When a country used philosophy to strengthen its control; when an ordinary person poured his efforts just in order to enter the ruing class and survive; when the ruling class disdain wisdom and philosophy and contempt the disadvantaged. This sort of country was appalling. People couldn't see the sun but just darkness, couldn't get education but be imposed to submit heavy taxes. However, there were some little stars glistening in the darkness, those people were so brave and desperately fearless that they fought with hypocrisy and viciousness.
Moreover, I really appreciated this film because it clearly demonstrates the influence of Confucian culture and its disadvantages when it' s used as a ruling tool. It also explains indirectly that Confucian culture is, in fact, neo-confucianism which was just forwarded to help emperor to unify people's minds and control them.
Anyway, this film gave me a resonance and epiphany.