As part of a series of international exhibitions to visit Qatar this year, Treasures of China, along with their famous terracotta warriors will be be on display this September.
The exhibition of Terracotta Warriors will be taking place at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, starting September 7.
The Terracotta Army is a set of over 8,000-strong statue army found at the tomb of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, who ruled over the Qin dynasty from 246 BC to 210 BC. They were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in the Shaanxi province. The army held more than 8,000 soldiers which varied in height according to their rank, with the generals being the tallest. Along with the statue army, an estimate of 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses were found, together with non-military statues of officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians.
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The purpose of the army and statues was to accompany and protect the emperor in his afterlife. What is so amazing about these statues is that each and everyone has a unique face, meaning that details mattered and were done individually, instead of mass produced. According to historians, an estimate of up to 700,000 government workers participated in the making of the army.
The Terracotta Warriors exhibition will also feature 5,000 years of Chinese history through pottery, bronze sculptures, gold and silver jewels and enamel work.
The exhibition is part of a cultural exchange program between Qatar and China. Doha will be returning its part by sending its Pearls: Jewels from the Sea exhibition to the Beijing’s National Museum of China, starting September 27.
