Wednesday, May 23, 2018

TERRA COTTA ARMY EXHIBIT - OUR VISIT LAST JANUARY (2018)

The Legacy of the First Emporer of China


After my extended blog break, I had forgotten all about the time we visited the Terra Cotta Army.  It was being exhibited at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. 


We had heard of the exhibit and one day in January, we decided to drive the two hours to Richmond.   There is information at this link.  We intended to go back but unfortunately it ended in March.



A nearby information sign gave me the following information:


"Chariot No. 1 with Horses (replica)
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Bronze, pigment"


"Excavated from Pit of Bronze Chariots, Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum, 1980
Emporor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, MMYL007"


"Drawn by four horses, this painted bronze chariot is a replica of one of two chariots excavated in 1980 and thought to represent the First Emporor's royal convoy.  The carriage is intricately cast and painted with floral and geometric designs, and the horses are adorned with elaborate bridle components."


"At the reins, underneath a tall parasol, stands a charioteer with a long sword, a shield, crossbow and quiver are mounted onto the carriage walls for additional protection."


At this link I found the following information.

"First discovered in 1974 by farmers in China, an underground army of nearly 8,000 life-size terracotta figures is known as one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century.  Discovered one mile east of the known burial site of the First Emperor of China (r.221-210 BC), or Qin Shihuang, the terracotta army was created to accompany the emperor to the afterlife."


Armored General
Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
Earthenware


Middle Ranking Officer
Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
Earthenware


Armored Infrantryman
Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
Earthenware



Civil Official
Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
Earthenware


Standing Archer
Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
Earthenware


Kneeling Archer
Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
Earthenware


Armored Charioteer
Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
Earthenware


The following collages are of the exhibits we saw before we went in to see the Terra Cotta Army.







This was a miniature tucked into a planter outside.    



Also, I found another blog today (I wrote this post on May 2nd, 2018) called Southern Virginia Mom, and she also has a post about the Terra Cotta Army with interesting information.  You can find her post and great photos here.

Another blog called Living the Seasons, with a post on the army can be found here.

I hope you have enjoyed our glimpse of this extraordinary exhibit.  

20 comments:

  1. My partner saw the Terracotta Army in China. I am a tad jealous of both him and you. What an amazing sight. And each of the warriors is different - which blew me away even further.

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    1. That must have been amazing to see this exhibit in China.

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  2. There was an exhibition here of some of the 'army' which I didn't get round to viewing. Work came first, you know how it is! Some friends of mine went though, and brought back photographs. Thanks for sharing yours.

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    1. Hi Valerie, work has a way of doing that. Happy to hear your friends brought back photos for you. I am also happy you enjoyed mine.

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  3. wow wow !!! these are amazing! I can't believe I have never heard of them or seen them. those statues are just stunning.. my favorite is the kneeling archer and all those horses to... glad your remembered this one.

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  4. Amazing shots! I would have enjoyed that exhibit.

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  5. Quite amazing and a relativly new discovery. Must have been very interesting.
    Hope the rest of the week is a good one. Diane

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  6. The scholar considered largely responsible for their discovery and restoration has died recently..

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  7. what a wonderful opportunity to visit these!

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    1. We thought so too, and could not pass on the opportunity.

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  8. Hi Denise,
    What an amazing exhibition to visit, shame you missed a return before it closed.
    They were really so skillful in making these terracotta figures.
    All the best, John

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    1. They certainly were. Thanks John and the same to you.

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  9. This is truly wonderful.
    I enjoyed seeing your photographs.

    All the best Jan

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  10. This is wonderful Denise -- and I enjoyed the rest of the tour of the Art Museum in the later post. I think its great that you can take pictures of the art! (Especially since it is the only way I'll ever see it!)

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    1. Thank you Sallie, not everyone let’s you take photos but a lot of places do here as long as we don’t use flash.

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