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In New York city, an exhibit that is displaying what was built to be an eternal army for a Chinese emperor. China’s ancient terracotta warriors will go on display at the Discovery Times Square Exposition in New York City on Friday. The exhibit features a total of ten clay warriors, three of which have never been on display in the US.
Over 2,200 years ago, Emperor Qin Shihuang unified China for the very first time. But his ambition stretched beyond his lifetime. In order to rule China in his afterlife, labourers spent over 38 years making Qin’s eternal army, clay figures known as the Terracotta Army.
Instead of protecting the emperor in his afterlife, this army was forgotten for thousands of years until it was discovered in March 1974 by local farmers in Shaanxi province, who were drilling a water well.
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| China’s ancient terracotta warriors will go on display at the Discovery Times Square Exposition in New York City on Friday. The exhibit features a total of ten clay warriors, three of which have never been on display in the US. |
The Terracotta Army is 8,000 strong. The magnificent clay figures were crafted in 221 BC. Originally, many of the figures were painted in colors. But after sitting underground for 2,000 years, they lost their hue when they were unearthed during excavation.
Kristin Romey, a curator for the exhibit, said the artifacts on display are some of "the most important archaeological treasures ever discovered in China."
Romey said the unique figures are a source of pride for the Chinese, which could help Americans gain insight into Chinese culture and history.
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| China’s ancient terracotta warriors will go on display at the Discovery Times Square Exposition in New York City on Friday. The exhibit features a total of ten clay warriors, three of which have never been on display in the US. |
Kristin Romey says "This exhibit is not the only important because of the incredible artifacts we have on display, but for Americans I think it gives a really good background into the origins and the China that we know today. And if this is truly going to be the century of China then we could better understand the country by having a greater understanding of its past."
In addition to the warriors, the exhibition features over 200 artifacts from ancient China, many of which were buried with the army in Qin Shihuangdi’s tomb. They include tools, jewellery, instruments and sculpted figures.
The Terracotta Warriors and Horses were listed as a heritage site by UNESCO in 1987. They will be displayed at the Discovery Times Square exposition through the summer.
Source: CCTV.CN
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