Treasures of Ancient China

The largest traveling exhibition of Xi’an’s famed Terra Cotta Army comes to Washington, D.C.

In March 1974, a group of peasants digging a well outside the city of Xi’an in northwest China’s Shaanxi province struck upon fragments of a clay figure. Further digging revealed a life-size soldier poised for battle. It was the first evidence of what would turn out to be one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century.

When Chinese government archaeologists began excavating the area, they uncovered an astonishing scene: thousands of intricately detailed clay soldiers, cavalrymen, servants and even acrobats and musicians, each with astonishingly individual facial features and hairstyles and wearing elaborate uniforms carved from stone. Row upon row of figures, some standing upright, some kneeling, others toppled and broken alongside damaged clay horses, were found in battle formation in trenchlike corridors 15–20 feet below the ground. It was an extraordinary treasure: an entire manmade army that had been hidden from view for more than 2,000 years.

This was the terra cotta army of Qin Shihuangdi, the self-proclaimed first emperor of China who reigned from 221 to 210 B.C. This elite unit was created for a single purpose: to accompany and protect the emperor in the afterlife. Over the past 35 years, more than 1,000 figures have been unearthed, and it’s estimated that up to 7,000 additional figures have yet to be discovered. And each year, more than two million people travel to Xi’an to view the army and excavation site.

Those unable to make the journey now have the chance to stand face-to-face with these mighty warriors. Beginning November 19, the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., will host a selection of artifacts from this legendary site in a special exhibition, Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor. The exhibition showcases 100 sets of objects, including 20 Level 1 artifacts (China’s highest ranking in terms of rarity and value)—the most artifacts of that level ever allowed to travel abroad.

“It’s a beautiful collection, and we’re just thrilled to be hosting the exhibition,” says Susan Norton, director of the National Geographic Museum. “Its objective is not only to show you these amazing archaeological treasures from China, but also to explain why they were created, what their purpose was, how they were created, how they were found and how they are conserved. It’s a multifaceted story.”

Highlights include 14 human-based terra cotta figures, including nine warriors, musicians, a bare-chested (and headless) strongman, a court official and a kneeling stable boy, as well as a terra cotta horse. Additional artifacts include weapons, stone armor, coins and coin molds, weights and measures, a bronze crane and goose, and much more. Two replica chariots, each drawn by four bronze horses, will also be on display (the original chariots, made of gold and silver, are forbidden to leave China), as will a 15-foot-long model that shows the assembly-line creation of a horse and warrior. And as with all National Geographic offerings, the exhibition will be supplemented by the organization’s world-class photographs.

About the First Emperor

Born in 259 B.C., Ying Zheng was one of China’s most important political leaders. At age 13, he became the King of Qin, one of China’s warring states. It was at this time that construction of his mausoleum began. After conquering rival territories within the land, he renamed himself Qin Shihuangdi and declared himself first emperor of the unified country. Work on Qin’s tomb and the terra cotta army continued until his death 36 years later.

While the discovery of the terra cotta army initially seemed to reinforce the belief that Qin was a ruthless leader who cared only for military might, recent digs have highlighted many of the emperor’s other accomplishments. During his reign, he instituted a civil administration system that endured for centuries. In addition to centralizing the government, he standardized weights and measures and established a uniform currency system and form of writing.

Qin also invested heavily in infrastructure and various grand-scale architectural projects. In fact, his massive fortifications became the basis for the Great Wall.

“Every [figure] is different. It’s just hard to fathom the production. Simply thinking about it and carrying it out was a huge accomplishment,” says Norton. “This is what the emperor thought he needed for his next life.”

Qin died at age 49 in 210 B.C.

Whatever future excavations reveal, one thing remains: The Terra Cotta Army is one of the most important treasures of the history of China—and of the world.
—Rebecca L. Rhoades

If You Go
What
Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor

Where
National Geographic Museum
1145 17th Street NW (at M Street)
Washington, D.C.
202/857-7588
nationalgeographic.com/terracottawarriors

When
November 19, 2009, to March 31, 2010
Daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Wednesdays 10 a.m.–9 p.m.

Tickets Prices
Adults: $12
Seniors/students/military/museum members: $10
Children ages 2-12: $6
Group rate: $8 per person

The information in this story was accurate when it was published in the November/December 2009 issue of AAA World, but details such as dates, times and prices may have changed since then. We suggest you verify such details directly with the listed establishments before making travel plans.