Today is a big day and I’m
looking forward to it. In the afternoon, we (the entire conference participants)
were taken for excursion to one of the famous 8th wonders of the
world, i.e., Terra-Cotta solders worrier museum. This is the most amazing
archeological discovery of the 20th century that I ever seen. Here
is the little story of the Terra-Cotta solders worrier. Before 220 B.C. China
was divided in different segments and each was administered by its own king (or
clan). However, these different kings or clans were fighting each other. Then a
very young man from the state of Qin with personal name Zheng, who became king
at the age of 22, decided to end the warring states period and blueprint to
unify the country. He built his army strongly and faced those kings who refused
to be united. King Zheng unleashed the final campaigns of the warring states
period, setting out to conquer the remaining independent kingdoms, one by one;
and successfully united China and became the first Emperor of China in 221 B.C.
with the title name called Qin Shi Huang. During his time, his army greatly expanded
the size of the Chinese state. He then refused to consider conquered states as
independent nations instead he divided the whole China into administrative
units: first commanderies, then districts, counties and hundred-family units. The
emperor quickly developed an extensive network of roads and canals connecting
the provinces to improve trade between them, standardized different currency of
the different states to one coin, most importantly he unified the Chinese
script and made it standard script in all concurred states. The emperor fought nomadic
tribes to the north and northwest and the Xiongnu tribes (now Mongolia) were
not defeated and subdued, thus the campaign was tiring and unsuccessful. Thus, to
prevent the Mongolian from encroaching on the northern frontier any longer, the
emperor ordered the construction of an immense defensive wall, connecting
numerous state walls which had been built during the previous four centuries. The
Great Wall, which is estimated as 8000 mile long, still stands and open to the
public to challenge its million steps.
Holly Molly! the largest archeological excavation I ever seen
Here is part of close look terracotta army statue!
Captured from the other end of the museum!
Just outside the gate of one of the five museums!
The farmer who discovered this!
Close look of one of the terracotta army statue; original (left) and archeologically discovered statue (right)
Finally, after achieving
everything, he wants to live forever. Good idea, but it beyond his control. He
then desperately sought the legendary solution of life, which would supposedly
allow him to live forever. He was obsessed with acquiring immortality and fell
prey to many who offered him supposed solutions. He visited Zhifu Island three
times in order to achieve immortality. He even sent hundreds of young men and
women to the Island in search of the 1,000-year-old magician, whom the emperor
had supposedly met in his travels, so that he will give him immortality. However,
these young people never returned, perhaps because they knew that if they
returned without the promised elixir, they would surely be executed. The
Chinese legends claim that these young Chinese people reached Japan Island and
colonized it; meaning the Japanese people are originally from China, according
to Chinese belief. Finally, since he was afraid of death and "evil
spirits", the emperor had built a series of tunnels and passage ways to
each of his palaces (he owned over 200) so that no one can see him traveling which
would supposedly keep him safe from the evil spirits. He also ordered the
construction of the terracotta army statue placed them in order to safeguard his
tomb if he dies. The terracotta army figures were manufactured in workshops by
government laborers and local craftsmen using local materials. Heads, arms,
legs, and torsos were created separately and then assembled. Eight different face
molds were most likely used, with clay added after assembly to provide
individual facial features. The terracotta figures are life-sized. They vary in
height, uniform, and hairstyle in accordance with rank and roles, with the
tallest being the generals. Most originally army figure held real weapons such
as spears, swords, or crossbows. Originally, the figures were also painted with
bright pigments, variously colored pink, red, green, blue, black, brown, white
and lilac. Finally, after more than 2200 years, the terracotta army figures were
discovered in March 1974 by local farmers, who were digging for water, in Lintong
District, Xi'an, Shaanxi province. The farmer, who was illiterate but the
government hired a teacher to teach the farmer to make him at least sign his
name. He is now in 70s is always be at the museum, signing his book for visitors
and that makes his reach actually. So far he shacked more than 270 leaders
around the world, including President Clinton when he visited the site in 1998.
Well! as it is impossible to
fight death, the emperor finally died during one of his tours of Eastern China
in September 210 B.C. Reportedly, he died due to ingesting mercury pills, made
by his experimenters and court physicians. Ironically, these pills were meant
to make the emperor immortal. He was then buried close to Xi’an in Mount Li,
which was a favored location due to its auspicious geology that is rich in gold
at northern side and in beautiful jade in the southern side.
Finally, in the evening we were taken to witness
the superficial live sorrow love story live performance. The performance is breathtaking
and we have really witnessed how Chinese use technology to make the performance
very attractive. It looks like the 2008 Olympic opening ceremony performance. In
general, I had a very memorable day.
Here technology application! the blue is just a water fountain decorated by light to make such an image!
Here are some of the stage acts!
Another technology; actors at the top of a fountain water!
