The Qin Empire (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Qin Empire is a 2009 Chinese television series based on Sun Haohui's novel of the same Chinese title. The 51 episodes long series chronicles the rise of the Qin state
in the Warring States Period
during the reign of Duke Xiao of Qin. It was produced in 2006 and first aired on television channels in China in December 2009.
, an upheaving political change occurs in the Qin state
in western China
. The Qin state, weakened by poverty and internal conflict, is in peril of being annexed by the six other states
in the east. Duke Xiao, the young new ruler of Qin, seeks to restore his state to its former glory and retake the territories lost by Qin in its earlier humiliating defeats by rival states. Duke Xiao recruits several talents to help him in his ambitious plans. The most outstanding one, a statesman called Shang Yang
, cooperates closely with Duke Xiao on massive political and economic reforms in Qin that lasted two decades. The changes transform Qin into a powerful state, with legal and military systems that helped to lay the foundation for Qin's eventual unification of China under the Qin Dynasty
nearly 200 years later in 221 BC.
The Qin Empire on Sina
The Qin Empire official website
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
in the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
during the reign of Duke Xiao of Qin. It was produced in 2006 and first aired on television channels in China in December 2009.
Plot
In the mid 4th century BC during the Warring States PeriodWarring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
, an upheaving political change occurs in the Qin state
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
in western China
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. The Qin state, weakened by poverty and internal conflict, is in peril of being annexed by the six other states
Seven Warring States
The Seven Warring States or Seven Kingdoms refers to the seven warring states in China during the Warring States period of Chinese history...
in the east. Duke Xiao, the young new ruler of Qin, seeks to restore his state to its former glory and retake the territories lost by Qin in its earlier humiliating defeats by rival states. Duke Xiao recruits several talents to help him in his ambitious plans. The most outstanding one, a statesman called Shang Yang
Shang Yang
Shang Yang was an important statesman of the State of Qin during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Born Wei Yang in the State of Wei, with the support of Duke Xiao of Qin Yang enacted numerous reforms in Qin...
, cooperates closely with Duke Xiao on massive political and economic reforms in Qin that lasted two decades. The changes transform Qin into a powerful state, with legal and military systems that helped to lay the foundation for Qin's eventual unification of China under the Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
nearly 200 years later in 221 BC.
Qin state
- Hou YongHou Yong (actor)Hou Yong is a Chinese actor from Lianyungang, Jiangsu province. He graduated from the Jiangsu Drama School in 1989.-Filmography:-External links:* *...
as Ying Quliang (Duke Xiao), the ruler of Qin
- Lu Yong as Ying Qian, Duke Xiao's older brother
- Lü Zhong as the Duchess Dowager, Duke Xiao's mother
- Qi Fang as Yingyu, Duke Xiao's younger sister and Wei Yang's wife
- Xu Huanshan as Duke Xian, Duke Xiao's father and predecessor
- Liu Naiyi as Ying Si (King HuiwenHuiwen of QinKing Huiwen of Qin , also known as Lord Huiwen of Qin or King Hui of Qin , personal name Ying Si , was the ruler of the Qin state from 338 BC to 311 BC during the Warring States Period of Chinese history.-Early life:...
), Duke Xiao's son and successor. Feng Pengfei played the younger Ying Si.
- Wang Zhifei as Wei Yang (Shang YangShang YangShang Yang was an important statesman of the State of Qin during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Born Wei Yang in the State of Wei, with the support of Duke Xiao of Qin Yang enacted numerous reforms in Qin...
), a legalist who reforms the Qin government and becomes chancellor
- Yu Yang as Jing Jian, the vice chancellor
- Hou Xiangling as Che Ying, a general
- Sun Feihu as Gan Long, the imperial tutor who heads the aristocrat faction that opposes Wei Yang's reforms
- Chou Yongli as Gongsun Gu, the ex crown prince tutor who becomes a fugitive
- Lu Ying as Du Zhi, the ancestral temple keeper and Gan Long's student
- Liu Bingfeng as Gan Cheng, Gan Long's son
- Jiao Changdao as Meng Che, an aristocrat general
- Ren Xihong as Xi Qihu, an aristocrat general
- Li Zhuo as Bai Jin, an aristocrat general
- Guo Changhui as Zi'an, a general
- Ren Wei as Wang Shi, a minister
- Jin Ming as Zhao Kang, a magistrate
- Mao Yue as Chuli Ji, a governor-general
- Li Haige as Linghu, Jing Jian's wife
- Jiang Hualin as Heibo, the palace manager
- Feng Zheng as Shan Jia, a general
- Xia Lu as Heya, Wei Yang's god-sister
Wei state
- Li Li-chun as King HuiKing Hui of WeiKing Hui of Wei , originally called Marquis Hui of Wei, and after 344, King Hui of Liang was the third ruler of the state of Wei during the Warring States Period, ruling from approximately 370 BC–319 BC...
, the ruler of WeiWei (state)The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
- You YongYou YongYou Yong is a Chinese actor from Xi'an, Shaanxi province.You Yong enrolled in the Xi'an Drama School in 1979 and was joined the Shanghai Theatre Academy in 1984. Upon graduation in 1988, he acted in his first film, Obsession, marking the start of his career...
as Pang JuanPang JuanPang Juan was an ancient Chinese military general of the Wei state during the Warring States Period.-Early life:Pang Juan was a fellow student of Sun Bin and both of them studied military strategy together under the tutelage of the hermit Guiguzi. They developed a close friendship and became sworn...
, a general
- Wang Hui as Wei Ang, King Hui's younger brother and chancellor of Wei
- Du Yulu as Gongshu Cuo, the former chancellor of Wei
- Liu Mu as Wei Shen, King Hui's son
- Lu Chaofan as Jin Bi, a general
- Jiang Hua as Long Gu, a general
Mohists
- Yuan Ran as Xuanqi, granddaughter of Baili Yao and lover of Duke Xiao
- Zhou Yuhua as Qin Huali, head of the Mohist schoolMohismMohism or Moism was a Chinese philosophy developed by the followers of Mozi , 470 BC–c.391 BC...
- Qian Weidong as Kuhuo
- Wang Yingqi as Deng Lingzi
Others
- Gao YuanyuanGao YuanyuanGao Yuanyuan is a Chinese actress.-Biography:Gao was born in Beijing on October 5, 1979 and entered the entertainment industry in 1996. Known for her fresh looks and chaste spirit, Gao, unlike other mainland Chinese actresses, did not graduate from any drama academic institutions...
as Bai Xue, Wei Yang's lover
- Wu MaWu MaWu Ma is a Chinese actor, director, producer and writer. Wu Ma made his screen debut in 1963, and with over 180 appearances to his name , Wu Ma is one of the most familiar faces in the history of Hong Kong Cinema...
as Baili Yao, a descendant of Baili XiBaili XiBaili Xi was an influential prime minister of the state of Qin during the Spring and Autumn Period in ancient China.-Background:Baili Xi was born during the Spring and Autumn Period, a time of great internal chaos in China. Though talented, he came from a very poor family and was unable to realize...
- Ji Chen as King WeiKing Wei of QiKing Wei of Qi , whose personal name was Tian Yinqi , was the king of the northern Chinese state of Qi during the Warring States Period, when Qi was one of the most powerful states in China. He reigned from 356 to 320 BC. or according to another source from 378 to 343 BC.His successor was King Xuan...
, the ruler of QiQi (state)Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
- Dong Qiming as Sun BinSun BinSun Bin was a military strategist who lived during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. An alleged descendant of Sun Tzu, Sun Bin was tutored in military strategy by the hermit Guiguzi...
, a Qi strategist and rival of Pang Juan
- Chen Zhihui as Hou Ying, a youxiaChinese knight-errantYouxia was a type of chivalrous hero which came into existence during the Han Dynasty and disappeared during the Qing Dynasty ....
under Bai Xue
- Zhao Dongbai as Shen BuhaiShen BuhaiShen Buhai was a Chinese bureaucrat who was the Chancellor of Han under Marquis Zhao of Han from 351 BC to 337 BC. Shen was born in the State of Zheng; he was likely to have been a minor official for the State of Zheng. After Han conquered Zheng in 375 BC, he rose up in the ranks of the Han...
, a legalist who becomes the chancellor of HanHan (state)Han was a kingdom during the Warring States Period in China, located in modern-day Shanxi and Henan. Not to be confused with South Korea which shares the same character....
- Li Shide as Shen DaoShen DaoShen Dao was an itinerant Chinese philosopher from Zhao, who was a scholar at the Jixia Academy in Qi. He is usually referred to as Shenzi 慎子.-Overview:...
, a legalist
- Zhao Yang as Meigu, Bai Xue's servant
- Xu Yuting as Laobaituo
- Sun Jiaolong as Jing Nan, a mute Mohist who serves as Wei Yang's bodyguard
- Zhang Bingqi as Zhao Liang, Zhao Kang's brother and a scholar
- Mei Shengxiang as Bian Que, a famous physician
Featured songs
- Jiujiu Laoqin (赳赳老秦; Grand Old Qin) performed by China Philharmonic Orchestra
- Xiang'ai Gengzhi (相爱耕织; Sowing Mutual Love) performed by Lei Jia
- Fenghua Juedai (风华绝代; Magnificent and Peerless) performed by Liao Changyong and Tan Jing
External links
The Qin Empire on Baidu BaikeBaidu Baike
Baidu Encyclopedia is a Chinese language collaborative Web-based encyclopedia provided by the Chinese search engine Baidu. Like Baidu itself, the encyclopedia is heavily self-censored in line with government regulations....
The Qin Empire on Sina
Sina.com
SINA is an online media company for China and Chinese communities around the world. SINA operates four major business lines: Sina Weibo, SINA Mobile, SINA Online, and SINA.net. SINA has over 100 million registered users worldwide...
The Qin Empire official website