Terracotta army marches on Virginia
Print Edition
THE discovery of China’s underground army of nearly 8,000 life-size terracotta soldiers is considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century.
More than four decades after they were first seen in modern times, by farmers in Shaanxi Province, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has 10 of the majestic figures on display in an exhibit that explores the history of ancient China and the reign of its first emperor, Ying Zheng.
Although various pieces have been displayed in museums in New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and elsewhere, the exhibit in Richmond includes 40 objects never seen in the US, including ancient jade ornaments, precious jewelry and ceramics.
“Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China” is only being shown in Richmond and at the Cincinnati Art Museum, where it goes after its run in Virginia ends on March 11.
The exhibit explores the life of Ying Zheng — who declared himself Qin Shihuang, the first emperor — and how he influenced China during his reign from 221-210 BC. Historians believe he ordered the construction of the terracotta army, which was buried in pits and discovered 2,000 years later just east of his burial site.
“We want visitors to learn about the first emperor and what people’s lives were like then, what technology developed during that time and the architecture of that time,” said Li Jian, the co-curator.
“No matter rich or poor, royal emperors or commoners, people had a quest for immortality. These objects reflect the people’s lives at the time.”
The first two rooms of the exhibit showcase horse and chariot fittings, arms and armor, works of art in gold and silver, and other cultural relics.
A bucket-shaped mask with an open mouth and cut-out eyes is the oldest object, dating to 3,500 BC, when an exorcist would have worn it while performing rituals to ward off evil spirits and misfortune. A necklace of red agate beads and white jade pendants was a type of jewelry favored by Qin nobility. A bronze household lamp would have contained vegetable oil or animal fat, capable of burning for long periods of time in an era before candles.
Visitors encounter an imposing sight as they enter the third room: The terracotta soldiers, 1.8 meters tall and weighing between 110 and 180 kilograms each, are positioned in individual open cases, in various poses of war.
There’s the armored general, with detailed carving depicting a protective leather apron overlaid with plated armor and an infantryman at attention with both arms at his side, among many others.
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