The story of Qin Shihuang, who conquered six powerful warring states to unify the vast territory of China. In 221 B.C., Qin declared himself emperor of all China. During his reign, he introduced sweeping reforms, built a vast network of roads and connected the Great Wall of China which to this day stretches over 2400 kilometers. Although Qin's empire survived his own death in 210 B.C. by only thirty-six months, his legacy did not perish. From the grandiose inner sanctum of Emperor Qin's royal palace, to fierce battles with feudal kings, this historical drama re-creates the glory and the terror of the Qin Dynasty. The film includes the first documentary footage of Qin's life-sized terra cotta army, constructed almost 2,200 years ago for his tomb. The imperial system he created has endured for thousand of years, proving to be the world's most durable political structure.
1989, 42 min
National Film Board of Canada Production
© All Rights Reserved, 2007
