Buzz
Upon seeing the restored image of Hoa Than, many were amazed by his Qing Dynasty charm.
The series Lü Gu, the Grand Marshal and Ky Hieu Lam's Courage are considered classics in the Chinese historical drama genre of the previous decades. Among them, the role of Hoa Than - a scheming antagonist portrayed by actor Vuong Cuong - has become deeply entrenched in the memories of a generation.
The image of Vuong Cuong's Hoa Than depicts an old uncle with a plump figure and a cunning, sly face. In history, Hoa Than was also a criticized figure, so the portrayal in the film aligns well with the public's perception of such a character.
However, in reality, historians reveal a surprising fact that the 'most corrupt person in Chinese history' was actually a handsome man, a far cry from Vuong Cuong's impression.
In a series of Qing Dynasty historical documents, Hoa Than is noted for his attractive appearance and charming demeanor. Upon entering the court, he started as a personal guard for Emperor Qianlong due to his handsome appearance and tall stature. The notorious corrupt official was also known to be charming and adept at winning women's hearts. Hoa Than's rise through the ranks was partly attributed to his marriage to Phung Te Van, a 'golden branch and jade leaf' daughter of the governor Phung Anh Liem. At the time of marriage, Hoa Than was only 18 years old, from a humble background, and had failed the imperial examinations multiple times, completely inferior to his wife's prestigious family. Therefore, many experts believe that it was his handsome appearance and charm that secured him this marriage.
In 1793, Hoa Than was tasked with receiving the British envoy led by George Macartney. In his memoir, Macartney described Hoa Than as follows: 'Handsome, fair-skinned, graceful gestures, polite, and always calm, harmonious with everyone.' According to Qing Dynasty Chronicles, Emperor Qianlong once commented that Hoa Than was 'handsome, agile, and astute.'
Furthermore, there is a common misconception about Hoa Than being 40 years younger than Emperor Qianlong. However, on screen, the ages of these two characters are not significantly different due to actors portraying them.
In portraits painted by Qing Dynasty artists, Hoa Than appears tall, fair-skinned, with a refined and elegant face, clearly distinct from the familiar portrayal by Vuong Cuong.
Moreover, in 2018, some experts reconstructed the image of Hoa Than from portrait paintings, yielding remarkably impressive results. The 3D image of this illustrious antagonist is as handsome as any contemporary 'heartthrob.' Therefore, it's not surprising when experts refer to Hoa Than as the famous 'handsome man' of the Qing Dynasty era, even one of the most prominent beauties.
Source: Sohu
