“夫英雄者，胸懷大志，腹有良策，有包藏宇宙之機，吞吐天地之志者也。”─《三國演義》第21回 戰國時代，七分天下，是為「戰國七雄」：秦、趙、韓、魏、燕、楚、齊。這幾個國家為奪天下、戰亂頻仍，黎民百姓則飽受戰爭帶來的顛沛流離，苦不堪言。 七雄之中，秦國最強，秦王雄霸一方，企圖一統天下，因此成為其他六個國家刺客共同覬覦的暗殺對象；而這些刺客裡面，又以殘劍（梁朝偉飾）、飛雪(張曼玉飾)、以及長空(甄子丹飾)三人武藝最為高強。十年來，他們不斷尋隙刺殺秦王，讓秦王夜不安枕，損失近身侍衛數千名。 秦王寢食難安了十年，，一心欲除之而後快。 這時，神秘劍客無名(李連杰飾)出現，憑著他神奇的劍法，竟獨力把秦王視為心腹大患的三人一一除去。這讓秦王喜出望外，聞訊後立即賞賜晉見，願聞其詳。 無名道出來龍去脈，述說自己如何將他們逐一擊破。然而，秦王卻認為另有隱情…
In 16th century Japan, peasants Genjuro and Tobei sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare. Genjuro's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa, as well as Tobei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi and Ohama.
西元前3世紀的中國，為群雄各踞的戰國時代，雄心壯志的秦王嬴政（李雪健飾）汲汲營營於統一天下的大業。 當時燕國為嬴政的心腹大患 ，為幫助他早日完成統一霸業，嬴政的青梅竹馬趙姬（鞏俐飾）於是冒險至敵對的燕國臥底，假意策動刺殺嬴政的計畫。 如此一來，一旦東窗事發，秦國便有出兵攻打燕國的名目。 但是在這個計謀得逞之前，嬴政發現了關於自己身世的秘密：嬴政並 非先皇的親生兒子，他的生父事實上是當時的宰相呂不韋（陳凱歌飾）。 嬴政知道後又惱又怒，將生父呂不韋賜死，母后流放異地。為了 永絕後患，於是欲將所有知道這個驚人秘密的人趕盡殺絕。因此，他揮軍攻打鄰近的趙國，捉拿知道真相的樊於期（呂曉禾飾）。但嬴政違背對趙姬「不攻打她祖國」的諾言，在趙國境內濫殺無辜，連手無寸鐵的孩童也不放過，這種種的暴行看在深愛著他的趙姬眼中，實在難以忍受。趙姬於是改變初衷，決定假戲真做，與燕太子姬丹（孫周飾）同心戮力策畫謀刺嬴政的行動。 執行這項任務的人選，是名劍客荊軻（張豐毅飾）。荊軻當時早已厭 倦刀劍生涯，想要歸隱山林，但最後仍答應為此重出江湖。荊軻一出現，旋以他的俠義風範攫獲趙姬的芳心，兩人墜入情網，不料荊軻最後的行刺行動，因「圖窮匕現」而失手喪命......
A squadron of Japanese Self-Defense Force soldiers find themselves transported through time to their country's warring states era, when rival samurai clans were battling to become the supreme Shogun.
During the Warring States Period, Nung-yuk, the Princess of Qin, denounces the mundane world and dreams of marrying an immortal. This extends to her criteria for choosing a husband: excelling in flute playing. Once, she is captivated by the tune 'Three Melodies of Rainbow Dress' and mistakes the qin player Siu Sze for a fairy. Yuk then persuades Sze to sit the national exam for a better future. Sze's music attracts hundred of birds. Yuk returns to the palace pleading with her father Esquire Muk to agree to their marriage. Despite the Empress Dowager's opposition, Yuk leads a secluded life with Siu afar; a noble breed thus living a hard life. The King lets her go, only granting an annual visit. A year later, Yuk and her husband returns for a visit. The Queen still wants to break them up. Later, Jin State sends people to discover the whereabouts of their Princes. Siu is in fact the Prince of Jin. With Muk’s blessings, Siu marries Yuk in Jin, a marriage which brings peace to both states.