The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army - Tapa dura

The Terracotta Army is evidence of the organisational power of the Qin Dynasty that unified China in 221 BC. It has become a symbol of Chinas long and coherent cultural history and, now that China is rapidly developing, it reminds the world of Chinas future potential. This book unfolds the historical and archaeological context of the Terracotta Warriors, and explores the new research and excavation that has been carried out in the years since the first discovery in 1974. The book is divided into five sections, all written by experts in the field. The first chapter concentrates on the Qins rise and military conquest and unification of the Warring States. The second chapter explores the Qin Empire, its ideology and practices, and the emperors achievements and legacy. The third chapter examines imperial tours and mountain inscriptions, and the fourth focuses on the mausoleum itself and the rituals that surrounded it. The fifth and final chapter, the crux of the book, examines the site itself, the Terracotta Army, the various new excavations that have taken place and future plans. Large numbers of the Terracotta Armys men and horses, displayed in military formation, are illustrated with striking photography. Their manufacture is explained and demonstrated with moulds, inscriptions, broken warriors and heads of warriors. Also illustrated and discussed are fascinating new discoveries such as terracotta bureaucrats, acrobats and strong men, life-size bronze birds, hundreds of suits of stone armour and terracotta warriors with coloured faces preserved with new technology.

Jane Portal is Assistant Keeper in the Department of Asia at the British Museum. Martin Kern is Professor of Chinese Literature in the East Asian Studies Department at Princeton University. Hiromi Kinoshita is Exhibitions Assistant in the Department of Asia at the British Museum. Michael Loewe was University Lecturer in Chinese Studies at Cambridge University from 1963 to 1990 and is now an Emeritus Fellow of Clare Hall. He edited the Cambridge History of China volume 1 (CUP 1986). Carol Michaelson is Assistant Keeper in the Department of Asia at the British Museum. Lukas Nickel is Lecturer in Chinese Archaeology at SOAS and University College, London. Duan Qingbo is a Research Fellow at the Shaanxi Institute of Archaeology. Jessica Rawson is Warden of Merton College, Oxford and was Keeper of Oriental Antiquities at the British Museum from 1987 - 94. Helen Wang is Curator of East Asian Money in the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum. Wu Yongqi is Director of the Museum of the Terracotta Army. Robin Yates is Professor of History and East Asian Studies at McGill University and Chair of the Society for the Study of Early China.