AJA Online Publications: Museum Review

Life and Afterlife in Early Imperial China

By zhixin jason sun*

The First Emperor: China’s , the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors2 in The High Museum of Art, Atlanta, 16 Lintong County, Province, which was November 2008–19 April 2009, curated by built at the site of the First Emperor’s tomb Jane Portal. in 1979. The remaining loans are from nine other museums in Shaanxi Province and the The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army, British Museum. This is not the first time that edited by Jane Portal, with the assistance terracotta warriors have been shown in the of Hiromi Kinoshita. Pp. 240, figs. 201, map United States;3 however, the current exhibition 1. High Museum of Art, Atlanta 2008. $45 is the first one completely devoted to the First (cloth); $35 (paper). ISBN 978-1932543254 Emperor and the . The exhibition (cloth); 978-1932543261 (paper). is accompanied by a handsomely produced catalogue with contributions by leading west- ern scholars and prominent Chinese curators The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army fo- who have been involved with these works since cuses on Emperor Qin Shihuang and the grand their discovery.4 empire he created during his rule from 221 to Before the 1970s, our knowledge of the Qin 210 B.C.E. The exhibition at the High Museum dynasty was mostly derived from historical of Art in Atlanta, originally shown in a larger texts, many of which are incomplete, biased, or version at the British Museum in 2007/2008, even altered. The spectacular works of the Qin displays about 100 objects, primarily from the dynasty, recovered by means of archaeological Qin dynasty (221–206 B.C.E.), and examines excavations during the last 35 years at Lintong, them within their historical and archaeological a county about 40 km east of Xi’an in Shaanxi contexts to reassess the legacy of China’s First Province, constitute a reliable new source that Emperor and investigate the life and thought fundamentally transforms our understanding of his time.1 About half of the loans are from of this critical phase of early China.

* The author would like to thank Museum Re- 3 Earlier exhibitions, listed under their first ven- merica view Editor Beth Cohen for her help with the revi- ue, include: The Great Bronze Age of China (The Met- sion of this review and Cassandra Streich, senior ropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1980), China manager of public relations at the High Museum 5000 Years: Innovation and Transformation in the Arts

Online Museum Review of Art, for her assistance with the illustrations. (Guggenheim Museum, New York, 1998), and The 1 Under the title Terracotta Warriors: Guardians Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology (National Gal- of China’s First Emperor, this exhibition has addi- lery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1999–2000). tional U.S. venues at the Houston Museum of Nat- 4 Save for a different cover and a foreword by nstitute of A I nstitute rchaeological ural Science (18 May–25 September 2009) and at the High Museum’s director, the exhibition cata- the National Geographic Museum in Washington, logue is essentially the same as the British Mu- D.C. (19 November 2009–31 March 2010). seum’s original version (Portal 2007). Its list of 2 This review employs the museum’s common- catalogue entries therefore does not indicate the ly used name rather than the “Museum of the Ter- differences in content of the smaller Atlanta ven- racotta Warriors and Horses of Emperor Qin Shi- ue, making the volume somewhat difficult to use opyright © 2009 by the A © 2009 by opyright ssue 113.3 (July 2009) I Journal of ArchaeologyAmerican C huang” employed in Portal 2008. for exhibition visitors.  American Journal of Archaeology Online Museum Review Copyright © 2009 by the Archaeological Institute of America the legacy of the firstemperor century C.E. stele is in Xi’an, 10th-Forest the 2007,3002.1); of inv. no. Museum,StelesBritish Muse 01966); 213–14, nos. no. inv.41–54. Museum, County (Lintong 40 no. 213, 002811). seumof the Terracotta Warriors, inv. nos. 002565, 210, no. fig. 41; 211,11; (Lintong, 22 nos. 13, Mu technology,military advanced Qin and merit By introducing a system of ranks achieved by states. rivaling the among force dominant a and social institutions that transformed it into military,political, legal, its in changes radical adopt to began Qin B.C.E., century fifth late madic neighbors in the north and west. In the no from attacks off fended continuously it as eastward, capital its moving territories, its expanded gradually Qin B.C.E. millennium second mid the in arose dynasty, Shang the state, political first China’s where heartland, the distant west, far away from the traditional the in ninth arena century B.C.E., Qin was a minor state in political China’s in appeared first it When beginnings. humble rather had a king of the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 B.C.E.), “unifying [all that is] under heaven.” ment of “eliminating the six brutal powers” and lost original records the emperor’s accomplish universe. the ruled who kings sage legendary the ing made after he had unified the country, emulat of the five historic inspection tours the emperor archaic Qin inscription that commemorates one an of stele10th-centurystone a fromrubbing China. enlarged an reproduces of panel wall imposing history the in Qin of ments achieve cultural and political the manifest money andvessels ritual as such itemswhile Qin, the of prowess military the imply bells signal and sword) bronze a and arrows and weapons (including a reconstructed crossbow that space allows the generous use of a freestanding cases. in Here, arranged is display Its achievements. lifetime his introduces gallery around a organized different each overarching theme. galleries, The first four into is divided death, his with associated one the to life gresses from the legacy of the First Emperor’s 7 6 5 Qin, named after the feoffreceivedthe it after from named Qin, pro which installation, exhibition’s The Portal 2008, 108, fig. 113; 221, no. 134 (London, E.g., Portal 2008, 42, fig. 29; 43, figs. 31, 33; 49, E.g., Portal 2008, 77, fig. 67; 80–2, figs. E.g.,69–74;Portal67; fig. 2008,77, 7 This reliable 10th-century copy of the 6 An An ------5

becamethe normal form of money for all suc a small circular disk with a square hole, which and also features the modest-looking Qin coin, shapes used by the states before their various conquest in currencies different contains case production.its Ain involvednearby workers and place of manufacture, and the officialsdate and its weight, own bronze’s the document to as well as standard the of use enforce to respectively by the First and Second Emperors 1). (fig. gallery first the in weight bronze heavy the by exemplified are which units,standard own its of quantity bronze large in a distributed cast and Qin states. separate the by used units of series different the replace to duced a standard set of weights and measures adversaries andestablishedtheQindynasty. who became the First Emperor, eliminated all built an effective army with which its last king, 1981,1216,48). 74;214, no. 54 (London, British Museum, inv. no. fig. 82, 2008,Portal see coin, Qin the For 42–53. Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, inv. no. 65). tions” [Portal 2008, 106–13]). um (Kern, “Imperial Tours and Mountain Inscrip caused by internal or external forces. division of periods sufferedoccasionally has it though Qin, since years 2,000 roughly the for united remained largely has China ideal. cultural a as government centralized a with Qin was the establishment of a unified country unification. cultural and political significantly to tributed furtherdevelopmentChinesewriting, ofcon the for way the pavedwhich standardscript, cies of the new government. The Qin-reformed agen the among communication to obstacle an posed scripts among inconsistencies and dynasty.VariationsQin the of beginning the by complex particularly become had B.C.E., Chinesewritingsystem, invented before 1200 importantinnovation.moreThe even an was ment. The implementation of a standard script centralizedgovern a effectiveofrunning the resulted in economic convenience and enabled century.20th the of beginning the until dynasties cessive 8 10 9 8 The new central government of Qin intro Qin ofgovernment central new The Its inscription records two edicts issued issued edicts two records inscription Its E.g., Portal 2008, 80–2, figs. 69–73; 213–14, nos. Portal 2008, 75, fig. 65; 213, no. 38 (Xi’an, 38 no. 213, 65; fig. 75, 2008, Portal Twitchett and Loewe 1986, 57. 10 In fact, the most lasting legacy of 9 The standardization of coinagestandardization of The ------ American Journal of Archaeology Online Museum Review Copyright © 2009 by the Archaeological Institute of America qin ar unified the country, had already already had Xianyang country, the unified ther to the east. By the time the First Emperor far moved house royal Qin the when B.C.E., Xianyang was established as the capital in 350 Mountain. Jiuzong el of foot the at plain evated an on is City) Xianyang modern of east emperor dreamed ofvisiting. the that land fantasy a depicting another of mural photograph large a and Palace, Epang the of painting court imperial 18th-century Qin capital, a wall panel reproducing an early a with modern architectural model of a palace at the fragments architectural excavated augmenting by visitors for evokes it which architecture, Qin now-lost spectacular the on focuses gallery second exhibition’s The ings. build palatial its and Xianyang of scale and we are finally able to gain a sense of the shape Thanks to modern archaeological excavations, Wei River as a link to the palaces in Xianyang. covered walks, one of which extended over the by connected palaces numerous of consisted Li, south of the capital. This massive complex ace, built in a hunting park at the foot of Mount architectural extravaganza was the Epang Pal magnificent most His earth. and heaven both ruled Qin that symbolized reside, to thought Heavenly Apex, where the King of and HeavenChamber Royal was the of constellations the with alignment in palaces his of layout The in the form of the one from the defeated state. would order the construction of a new palace Xianyang. near and in palaces and temples of hundreds built Emperor First the C.E.), B.C.E.–220 (206 Qian, the official historian of the Han dynasty Sima by Emperor First the of biography the to According sources. historical of handful a from derived were visions their capital, Qin the Xianyang, at palaces splendid the about and artists had fantasized for some 2,000 poets years Although aboveground. survived not structed with perishable wood andcon earth,buildings, have Qin gone. is Qin the of deur 16 15 14 13 12 11 The site of ancient Xianyang (ca. 15 km km 15 (ca. Xianyang ancient of site The gran architectural the all Unfortunately, Shiji Shaanxi 2004, 709–13. Shaanxi 2004, 9–12, 708–9. Shiji Shiji Portal2008, 85, fig. 80; 215, nos. 57, 58 (Xian chitecture , juan 6, 256. , juan 6, 256. , juan 6, 239. 11 Each time he conquered a state, he 12 13 ------

rw it a ial city. sizable a into grown of A C 244 cm, S 17.2 ht. weight, bronze Qin 1. Fig. Warriors, inv. nos. Terracotta002974, the 002973). of Museum (Lintong, 75 no. 216, 14-758, nos. inv. 005444). Museum, Municipal yang floral or animal designs. The exquisite modern the palaces’ names, while others have molded also pottery rooftile ends, around a large ritual jade disk (fig. 2). There are spirited dragon, whose sinuous body writhes One of these is engraved in fluent lines with a measuring about 118 x 39 cm, are on display. each examples, superb Two beasts. fantastic bricks embellished with geometric designs and hollow large with built were corridors the of which had pressed surface patterns. The steps clay or paved with square clay bricks, some of straw-temperedwereconstructedwith either rooms the of floors The balconies. open and with many halls joined by stairways, corridors, composed of two identical multistoried wings building, main shape U squat a in was m, 11745 originally x The Emperor. First the Palace of Xianyang the be to believed is ings, 900 x 570 m and comprises eight major build architectural complex,which measures about km 50 roughly area an in ies iron and foundries, brick and tile factories, and armor bronze workshops, pottery plus remains, architectural major 33 found have archaeologists half-century, last the mately haanxi Provincial Provincial haanxi ultural 17 rt). Portal2008, 88, fig. 86; 91, fig. 88; 215, no. 62; H eritage Promotion H istory Museum, inv. no. 65 ( 65 no.inv. Museum, istory C enter; courtesy 17 some of which bear 14 uig approxi During 2 . 15 The largest largest The H igh Museum B . C . S E haanxi haanxi . X i’an, i’an, 16 - - -

 American Journal of Archaeology Online Museum Review Copyright © 2009 by the Archaeological Institute of America Shaanxi 2004, 714–20). and Architecture” [Portal 2008, 86, fig. 78]; seeexhibitionthein (Kinoshita, alsonot are Palaces “On ings from palace corridors that depict architecture Lintong County—about 1.5 km from the tomb in village their near field a in water for ging digfarmersgroupof a 1974, of springthe In accidental. completely was discovery initial their that know people few famous, world continuing itsmarch inendlessrows. army terracotta the of impression the gives mural of a burial pit at the far end of the gallery inspiring solemnity, while a large photograph quer, colors, possibly inspired by the art of Qin lac bold two these of combination The print. red in texts Chinese ancient enlarged by exit and painted blackandpunctuatedattheentrance them from every angle. This gallery’s walls are on long platforms that enable visitors to view placed are sculptures The 3). (fig. room the of center the at installed are chariots drawn two half-life-sized bronze sculptures of horse- sculptures of warriors and modern replicas of terracotta life-sized Eight exhibition. highlight the the of is Shaanxi, Lintong, at tomb Emperor’s First the from finds chaeological the terr wall paintingsandengravedstones. as on representations of architecture from Qin roofs, is based on archaeological finds as well Palace, showing its three stories and two-tiered Xianyang of wing west the of model wooden 18 Although the terracotta warriors are now are warriors terracotta the Although ar striking to devoted gallery, third The A ( 005444 inv.no.Museum, Municipal Fig. 2. Qin hollow pottery brick with engraved dragon design, lgth. 119 cm, ca. 221–206 Tao Fu 2004. The preserved Qin wall paintwallpreserved QinThe 2004. Tao Fu 19 rt). bestows the display space with an awe- ac o tta army S haanxi haanxi 18 C ultural ultural - - - - H eritage Promotion Promotion eritage tigate the discovery. Controlled excavations excavations Controlled discovery. the tigate inves to Institute Archaeological Provincial chaeologists was dispatched from the Shaanxi figures.terracottalife-sized of fragments upon Emperor—came First the of to represent the central Qin army,Qin comprised central the represent to in pit 1, the largest of the three pits, are believed were covered with layers of earth. that mats reed by topped beams wooden of postsandeachhugeoncepitceilingofhelda embankments the that believearchaeologists floors, pits’ the on fragments of basis the On their walls lined with wooden beams and posts. The corridors’ floors are paved withcorridors. 11 bricks into and each of space the dividing runlengthwise through each ofthe three pits, earth, rammed with built embankments,also Tenconcrete.as hard as earth rammed of ers lay thick reinforcedwith been have surfaces wall and ground Their constructions. cated the pits is close to 8,000. to belongingsculptures terracotta of number m 200,000 than more is pits three the of areasurface more total The pits. burial two found archaeologists years, two following the During detected.were chariots of soldiers and horses plus remains of wooden whichabout6,000life-sized terracotta figures m long by 62 m wide and 4.5 to 6.5 m deep, in 230 about pit burial large a uncovered soon 22 21 20 19 The approximately 6,000 terracotta figures sophisti are themselves pits burial The Yuan 2002, 229–32. Yuan 2002, 277–83. Yuan 1990, 64. Infra n. 31. C enter; courtesy courtesy enter; B .CE 21 . X ianyang, H igh Museum of of Museum igh 2 20 , and the total total the and , A team of ar of teamA X 22 ianyang

- - - -  American Journal of Archaeology Online Museum Review Copyright © 2009 by the Archaeological Institute of America ta Warriors, inv. nos. 02778, 000850). 113; 212, no. 26 (Lintong, Museum of the Terracot infantry,cavalry,and categories: major three into fall soldiers pits. of sculptures excavated The three the in remain underground still untouched sculptures ap 8,000 the of proximately most thus and recovered, been the pit’swalls. towardbacks their with attention at standing soldiers foot and officers 68 plus center the at chariot one contains it headquarters; army’s 3, the smallest one, is believed to represent the cavalry,charioteers, Pit 300 soldiers. foot and about of unit combined large a and soldiers, charioteers, a battalion of 300 archers and foot three containing each chariots, four-horse 64 riders standing in front of armored their horses, a battalion of 108 of consisting cavalry a m 6,000 of field. horse chariots, in formation as if on the four- battle and officers, armored soldiers, foot of 25 24 23 002747, 002763, 000850, cm,106 chariots cm,152 ca. 221–206 Fig.3. To date, more than 1,900 sculptures have sculptures 1,900 than more date, To Yuan 2002, 232–38. Portal 2008, 42, fig. 28; 142, fig. 149; 220, no. 220, 149; fig. 142, 28; fig. 42,Portal2008, no. 220, 158; fig. 155, 49; fig. 62,Portal2008, 23 Pit 2, an L-shaped earth construction earth L-shaped an 2, Pit nstallation view of Qin terracotta warriors and replicas of bronze chariots, ht. of warriors 184–195 cm, ht. of ht.cm, 184–195 warriors chariots,of ht.bronze of replicas and warriors terracotta Qin of view Installation 2 to the northeast of pit 1, houses 1, pit of northeast the to T22G9.11, 02778, 003160(M. Jensen; ofA HighMuseum courtesy B .CE . Lintong,the of Museum - - - Warriors, inv. nos. 002747, T22G9.11). Terracottathe 110of(Lintong,Museum no. 219, ta Warriors, inv. nos. 002817, 002830). 112; 210, no. 10 (Lintong, Museum of the Terracot tunic. a low-ranking charioteer officer in an armored and headdress double-tailed tall, a with ficer row are also officers: an unarmored senior of double-tailed headdress. The men in the third rank, wears long, beribboned armor and a tall, his signifying chest his on ribbons three with nior officer and a standing archer. row.first the in stand armor,without tunic a wearing infantryman, light a armor,and body and tunic knee-high a wearing infantryman, armored pits. An the original organization of terracotta warriors in They have been arranged in rows to evoke the each one represents a different type (see fig. 3). been carefully selected from pits 1 and 2 so that ing archers. The eight warriors on display have armored foot soldiers, and standing and kneel middle, and low rank, light-armed and heavily high, of officers including subcategories, into charioteers. The infantry can be further divided 26 Portal 2008, 72, fig. 61; 141, fig. 147; 213, no. 35; T 26 erracotta The last row contains a chariot driver chariot a contains row last The W arriors,inv. nos. 001, 002817, 002830, 24 rt). Behind them are a se a are them Behind 25 The officer, - - - -  American Journal of Archaeology Online Museum Review Copyright © 2009 by the Archaeological Institute of America and a cavalryman with his horse. his with cavalryman a and eoe a rtcie patc aeil Lacquer material. plastic protective, a becomes lacquer tree ( Museum of the Terracotta Warriors). um of the Terracotta Warriors, inv. no. 003160). Portal 2008, 51, fig. 42; 212, no. 23 (Lintong, Muse Warriors, inv. nos. 001, 002763). Terracotta For the the horse, of see Museum (Lintong, 17 no. 211, lacquer.of malachite,and ite, many mineral colors, including cinnabar, azur revealed the painting process, which employed has analysisChemical textiles. contemporary cate geometric patterns, which faithfully copied the armor on senior officers bore colorful, intri red, green, blue, purple, or black. The borderspink flesh colors, and oftheir robes and trousers colors. The warriors’ faces were pale yellow or itself; however, they terracotta were the originally of painted in colors bright reddish—the workshops musthavebeeninvolved. of largenumber a that sculpturessuggest the on engraved or stamped and names craftsmen’s workshop 80 than more the but fired, the kilns where the terracotta sculptures were facture. manu their of process the illustrates vividly gallery,warriors’ the in displayed workshop, sculpture Qin a of model miniature modern beings. Ahuman of composed army real a as diverse as look to made sculptureswerethus warrior finished The individually.reworked also were armor and Other costumes, parts, body individually. hairdos and faces the model could artists that so sculptures the of surface the to applied was clay firing, before joined with the feet and torso. In the final steps then were which modules, separate as molds process. Arms, hands, and heads were mass-production made in a from resulted sculptures vary from oneanother. likewise beards and/or mustaches, hairdos, their and type, body and face different a has soldiers eight the of Each arrows. shooting light armor, providing mobility for riding and mum protection, the cavalryman wears short, maxi for armor long with equipped is driver 31 30 29 28 27 Today the sculptures are either gray or or gray either are sculptures the Today The thousands of individualized terracotta Portal 2008, 158, fig. 162; 220, no. 115 (Lintong, Yuan 2002, 263–67. Thieme and Emmerling 2001. Portal 2008, 40, fig. 25; 44, fig. 35; 210, no. 7; no. 210, 35; fig. 44, 25; fig. Portal40,2008, Chinese lacquer comes from the sap of the of sap the from comes lacquerChinese 28 Archaeologists have yet to locate locate to yet have Archaeologists 31 Rhus verniciflua The several conserved examples conserved several The 30 applied on top of a layer a of top on applied ), which, when cured, 27 While the While 29

- - - - - four smartly trimmed and elaborately capari by drawn is which chariot, tall the as known even showtheremaining pigments. replicas these and painted, naturalistically were chariots bronze The exhibition. the in painstakingly produced replicas are displayed hence, and, travel, to fragile too are chariots restore them to their original splendor, but the to years two for worked Conservators pieces. brokenwas morechariot into1,000 each than of the tomb emperor’s mound. chamber alongside a burial pit at the west end The originals were found in 1980, in a wooden as striking as the terracotta warriors (see fig. 3). bronzethirdthe in arechariots gallery nearly riors’ original colorful appearance. war visualizetheexhibitionvisitor the helps fragile to travel. But a detailed color illustration too preservedarepigmentssculpturewith of Museum of the Terracotta Warriors). the Terracotta Warriors). 6–13. and Emmerling 2001, 339–43. cationwater-basedof pigments; alsoThiemesee appli the beforesurface clayporous the sealed warriors, such as hair and armor. It probably also formed a glossy ground on unpainted areas of the “Recent to devoted is section final this state, grand underground empire. As the wall panels the First Emperor’s tomb, or, in other words, hisnewchapter begins about the investigation of emperor the future ond millenniumB.C.E. been introduced from western Asia in the sec improved the design of the chariot, which had toured the country. Qin craftsmen significantly riage in which the First Emperor rode when car he of kind the possibly was vehicle second which passengers may either sit or sleep. This front before this chariot’s large and deep car, in covered by an oval canopy. and windows movable with car rectangular a has chariot four-horse second canopy.The umbrellalike round large, a under posture horses. soned 35 34 33 32 The first one depicts a light chariot, also chariot, light a depicts one first The half-life-sized of replicas modern two The In the exhibition’s fourth and last gallery, a Loewe and Shaughnessy 1999, 202–8. Portal 2008, 37, fig. 23 (Lintong, 23 Museum of fig. Portal37,2008, Portal 2008, 38, fig. 24; 210, no. 6 (Lintong, 6 no. 210, 24; fig. 38, 2008, Portal uem f h Traot Wrir 1998, Warriors Terracotta the of Museum ’s t of ar omb 33 The driver rides in a standing a in rides driver The chaeol 35 34 ogy at the first The driver sits in 32 When found, - - - - -

 American Journal of Archaeology Online Museum Review Copyright © 2009 by the Archaeological Institute of America Discoveries”Tomb.”Future“Thetheand of 012).For the excavation report, see Shaanxi 2007, MuseumtheofTerracotta Warriors, inv. no.DM: (Lintong,133 K0007T3:27),Institute,inv.no. no. no. 130(Xi’an, Shaanxi Provincial Archaeological no. 006484). Provincial inv.Archaeological Institute,Shaanxi lations in some of the panels could be improved. Chinese and English; however, the Chinese trans strong a of sculpture terracotta the is finds emperor.” the for performances musical for birds tame sented an office of the Qin court that “providedrepre probably (K0007) birds and musicians thefor Afterlife”containingpit[201]),thethe (“Entertainment Qingbo Duan to According are highly individualized. Two are on display. faces their butcostumes, similar wear sicians mu The survived. not have thatinstruments musical held once they that suggest hands their of positions The pit. same the in tunnel a kneelingmusicianssittinginwereorfound istically painted. species. And they, too, were originally natural that specialists have been able to identify their rendered with such remarkably realistic details bank inside a burial pit (K0007). underground an structure in the 6 shape within of a river 2000 and in found geese, were 20 cranes—that swans, birds—20 bronze life-sized 46 the of two are 4), (fig. beak its in fish a with crane standing a and swan ming by archaeology. recoveredexamples the likeiron, and leather either entirely of leather or made of a combination armor of contemporaneous actual sents repre armor stone the that believe Scholars afterlife. the in spirits evil against protection have been worn, must have been intended for stonearmor,Thekg. 18 heavyto toowhichis weighs and waist, the around cm 128 long, laced together by flat copper strips. It is 74 cm plateslimestone 612 of consistsarmor of suit during a trial excavation in 1999. 87 suits that were unearthed from a storage pit as fascinating as the terracotta warriors. recentThe10 finds displayed here are leastat 39 38 37 36 The most impressive of the more recent recent more the of impressive most The of sculptures terracotta life-sized Eleven The bronze water birds on display, a swim of one is display on armor limestone The Yuan 2002, 166–71. Portal2008, 193,fig. 195; 202–3, fig. 201; 221, Portal2008, 180, fig. (Xi’an, 183; 126 221, no. The headings on the wall panels are in bothpanelswallheadingsaretheThein on 38

39 37 The birds are This restored 36 40 ------

tures come from? Although suggestions about Chinese cultures. tures of human beings were unknown in early sculp life-sized lifelike, But years. 1,000 than precise ceramic molds to cast bronze for more complex, producing been already had who Chinese, the to available readily was figures art historians. The technology for of making such curiosity intellectual the anatomical features—pique realistic astonishingly display particularly examples that, like the strongman, remarkable of all. muscles and a protruding stomach, is the most eled torsos are bare. The wrestler, with brawny only short skirts, so that their realistically mod 1999.in tomb emperor’s the near (K9901) pit burial a in figures life-sized other 10 with found was which 5), (fig. lifter weight a possibly man, [K9901T1G3-5]; see also Yuan 2002, 179–97). seumtheTerracottaof Warriors, inv. no.DM:005 logical Institute, inv. nos. 006481, 006482). ProvincialShaanxi(Xi’an,Archaeo 132 no. 221, 161–73. origin. nean Mediterra ancient of unmistakably is which site of a blue-glazed (perhaps faience) beaker, same the at presence the is surprising more import. western a as identified have they which tomb, Qin B.C.E. fourth-century late a in beads glass found have chaeologists Tarimthe fromRecently, (nephrite) Basin. ar also for the earliest import of a variety of jade probably,most and, chariots of introduction the for responsible were nomads seen, have Europe. with ultimately and Asia western and Central with exchange China’s bors on the steppes were an active conduit for contact with the West. ninth century B.C.E., the Qin the state already in had early that suggests archaeology from Evidence world. Hellenistic the and Persia ancient of art the of us remind persistently nonetheless figures human Chinese resented rep faithfully these dismissed, often are and cultural diffusion currently tend to be scorned 45 44 43 42 41 40 Where did the inspiration for such sculp such for inspiration the did Where sculptures— terracotta monumental The Portal 2008, 156, fig. 160, no. 114 (Lintong, Mu Gansu 2008, 17, 27, fig. 19, no. 12. Gansu 2008, 26–7, figs. 19, 61, nos. 12, 24. Bunker 2002; see also Boardman 1994. Han Wei 1996, 4–11. Portal 2008, 198–200, figs. 199, 200; 210, no. 3; 41 Thesestanding humanfigures wear 45 More evidence will be needed be will evidence More 42 Their nomadic neigh 43 As we we As 44 Even Even ------ American Journal of Archaeology Online Museum Review Copyright © 2009 by the Archaeological Institute of America m wide; its depth is speculated to be between walls to be 460 m long and 392 the chamber’s mound. Preliminary investigations have found earthen undergroundthe beneath lies palace, km 2.135 of area surface a with site rectangular a cupies offerings. of and numerous burial pits filled with a variety kitchens for the preparation of sacrificial food, surrounded by a large memorial hall, imperial high, m 45 hill man-made a is which mound, central a includes that complex massive a be to itself tomb the revealed have surveys and excavations Extensive tomb. Emperor’s First made have over the last 35 archaeologists years in the vicinity discoveries of the numerous the of fraction small a only represent display in Chinese archaeology looks bright. discoveries future major for outlook the research, in advances rapid and fieldwork of pace vigorous the However, given influence. cross-cultural of issues complex resolve to no. DM: 012(S Fig. 4. Qin bronze crane with fish inbeak, ht. 75 cm,ca. 221–206 46 As spectacular as they are, the works on on works the are, they as spectacular As See Shaanxi 2000, 1–13; Yuan 2002, 20–38. 2 46 . The tomb chamber, or so-called chamber,or tomb The . haanxi C The walled tomb complex oc complex tomb walled The ultural H eritage Promotioneritage C enter; ofA HighMuseum courtesy - date knowledge and understanding of early of understanding and knowledge date up-to- eye-opening, an with away come will or architecture should see this show. The visitor Anyone interested in history, archaeology, art, sources. written than vividly more story his Emperor—tell First the of vision and ments, achieve existence, the of evidence tangible century. The extraordinary works on display— discoveries made in China during thearchaeological last important half- most the of one of c flowed.” Yangtze,they that way a such in seas the and the and YellowRiver the rivers, of hundreds : “Mercury was used to fashion the by tomb the of description the corroborate to Tomb”Shihuangdi’s appears Qin This [204]). in Mercury of Level High the of Studies tific “Scien Qingbo, (Duan mercury of level high extraordinarily an contains it that indicate mound the under Testsearth m. of 30 and 20 onclusion B .CE 47 This exhibition is a remarkable presentation Shiji . Lintong, Museum of the , juan 6, 265. 47 rt). T erracotta W arriors, inv. - -  American Journal of Archaeology Online Museum Review Copyright © 2009 by the Archaeological Institute of America Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and and Relics Cultural of Institute Provincial Gansu Bunker, E.C. 2002. 1994. J. Boardman, jason.sun new 1000 fifth the metropolitan museumof department of the greatest culture intheworld. perhaps of formation the of thus and China andGao Juxian L Fig. 5. Qin terracotta strongman, ht. 171 cm, ca. 221–206 intong, Museum of and Yale UniversityPress. Art of Museum Metropolitan The Haven: New Collections YorkNew Other V.and Eugene Thaw The Steppes: Antiquity york, new avenue @ metmuseum.org . London:Thames&Hudson. . Exhibition catalogue. New Yorkcatalogue. Exhibition . and Y york 10028 asian uan; ofA HighMuseum courtesy Works C T Nomadic Art of the Eastern Eurasian erracotta The Diffusion of Classical Art in Art Classical of Diffusion The art W arriors, inv. no. DM: 005 ( ited art rt). B . C X . ia E . Shaanxi Provincial Archaeological Institute. 2004. 2004. Institute. Archaeological Provincial Shaanxi Portal, J., ed. 2007. of Horses TerracottaWarriorsand the of Museum Loewe, M., and E. Shaughnessy, eds. 1999. Han Wei. 1996. “Some Remarks on the Gold Leaves ———. 2002. Yuan Zhongyi. 1990. Twitchett, D., and M. Loewe, eds. 1986. the “On 2001. Emmerling. E. and C., Thieme, Recon the on Studies “Preliminary 2004. Fu. Tao Shiji and Institute Archaeological Provincial Shaanxi and Institute Archaeological Provincial Shaanxi Beijing: SciencePress. cavations at the Qin Capital Xianyang Archaeological Report on the Investigations and Ex Army Cultural RelicsPublishingHouse. leum—An Excavation Report and Horses Unearthed from the Qin Shihuang Mauso Archaeological Institute. 1998. Provincial Shaanxi and Shihuang Qin Emperor University Press. of Civilization to 221 B.C Origins the From China: Ancient of History bridge (in Gansu” Chinese). Lixian, from Dynasty Qin the of 9:4–28. of Hui Nationality, Gansu” (in Chinese). County Autonomous Zhangjiachuan in Period States Warring the of Cemetery Majiayuan the Autonomous County. 2008. “2006 Hui Excavation on Zhangjiachuan of Museum Archaeology, of Qin].Xi’an:ShaanxiPeople’sPress. Tombthe of Study and ery EmperorFirst the of Beijing: CulturalRelicsPublishingHouse. Mausoleum Shihuang Qin of Horses versity Press. 220. B.C.–A.D. 221 History of China Landesamt fürDenkmalpflege. mtes für Denkmalpflege 83. Munich: Bayerishes Landesa Bayerischen des Arbeitshefte 334–69. Petzet, M. and Emmerling, E. Blänsdorf, C. by Emperor/ Chinese First the of TerracottaArmy The Shihuang: Kaisers/Qin chinesischen Terrakottaarmeeersten Die des huang: Polychromy of the Terracotta Army.” In 763–75. Beijing:SciencePress. Xianyang Capital Qin the at Excavations and tions Chinese). In (in 1” Site at Palace Xianyang Qin of struction Relics PublishingHouse. Precinct, 2001–2003 Mausoleum Shihuang Qin the of Researches logical Emperor Qin Shihuang. 2007. Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Chinese). Beijing:SciencePress. 1999 in Shihuang’sMausoleum Qin of Precinct of Emperor Qin Shihuang. 2000. Terracottathe Warriorsof Horses Museum and . BySimaQian.Zhonghuashujuedition. . London:TheBritishMuseumPress. 秦始皇陵考古發現與研究. Wenwu Archaeological Report on the Investiga The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta . Vol. 1, A Study of Terracotta Warriors and 6:4–11. Cambridge: Cambridge Uni Cambridge Cambridge: (in Chinese). Beijing: Cultural The Ch’in and Han Empires . Cambridge: Cambridge 秦始皇陵兵馬俑 (in Chinese). Beijing: The Bronze Chariots Report on Archaeo Excavation of the (in Chinese). (in The Cambridge (in Chinese). [ The Discov The Cam , edited edited , Qin Shi Wenwu (in ------,