I had heard of the Terracotta Army, I suppose most people have, but I hadn't realised until I received this card that there was much more to it than the name implies - terracotta soldiers. There is indeed the army of 6000 or so soldiers but that is just in Pit 1 of the excavated sites. There are three other pits, the second containing cavalry and chariots, and the third is a command post. The fourth is empty.
It is said that going to China and not seeing the Terracotta Army is like going to Egypt and missing the pyramids.
The card shows one of the two carriages excavated from the site.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
A real delicate art I must say, and imagine how many years ago these were made.
ReplyDeleteMust make a trip to China (terracotta and the great wall is something I don't want to miss)
It is sad that based on one discredited historical account - written a hundred years after the first emperor died - the media perpetuates this foolish idea that the terra cotta array was to "protect the emperor in the afterlife." What an insult to the greatest peace maker and nation builder - ever.
ReplyDeleteThe terra cotta array was the emperor's memorial to the end of war. It was intended to draw thousands - who would come to see the vast expense of war - vast expense that would never happen again under his administration.
A great story. Made silly by an old tale.
The full story of Qin Shi Huang is here:
http://davidgjones.authorsxpress.com/2012/05/14/david-g-jones-author-of-the-school-of-sun-tzu/
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