo, and Prince Daesu still harbor intense envy and hatred for the two of them because allegedly King Geum Wa loves Yu Hwa and Jumong best.
With this concrete danger in mind, Lady Yu Hwa secretly arranged for an intense training of Jumong in the art of combat so that the next time the queen and her sons attempt to kill him, he’ll be able to save himself.
Thus the destiny of Jumong to become the legendary warrior who will lead his people in stopping the oppression of the Hans begins to unravel. The path is not so easy especially when many powerful individuals block his every progress. Along the way however, he meets an odd bunch of people who will prove to be loyal to him and help his “Dakilang Layunin”, the Noble Dream come true.
As for me, I can’t wait to see how he does it.
^^
Jumongers Unite!!!
Yehey!
***Please kindly give credit to this blog and provide a link back if you repost this article elsewhere.***
This one is fast paced, action packed and has the right emotional and comedic timing, the kind of stuff that is so rare to see in TV hence it’s so addicting. Not to mention, it is also a great love story between a man and his nation, forsaking his rich and luxurious life in order to fulfill a vision of freeing his people from the oppression of a formidable enemy.
This TV series narrates the life of Jumong Taewang (Supreme King) or King Dongmyeongseong of Goguryeo (58 - 19 BCE, r. 37 – 19 BCE), the founder of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. According to myth, Jumong translates to “skilled archer”.
Everything starts with the destruction of Gojoseon (BC2333~BC108) by the Han Empire of China. The Gojoseon people are left landless and subjected to cruel slaveries prompting most of them to escape their brutal fate. Because of the abolition of Gojoseon, the emperor of Han divided it into four states each ruled by a governor representing the Han empire namely: Nak Rang, Jin Beon, Im Doon and Hyeon To. The Han expressly forbids any of the four states and the surrounding tribe nations in helping the remnants of Gojoseon people.
During this oppressive time, a hero rises that is loved and admired by everyone primarily the Gojoseon refugees he’s helping. He’s known as Hae Mo Soo or Haemosu and together with his best friend, prince Geumwa of Buyeo tribe they rule a band of soldiers known as Da-Mul Gun who are the center of resistance against the Hans. According to legends, Hae Mo Soo was an extraordinarily excellent archer and skilled fighter.
Hae Mo Soo (pron. Hemusu) successfully kills an important Han ambassador when he and Geumwa disguised themselves as common fighters participating in a warrior contest in the city of Xuantu. (You should see this scene it’s awesome, two thumbs up!). They were able to release jailed Gojoseon citizens and escape the retaliation of the much better equipped Han soldiers. Because of this, the Han Empire becomes furious and reiterates their dire warning to all rulers of the land that anyone who helps the Da Mul Guns and the Gojoseon people will meet a bloody end.
During another encounter with the Hans, Hae Mo Soo narrowly escapes death. He is badly injured and ends up floating down a river barely alive. Lady Yu Hwa a princess of the Haebaek tribe accidentally finds him and nurses his wounds not knowing that he is the legendary Hae Mo Soo. Later the two of them fall in love with each other. However, the Han discovers Hae Mo Soo is sheltered by the princess and as punishment, the Haebaek tribe is destroyed and its entire people massacred. Lady Yu Hwa who survived the attack realizes she’s in great peril and is carrying the child of Hae Mo Soo.
Decades later, we see a happy go lucky prince Jumong the son of Hae Mo Soo and Lady Yu Hwa. He finds it hard to keep his hands off girls especially the pretty Buyong who is an apprentice at the Sorcerer's temple (Templo ng mga Babaylan). He is led to believe that his biological father is Geum Wa who is now a king of Buyeo. Lady Yu Hwa became the king’s second wife in order to protect her and Hae Mo Soo’s son from anyone seeking their death.
At first I found it hard to care for Jumong because he seemed too naïve and loved to have fun too much. He was also portrayed as a duwag (coward) and his Kuya Daeso in one crucial scene had to save his neck in the battlefield. But don’t worry everything had its reason why Jumong was never pressured by King Geum Wa and Lady Yu Hwa to excel in anything.
When his two older brothers failed to kill our naïve Jumong in one of their first attempt (they left him to die in the quicksand), his world turned upside down. He realized the bitter truth that he is not loved by his two brothers. Jumong furtively confided this sad occurrence to his mother, and Lady Yu Hwa was able to confirm her own fears that Jumong is despised by his brothers who are the sons of the queen of Buyeo.
Lady Yu Hwa explained to her devastated son that she purposely didn’t intend for Jumong to be an achiever because she didn’t want him to gain the ire of his two step brothers. However in spite of this, the queen, Prince Youngpo, and Prince Daesu still harbor intense envy and hatred for the two of them because allegedly King Geum Wa loves Yu Hwa and Jumong best.
With this concrete danger in mind, Lady Yu Hwa secretly arranged for an intense training of Jumong in the art of combat so that the next time the queen and her sons attempt to kill him, he’ll be able to save himself.
Thus the destiny of Jumong to become the legendary warrior who will lead his people in stopping the oppression of the Hans begins to unravel. The path is not so easy especially when many powerful individuals block his every progress. Along the way however, he meets an odd bunch of people who will prove to be loyal to him and help his “Dakilang Layunin”, the Noble Dream come true.
As for me, I can’t wait to see how he does it.
^^
Jumongers Unite!!!
Yehey!
***Please kindly give credit to this blog and provide a link back if you repost this article elsewhere.***
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