The King of Qin became the first emperor (Qin Shi Huangdi) of unified China in 221 B.G. China had been in a period of turmoil for over 200 years at the time when Emperor Qin assumed power. This period was known as the Warring States Period. China was divided into hundreds of small kingdoms and fiefdoms, this was known as the Spring Autumn period and lasted for several hundred years.

During the Warring States Period, seven dominant kindoms emerged, these kingdoms were: Qin, Yan, Qi, Qu, Han, Zhao and Wei. Of these seven, Qin was the most powerful and ambitious. Having emerged from such a violent, tumultuous period, King Qiun's vision of a unified China was indeed sincere and was accepted by many as the official mandate from heaven. However, the violence used in the process of unification was fierce.In this drive to unify China, the First Emperor not only slaughtered thousands of innocent people, but also killed those closest to him. The only person close to him who survives is Lady Zhao. The woman he loves, who, in the beginning, shares his vision.

Eventually, the King's violent means and his slaughtering of innocent children destroy the love between them. In the ned, China's First Emperor in a lonely, desolate individual who lived in state of paranoia until his death. The Emperor is a conflicted person, one who is constantly reminded of the mandate from heaven. The Emperor is human as well, almost childlike in his behavior and affections. During the course of the film his humanism is diminished by his firm resolve to achieve the unity of China.

At the outset, the King's vision for a unified China is one of a benevolent dictator, his desire to end war and bring peace to the lives of all people under heaven is genuine. The king of Qin sees the land of all seven kindoms, "as far as the eye can see and can't see", as one great empire. A place where the people speak the same language, use the same currency, build a great wall to protect their nation form outsiders, a massive country where all are ruled by one. In the End, the King succeeds in his quest to unify China and become the first Emperor. However, this achievement is realized at a great cost, he is alone has destroyed all those who loved him.