Nine Songs of the Moving Heavens

Lore & Background

The story takes place during the Warring States period, with the Han State, the weakest of the Seven States, under threat from the powerful Qin State and internal power struggles. The aging Han King is losing control, and the greatest threat is the Great General of Han, Ji Wuye, along with the Four Fearful Warriors of Nightfall, who specialize in military, finance, politics, and espionage. The Ninth Prince, Han Fei, hopes to create a stronger Han State and forms the Quicksand group with Wei Zhuang, Zhang Liang, Zinü, and Nong Yu to combat these forces.

Han Fei is a carefree, intelligent prince with no martial arts skills, who studied under Xun Kuang at Junior Sage Village. Wei Zhuang, a student from Ghost Valley, is a cold, skilled martial artist wielding the sword Shachi. Zinü, owner of the Purple Orchid House, wields the snake sword Chilian and is a founding member of Quicksand. Zhang Liang, grandson of Prime Minister Zhang Kaidi, joins willingly. Honglian, the Han Emperor's daughter, and Nong Yu, a guqin player, also become part of the group.

Reader's Guide

Nine Songs of the Moving Heavens serves as a prequel to The Legend of Qin, expanding the narrative of the Qin dynasty era by exploring the earlier political intrigues and the formation of the Quicksand group. The series highlights the decline of the Han State and the efforts of Han Fei and his allies to resist internal corruption and external threats from Qin. Its significance lies in providing backstory for key characters and factions that appear in The Legend of Qin, while standing as an independent story. The series is noted for its CG animation and its focus on strategic and political conflict rather than martial prowess alone, as Han Fei relies on intelligence rather than combat skills. The legacy of the series is tied to its role in the larger Qin universe, offering depth to the historical setting and character motivations.

Did You Know?

• The series was released on March 10, 2016, and produced by Robin Shen.
• It is the prequel to The Legend of Qin and takes place before the Qin dynasty.
• Han Fei, the Ninth Prince of Han, has no martial arts skills but is a strategic thinker.
• Wei Zhuang is one of only two students from Ghost Valley, the other being Ge Nie.