The Qin Empire
DVD cover art
Traditional Chinese	大秦帝國之裂變
Simplified Chinese	大秦帝国之裂变
Hanyu Pinyin	Dà Qín Dìguó zhī Lièbiàn
Genre	Historical drama
Developed by	Qin Zhengui Zhang Jie Wang Hao
Screenplay by	Sun Haohui
Story by	Sun Haohui
Directed by	Huang Jianzhong Yan Yi
Creative directors	Jin Xiwu Ma Yingbo
Presented by	Peng Jianming Wang Guangqun Duan Xiannian Li Ruigang Liu Bin Wang Yaxing Qu Xiangjun Jiao Yang
Starring	Hou Yong Wang Zhifei Gao Yuanyuan Du Yulu Lü Zhong Sun Feihu Xu Huanshan You Yong
Ending theme	Dafeng Qi Xi Yun Feiyang (大风起兮云飞扬) performed by Liao Changyong and Tan Jing
Composer	Zhao Jiping
Country of origin	China
Original language	Mandarin
No. of episodes	51 (original version) 48 (China version)
Production
Executive producers	He Xiaoli Wang Heng Lü Hongqiang Lin Feng Lu Shuchao Cai Sanqiang Guo Ziqiang
Producers	Zhang Ziyang Gu Lingyang Li Yuan Chen Liang Li Xiubao
Production location	China
Cinematography	Yuan Xiaoman
Editors	Li Zimeng Kang Zhenhai
Running time	45 minutes per episode
Production companies	Shaanxi Broadcast and TV Network Shaanxi TV Shanghai Media Group Fujian Media Group Beijing Military Region Political Department Ally Television Arts Centre Shaanxi Guofeng Pictures Investment Beijing Changhe Lüzhou Cultural Development
Related
The Qin Empire II: Alliance (2012)

The Qin Empire is a 2009 Chinese television series based on Sun Haohui's novel of the same Chinese title, which romanticises the rise of the Qin state in the Warring States period under the leadership of Duke Xiao of Qin. It was produced in 2006 and first aired on television channels in China in December 2009. It was followed by three sequels: The Qin Empire II: Alliance (2012), The Qin Empire III (2017) and The Qin Empire IV (2019), which were also based on Sun Haohui's novels.

Plot

The series is set in the mid fourth century BC during the Warring States period of China. The Qin state in western China has been weakened by years of poverty and internal conflict. It is now in peril of being conquered by the other six major states in the east. Duke Xiao, the new ruler of Qin, seeks to restore his state to its former glory (during Duke Mu's time) and retake the Qin territories lost to the Wei state in earlier battles.

In his quest to recruit talents to assist him, Duke Xiao promises to share Qin with anyone – including foreigners – who could help him realise his grand ambitions. He attracts the attention of Wei Yang, a Legalist searching for opportunities to test his ideas. After discussing for three days and three nights on end, the two men develop a close relationship and work together over the next two decades to push forth a series of groundbreaking sociopolitical reforms in Qin. The reforms transform Qin into a powerful state and helped to lay the foundation for Qin's eventual unification of China under the Qin dynasty nearly 200 years later.

Cast

List of featured songs

• Dafeng Qi Xi Yun Feiyang (大风起兮云飞扬; A Great Wind Comes Forth and the Clouds Rise High) performed by Liao Changyong and Tan Jing.
• Jiujiu Laoqin (赳赳老秦; Grand Old Qin) performed by the 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 Tan Jing.

Awards

The series won the Flying Goddess Award and the Golden Eagle Prize for the Best TV Drama.^{[citation needed]}

International broadcast

Country	Network	Airing dates
China	()	, 20 -, 20 ()
Taiwan	VL Max TV (緯來育樂台)	December 15, 2017 (Every Monday to Friday 20:00-22:00, December 15 21:00-22:00)
Thailand	PPTV HD	July 16, 2015 - November 12, 2015 (Every Thursday and Friday from 14.55 - 15.55)
	Channel 9 MCOT HD	May 25, 2018 - July 26, 2018 (ASIAN SERIES Every Monday to Friday from 13.35 - 15.00)