Chapter 3 (Ancient Roots and Binding Traditions)

At about 3,000 years old, the city of Xian is one of the most ancient cities in China. According to ChinaHighlights.com, China's history can be traced to its beginnings in Xian when Emperor Qin united China and established his capital in this city in 221 BC. Also, the article reports, "Xian served as China's capital for the most dynasties: ten dynasties spread intermittently over a 1,100 year period, most notably the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) and the Tang Dynasty (618-907), golden ages in China's history." I find this interesting to note, since when many people think of China, they think of its modern-day capital of Beijing; however, it can be argued that the city of Xian actually has more historical significance for China since it served as the nation's capital for the greatest number of emperors.

Although there are many important aspects of this city's ancient history, such as its position as the starting point of the Silk Road, one of the most popular and astounding is its ancinet Terracotta Army. According to an article by Arthur Lubow published in July 2009 by Smithsonian Magazine Online,  located just a half hour outside of Xian lies the famed terracotta soldiers that were built for Emperor Qin. The thousands of terracotta soldiers and horses were created to be buried with the emperor upon his death, which were likely created to glorify his legacy and to serve him in the afterlife. The contents of this vault were discovered in 1974 by peasants digging a well. It is amusing to think of the astonishment that they must have felt when they came upon these amazingly lifelike statues.

Today, 600 pits, over a 22-square mile area, have been discovered, while three main pits are enclosed in the four-acre Museum of the Terracotta Army, which opened in 1979. Today, many tourists of Xian consider stopping by this Museum as one of the major stops on their itinerary. But, as Lubow states, "For those unable to make the journey to Xian, some of the choicest specimens unearthed there form the centerpiece of two successive traveling exhibitions that survey the reign of Qin Shi Huangdi (221 BC - 210 BC)." So, even if I can't make it to Xian, hopefully I will be able to see one of these exhibitions!

Here are some pictures of the standing terracotta soldiers:




(Sources: http://www.chinahighlights.com/xian/terracotta-army/ , http://www.chinahighlights.com/xian/terracotta-army/)