Kneeling Archer, Qin dynasty (221–206 B.C.), earthenware [Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum] (Photo: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts)
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, or Qin Shihuang, the terracotta army was created to accompany this 3rd-century BC ruler to the afterlife.
The exhibition Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts features 10 majestic terracotta figures, including a cavalry horse, among 130 works that tell the story of China’s birth and one man’s lasting imprint on a nation. The exhibition also features arms and armor, horse and chariot fittings, ritual bronze vessels, works in gold and silver, jade ornaments, precious jewelry, and ceramics
Gathered from 14 museums and archaeological institutes across Shaanxi Province, China, the works provide insights into Qin history, the creation of a unified China, the First Emperor’s rise to power, and his quest for immortality. More than 40 objects in the exhibition have never been on view in the United States.
Enjoy a special curator-led tour of the exhibition, lunch in the museum’s Marble Hall, and time to explore the museum on your own.
Fringe stop at about 8:55 a.m.
