You may have seen them on TV, but nothing can quite give you the frisson that accompanies your first sight of the Terracotta Warriors. Standing in the never ending queue, you wonder what can have brought so many people, over weeks and weeks, to this exhibition. Fully booked all summer until 28th October, the World Museum in Liverpool has tried to accommodate still more people by booking into the early evening. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation as you are beckoned into the cinema for a brief introduction. And then, you meet a Horseman, and enter the darkened arena where the story is told.
China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, was responsible for the most extraordinary feat. In 246BC, aged just 13, he ascended to the throne, in a period of tumultuous conflict between warring tribes. As he grew in power and stature he managed to unify the tribes, but along the way he became obsessed with the idea of immortality. In 1974 a chance discovery by farmers digging a well in the Shaanxi province of China was to reveal an incredible underground army of life-sized Terracotta Warriors, 2000 years after his death.
The belief system of the time included an after life, provision for which the Emperor made in the most excessive indulgence. A mausoleum was constructed, modelled on the Qin capital Xianyang, with inner and outer cities, beneath an enormous burial mound. Buried in pits east of this, more than 8000 warriors for the Emperor’s protection. 130 chariots were found with 520 horses. I was totally mesmerised by the replica bronze chariots with their teams of horses, thought to represent the chariots in which the Emperor travelled across his newly unified lands. They were buried so that he could carry on touring his Empire in the afterlife.
No luxury was spared, and there were musicians, strongmen and acrobats for entertainment. The gigantic bronze cauldron above is thought to have been used in acrobatic performances. The kneeling stable boy below would have cared for the horses in the after life.
Sadly the Emperor may have brought about his own premature death. He ordered his alchemist to make potions to extend his life, some of which contained mercury. His unexpected death was most probably from mercury poisoning.
The exhibition defies description and it is amazing to think that these are but a fraction of the total necropolis. The Terracotta Army have traveled the world, inspiring awe and disbelief. The enclosed links will help you to understand much better than I can.
restlessjo 
This is all new to me. I look forward to learning more from you stories and photos. Glad I ran across your site.
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Thanks, Lisa. 🙂 🙂
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Isn’t it wonderful that these magnificent heritage pieces travel the world so those who cannot get an opportunity to see them? Although it can be a bummer if something you have set your heart on seeing in a museum is out on loan! Like the Unicorn Tapestries were when I went expressly to see them in the Musee Cluny in Paris. It’s unlikely visitors to the mammoth Xian museum will miss much though, they have enough warriors to loan to ten museums at a time 😀
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The scale of the whole thing is astounding Madhu! I enjoyed it so much 😃😃 xx
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I first saw these at an exhibition in the basement in Selfridges in London and it must have been way back in the seventies I think. I know it was at a time before China was important (or not like it is today) and they had sent these around certain countries. I remember at the time that it was a point of debate as to whether the story of these statues was true or not and if so, then whether these were copies or not. No one quite trusted what they were seeing. How times have changed.
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It’s quite extraordinary the scale of the whole, Mari. I was awed by one man’s ambition. Good time in Sicily? It’s quite changeable here at the moment but we don’t mind. Hoping for good weather for the family next weekend 😃😃
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Wow! I never knew the Terracotta Army exhibits travel around the world. We had a day in Xi’an (China) and made it just in time before the museum closed. It was a mad chase to get there. 🙂 It was absolutely worth the effort! The ancient site was discovered by farmers if I remember correctly. It’s fascinating to look at this ginormous hall with frozen warriors. Definitely one of my favourite travel moments.
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Seeing them in situ must be quite incredible, Cheryl. They made enough impact when there were just half a dozen of them. An amazing undertaking, that necropolis. 🙂 🙂
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Wow what a journey. Inspiring and epic. Thank you for sharing these stunning pictures.
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Thank you for your visit, Lita. 🙂 🙂 I’m mostly offline at the minute as my Internet is very poor.
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Thank You presenting them. I enjoyed Your post very much and loved its photos. They visited Finland in 2013 and my post is still waiting for publication – maybe after my Church posts.
Happy Sunday!
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Sometimes there is simply too much to write about isn’t there? I’m enjoying life in the Algarve at the moment with little inclination to blog. Have a great week 😃😃
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