The Legend of Qin (TV series)
China's first 3D animated wuxia series.
The Legend of Qin (秦时明月), also called Qin's Moon, is a Chinese CG animated wuxia TV series. It was produced by Robin Shen and directed by Chen Qianyuan. The story comes from a novel of the same name by Taiwanese writer Sayling Wen. This series is recognized as China’s first 3D animated show, created by Sparkly Key Animation Studio in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. It first aired around the Lunar New Year in 2007.
The title translates to "bright moon of the Qin era," a phrase taken from poems by Tang dynasty poet Wang Changling. Two main characters, Tianming and Yue'er, reflect the words ming (bright) and yue (moon) in the Chinese title. The plot covers a 30-year span, including flashbacks, from the founding of the Qin dynasty in 221 BC to its fall in 206 BC. It follows a young man named Tianming, who rises to become a hero and alters history through his actions.
The story traces the Qin dynasty from its unification of China in 221 BC to the capture of its capital, Xianyang, in 206 BC. The central figure is Jing Tianming, a boy with heroic blood who grows from a weak, ignorant child into a great hero who reshapes history. He meets his protector, the master swordsman Ge Nie, who betrayed the Qin Empire to keep Tianming safe. Together, they join the Mohists in Machinery City. After an attack by Qin forces, the Mohists seek help from the Confucianists in Shanghai. The Emperor calls on General Meng’s army and groups like Quicksand, the Yin-Yang School, and the Net Trap Organization to crush the rebels. Meanwhile, the Emperor builds a great wall and a floating city to reach three Immortal Mountains east of Shanghai in search of an elixir of immortality. The narrative blends history, fantasy, and mythology with martial arts, swordsmanship, mechanical devices, and magic, depicting an era of change where chaos, violence, enemies, family struggles, friendship, love, and sorrow lead to the end of one age and the start of another.
Jing Tianming is a bright, cheerful 12-year-old boy. He is playful and mischievous but protective of his friends. He has a crush on Gao Yue (Yue-er), a girl cared for by the Mohists, though he finds her older sister, Duanmu Rong, cold. He sees Ge Nie as a father figure and wants to become a swordsman like him. He rivals Xiang Shaoyu and has a playful bond with Master Ban. He loves food, especially roasted mountain pheasants, and becomes furious if som
- producer
- Robin Shen
- director
- Chen Qianyuan
- based_on
- Novel by Sayling Wen
- production_company
- Sparkly Key Animation Studio
- country
- China
- genre
- CG animated wuxia
- first_broadcast
- Around Lunar New Year 2007
Lore & Background
The Legend of Qin follows the history of the Qin dynasty from the conquests that unified China in 221 BC to the fall of the Qin capital Xianyang in 206 BC. The story revolves around a young protagonist, Jing Tianming, who carries the blood of a hero, maturing from a weak and ignorant young boy into a great hero who singlehandedly changes the course of history. It chronicles his meeting with his protector, the master swordsman Ge Nie, who has betrayed the Qin Empire in order to protect Tianming. They join with the Mohists in the Machinery City who, after being attacked by the Qin forces, seek the protection and assistance of the Confucianists in Shanghai. The Emperor enlists the aid of the army under General Meng and other groups such as Quicksand, the Yin-Yang School and the Net Trap Organization to defeat the rebel forces. During this period, the Emperor is also constructing a great wall for defence of the empire, and builds a floating city to travel to three Immortal Mountains outside the East Sea of Shanghai city to obtain an elixir of immortality.
Reader's Guide
The Legend of Qin is significant as China's first 3D animated series, marking a milestone in Chinese animation. Its story weaves history, fantasy, and mythology with martial arts and mechanical devices, tracing an era of change from the founding of the Qin dynasty to its fall. The series introduced characters such as Jing Tianming, Gao Yue, Xiang Shaoyu, and Ge Nie, whose exploits and relationships drive the narrative. The title, meaning 'bright moon of the Qin era,' is quoted from Tang dynasty poet Wang Changling. The series spans a 30-year period and features a young hero who changes the course of history. Its production by Sparkly Key Animation Studio in Hangzhou and broadcast around the Lunar New Year in 2007 established it as a pioneering work in Chinese CG animation.
Did You Know?
- The title 'The Legend of Qin' means 'bright moon of the Qin era,' quoted from poems by Tang dynasty poet Wang Changling.
- The names of two main characters, Tianming and Yue'er, correspond to the ming (bright) and yue (moon) in the Chinese title.
- The story spans a 30-year period from the founding of the Qin dynasty in 221 BC to its fall in 206 BC.
- Ge Nie and Wei Zhuang both studied at the Ghost Valley School under the same teacher.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Legend of Qin (TV series)?
It is a Chinese CG-animated wuxia television series set during the Qin dynasty. The plot is adapted from a novel of the same name by Taiwanese author Sayling Wen.
Who created The Legend of Qin (TV series)?
Robin Shen served as producer and Chen Qianyuan as director, with animation produced by Sparkly Key Animation Studio in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The show is recognized as China's first 3D animated series.
When did The Legend of Qin (TV series) first air?
The series premiered around the Lunar New Year in 2007. It was produced in China as a CG-animated wuxia show.
Why is The Legend of Qin (TV series) important?
It holds the distinction of being the first fully 3D-animated television series made in China. Its wuxia genre and CG format set a precedent for the country's animation industry.
What does the title 'The Legend of Qin' mean?
The Chinese title 秦时明月 translates to 'bright moon of the Qin era,' a phrase drawn from Tang dynasty poetry by Wang Changling. Two main characters, Tianming and Yue'er, echo the words 'ming' (bright) and 'yue' (moon) embedded in the title.
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