From June 26th to December 2010 the Royal Ontario Museum will be hosting The Warrior Emperor and China's Terracotta Army, an exhibition of objects from the tomb complex of Ying Zheng, First Emperor of China (r.221-210 B.C.).
The display is curated by Dr Clen Shen, Senior Curator and Bishop White Chair of Far Eastern Art and Archaeology, at the ROM. The successful organisation of this exhibition is due to the joint collaboration of the ROM, the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, and the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre, People’s Republic of China, with assistance from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Glenbow Museum, Calgary, and the Royal BC Museum, Victoria.
A similar exhibition, Terracotta Army – Cultural Relics of Shaanxi, took place recently at the British Museum (13th September 2007-6th April 2008), but according to Dr Shen, “This Canadian national tour is a newly developed and contextually different presentation than previous, international displays. The number of full-sized warriors and the exhibition’s scope makes this the largest display of the First Emperor’s terracotta army ever to be seen in North America.”
China's First Emperor – Ying Zheng
Ying Zheng came to power at the age of thirteen. As King of Qin, he became known as Qin Shihuangdi, pronouncing himself “First August and Divine Emperor.” Amongst his achievements were the unification of China after 500 years of conflict and instability, the establishment of an enduring legal and administrative system and, of course, the first Great Wall of China.
Throughout his short reign, the Emperor prepared for the afterlife, believing he could guarantee his continuing dominance, even after death. More than 700,000 workers helped construct a huge underground complex, including several enormous pits containing eight thousand terracotta warriors with their horses and carriages, an entire palace and gardens and a magnificent mausoleum.
The Eighth Wonder of the World
Pieces of a terracotta warrior were accidentally uncovered by farmers in 1974, leading to the comprehensive excavation of the site with more surprises yet to be discovered. The area was designated a World Heritage Site in 1987 and Qin Shihuangdi's terracotta army is often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world.
The Warrior Emperor and China's Terracotta Army – Highlights of the Exhibition
The Warrior Emperor features more than 250 objects from the Qin and Han Dynasties, many of which have never before been displayed outside of China. The installation charts important events in Chinese history before, during and after, Qin Shihuangdi's reign.
The display includes 16 life-sized terracotta sculptures and two horses. The figures include military personal, such as generals, armoured soldiers, lower-ranking officers as well as a cavalryman and a charioteer. Civic personal, such as servants, acrobats and an archer, are also represented and every figure has its own distinctly individual facial features. The display places the figures in their social and historical content.
The Warrior Emperor – on Tour
The Warrior Emperor and China's Terracotta Army will be on show from 26th June to December 2010 after which it will tour to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (early 2011), the Glenbow Museum, Calgary (summer/fall 2011), and the Royal BC Museum, Victoria (late 2011/2012).
Related Article
A similar exhibition, Terracotta Army – Cultural Relics of Shaanxi, took place recently at the British Museum (13th September 2007-6th April 2008).
Source:
- Royal Ontario Museum Press Release, 27th January 2010.
Frances Spiegel - Frances Spiegel, B.A. Hons. (Open)., Dip.Eur.Hum., read Art History/European Modern History at the Open University.
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