Flying Snow: How swift thy sword.
Nameless: Good calligraphy.

Broken Sword: Good swordsmanship.
King of Qin: I have just come to a realization! This scroll by Broken Sword contains no secrets of his swordsmanship. What this reveals is his highest ideal. In the first state, man and sword become one and each other. Here, even a blade of grass can be used as a lethal weapon. In the next stage, the sword resides not in the hand but in the heart. Even without a weapon, the warrior can slay his enemy from a hundred paces. But the ultimate ideal is when the sword disappears altogether. The warrior embraces all around him. The desire to kill no longer exists. Only peace remains.
Nameless: Broken Sword said "The people have suffered years of warfare. Only the King of Qin can stop the chaos by uniting all under Heaven."
Nameless: Halt!

Sky: What can a minor official do?

Nameless: This is my territory.

Sky: And?

Nameless: You are on the kings most wanted list; I am here to place you under arrest!

[lifts sword ready to fight]
Moon: I am going to kill you and avenge my master!
[first title cards]

Title card: People give up their lives for many reasons.

Title card: For friendship, for love, for an ideal

Title card: And people kill for the same reasons...

Title card: Before China was one great country, it was divided into seven warring states.

Title card: In the Kingdom of Qin was a ruthless ruler. He had a vision - To unite the land.

Title card: to put an end, once and for all, to war.

Title card: It was an idea soaked in the blood of his enemies.

Title card: In any war there are heroes on both sides...
[first lines]

Nameless: [voiceover] I was orphaned at a young age and was never given a name. People simply called me Nameless. With no family name to live up to, I devoted myself to the sword. I spent ten years perfecting unique skills as a swordsman. The King of Qin has summoned me to court, for what I have accomplished has astonished the kingdom.
[last lines]

Emperor's advisors: [in unison] This is the sacred law of Qin! If your majesty is to unite the land, this man has to be made an example of! Your Majesty, execute him! Your Majesty, execute him! Your Majesty, execute him! Your Majesty, execute him! Your Majesty, execute him! Your Majesty, execute him!
[last title card]

Title card: The nameless warrior was executed as an assassin but buried as a hero. The King of Qin went on to conquer all of the six Kingdoms and unite the country. As China's first Emperor he completed the Great Wall to protect his subjects. This was more than two thousand years ago. But even now when the Chinese speak of their country They call it Our land.
Nameless: Your Majesty, my task is completed now. My decision will cause the deaths of many and Your Majesty will live on. A dead man begs you to remember; a warrior's ultimate act is to lay down his sword.
Old Servant: You Must Remember! Strong as the arrows Of Quing may be; though they will shatter Our Cities and destroy Our Nation, they shall Never Extinguish Zhao's Written Word. Today, I Shall Teach You the True Spirit of Our Culture!
Broken Sword: Is the sword the only answer?
Nameless: Great calligraphy.

Broken Sword: Great swordsmanship.

Nameless: You didn't see my swordsmanship.

Broken Sword: Without it, I couldn't have written this calligraphy.
Flying Snow: Since you wish to die, I will assist you.

Hero Quotes

Extended Reading

Hero short comments

Deontae 2022-04-24 07:01:04

Finally saw the legendary, "wind, gale". A crossbow arrow with an accurate flight path takes a lot of man-hours to make. How many years of production will it take for the Qin State ordnance department to shoot crossbows at the same time in a phalanx of ten thousand people? It feels that Zhang Yimou has been exhausted since then, and needs to rely on random things to make up the number. .
Elouise 2022-03-22 09:01:25

Rewatching this film many years later, I found that the film really has many merits. It not only created a new pattern of Chinese blockbusters, but also has attainments in aesthetics. The action design and composition color complement each other, although it is less than Wong Kar Wai. A little soul, but this handsome figure is indeed worthy of recognition. The film has had some bad reviews that it shouldn't have.