inaccuracies. Chief among these is the distortion of the character of Gao Jianli. According to Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, Gao Jianli was a friend of the assassin Jing Ke, who fails in an attempt upon Ying Zheng's life. Other minor errors, mostly of academic interest, also contribute to the film's lack of historical authenticity. The director Zhou Xiaowen defended his film by saying that it was an exploration of ideas and values for the present day and was not intended as a strictly historical depiction of the First Emperor. In a 1999 interview, he said "I don't like history; I just like the buildings, the palaces, the dress." The film influenced the creation of Tan Dun's 2006 opera The First Emperor. See also List of historical drama films of Asia Hero Qin Shi Huang (2001 TV series) Rise of the Great Wall The Emperor and the Assassin References External links 1996 films 1990s historical films Chinese epic films 1990s Mandarin-language films Films set in the Warring States period Films set in the Qin dynasty Cultural depictions of Qin Shi Huang Chinese historical films Films adapted into operas Films directed by Zhou Xiaowen