Product Description

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 Chinaâs long and coherent cultural history and, now that China is rapidly developing, it reminds the world of Chinaâs 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 Qinâs rise and military conquest and unification of the Warring States. The second chapter explores the Qin Empire, its ideology and practices, and the emperorâs 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 Armyâs 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #269204 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

About the Author
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.

Customer Reviews

la cina non è lontana
libro stupendo, illustrazioni favolose un salto nel tempo per chi si vuole avvicinare al mondo dell'archeologia orientale. Un libro che per gli appassionati non può mancare dalle biblioteche personali

first emperor
This is a 5 star production but that is only to be expected from the British Museum. The book deals with the life and times of Ying Zheng (born 259BC died 210BC)who first became King of Qin and later Emperor of Qin uniting China as a single country concuering the Warring states. The text is excellent and lucid.The pictures are outstanding but the maps are wishy washy. Two subsections of the book deal with the emperors mausoleum and the terracotta army which was created to protect the emperor after death.(asmall book by the same author deals only with the terracotta army) Thisbook is very expensive but worth it































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