Ancient Chinese warriors wow British
Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007 10:15 AM
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London, England
By NBC's Matthew Perlstein
LONDON –
Warriors. Conquest. Sacred mountains. Elixirs. Rivers of mercury. A vision of cosmic opulence. The legacy of China’s first Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, has found a temporary home in a major exhibit at the British Museum.
Droves of eager spectators have flocked to catch a glimpse of "The First Emperor: China’s Terrracotta Army" at the British Museum since the exhibit opened in September.
The presentation showcases the ancient collection of 7,000 life-size warriors replete with cavalry, archers, armor, and chariots commissioned by "The First August and Divine Emperor of the Qin" after he successfully united all of China’s warring states in 221 B.C.
VIDEO: Take a tour of the British Museum’s
"The First Emperor: China’s Terrracotta Army" exhibit
The massive undertaking commissioned by the man who also claimed to be the "Emperor of the Universe" took 38 years and required over 700,000 workers. Even more amazing, each warrior is markedly differently – leading many scholars to believe that each face was modeled after a real soldier.
Although frozen in the same pose for over two millennia, the soldiers appear shockingly mobile. A chariot pulled by four terracotta horses seems to wait patiently to be spurred into action. Observing from a bench inside the exhibit, visitors seem stiffer than the warriors, struck by the power and vision of China’s first Emperor.
Cultural dialogue
With Beijing set to host the Olympics next year, many see the exhibit as the beginning of a burgeoning cultural exchange between China and the West.
Hannah Bolton of the British Museum explained that with all of the attention being paid to China’s economic advancement in recent years, the museum has been eager to draw attention to its rich cultural legacy.
"We have been very keen to generate a deeper understanding of China’s long history," explained Bolton. "The exhibit is about much more than just the warriors… it affords an intimate dialogue between two cultures."
While the landmark exhibit, described as "absolutely dazzling" by one mother-daughter duo walking through, has attracted huge crowds and advance ticket sales are booked well into the New Year, you can click on the video link above to take a tour of the exhibit from the comfort of your desktop.
