Since its discovery in 1974, the Terracotta Army has become almost as emblematic of China as the Great Wall, or the Forbidden City. But it’s a long way to Xi’an, and the excavation (though stunning) is crowded and difficult to reach. So a chance to see treasures from the tomb in air-conditioned comfort here in Beijing is not to be missed.
A kneeling terracotta archer is one of the stars of the exhibition
Everlasting Like the Heavens is an exhibition at Tsinghua University Art Museum which brings to the capital extraordinary finds from Shaanxi Province. Under different names, Xi’an was capital of the Qin, Sui, and Tang dynasties, so the region is rich in cultural heritage. The famous clay army was buried with the first Emperor to unite China, Qinshihuang. As well as one of the Terracotta Warriors, a kneeling archer, the exhibtion features bronze dragons, paintings of horses, and beautiful pottery figures of the plump women beloved of the Tang era.
Tang dynasty pottery figures
In fact, the Warrior is not the greatest treasure on display. The “He Zun” is a bronze vessel dating to the Western Zhou dynasty. making it around three thousand years old. As well as its artistic merit, the characters carved on it include 中國 (, “Middle Kingdom”), making it the oldest artifact inscribed with the modern name for China. It was dug up by a farming family in 1963, who used it for food storage, and later sold it to a waste center for RMB 30. Fortunately, one of the workers at the center recognized the vessel’s value, and contacted the local museum. It is now on a list of 64 items of such historical and cultural importance that they are never permitted to leave Chinese soil.
The He Zun bronze features the oldest inscription using the term “Zhongguo”, Middle Kingdom
The exhibition runs until December 17, and should not be missed by anybody interested in Chinese culture.
Everlasting Like the Heavens, till Dec 17
All ages. RMB 60, age 3-6 RMB 30, under 3 years old free. 9am-5pm, no entry after 4.30pm. Tsinghua University Art Museum, NO. 1, Tsinghua University Campus, Haidian District. (6278 1012) www.artmuseum.tsinghua.edu.cn. 海淀区清华园1号清华大学校内邮.
Photos: www.chinadaily.com.cn, www.artmuseum.tsinghua.edu.cn,
