The First Emperor

Today we went to an exhibition at the British Museum. As I understand it, sometime during the 1970's a wonderful discovery had been unearthed in China. Around where the first Emperor had been buried they dug up hundreds of terracotta warriors and their horses that had been put around to protect him in the afterlife.

This Emperor brought together seven different areas that were constantly at war with one another into what is China. He ruled with rather brute force, but made interesting changes. Amongst other things, these cultures had to use a common set of measurements, weights, etc. under the new rule.

So, on display were all kinds of measuring cups and weights with beautiful form and script on them. There were also examples of animal imprints on roof tiles and that kind of thing - really some amazing craft.

There were several of the warriors and horses as well. Remarkable how each one is so intricately detailed. From the hair to the costume, they are each so different - as though based on specific individuals that really existed.

It is always weird to see these things so out of context. Instead of being in earthen areas around a funerary site in China, we saw them in the old reading room where people like Virginia Woolf frequented at some point.

Perhaps a bit too much culture all in one space, but fun and interesting to an old hillbilly like me.