[Objectives]  To investigate the molecular mechanisms used by plants in response to attack by the brown planthopper BPH; [Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)], a piercing-sucking insect that is now one of the most globally important rice pests. [Methods]  Transcriptome data of seedling stage rice, with, or without, BPH were obtained using Illumina next-generation sequencing technology. Gene expression levels were obtained using RSEM software and DEseq2 used to analyze differential gene expression. Twenty differentially expressed genes were randomly selected for verification with fluorescent quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and GeneMerge software was used to analyze KEGG and GO enrichment of differentially expressed genes. [Results]  A total of 1 104 differentially expressed genes were identified in rice plants infested by BPH, of which 435 were up-regulated and 669 were down-regulated. Twenty differentially expressed genes were selected for validation with qPCR, among which 18 were consistent with RNA-Seq estimation thereby confirming the reliability of transcriptome analysis. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis show that the up-regulated genes were enriched into 14 KEGG pathways and 30 GO terms, that are mainly involved in oxidative stress, trehalose synthesis and secondary metabolism, whereas the down-regulated genes were enriched into 29 KEGG pathways and 26 GO terms that are mainly involved in the synthesis of cellulose, protein and fatty acids. In addition, 61 transcription factors and 13 genes related to the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid pathways were enriched in the differentially expressed genes. [Conclusion]  Feeding by the BPH stimulates the stress and defense responses of rice plants, and also reduces nutrient synthesis, which suggests a possible impact of BPH on rice yield. These results reveal changes in gene expression in rice plants in response to feeding by BPH, the possible impact of BPH on rice yield, and also provide theorical support for developing rice cultivars resistant to BPH.