WA Museum’s terracotta warriors’ exhibition is fascinating

THERE is so much to see at the terracotta warriors’ exhibition and it’s fascinating to learn about the first emperor’s interest in the afterlife and apparent use of mercury as an elixir of life.

Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor, which is only exhibiting for a few more weeks at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, explores the life, legacy and afterlife of Qin Shihuang.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) the Qin Dynasty during the 3rd BCE wielded unprecedented political, military and economic power and advanced the social, cultural and artistic level of the empire.

But for the last 10 years of his life, China’s first emperor (apparently) sent every scholar, magician and wise man in the nation on a quest to find an elixir, which after his death led to allegations he died from an elixir containing mercury

The terracotta warriors together with their horses, chariots and weapons were created to guard Qin Shihuang’s burial chamber, which remains sealed.

Those warriors including the kneeling archer are certainly a sight to see but I was most impressed with the equine and carriage exhibits – the saddled horse, an open combat chariot and the first emperor’s private closed carriage.

The museum labels said in 1978, two half-sized metal vehicles – a chariot and a touring carriage – were discovered west of the pyramid.

Made from bronze, silver and gold each had a bronze charioteer and four bronze horses.

The carriage would have been for Qin Shihuang’s afterlife journeys and the chariot for his protection.

The two bronze vehicles represented the height of skill in bronze manufacture and construction in the world at the time.

Both the chariot models on display at the WA Museum are replicas as the original chariot models excavated in 1980 required extensive restoration but are now on display at a dedicated museum building at the Qin Mausoleum site.

“Qin Shihuang’s private closed carriage was driven by a seated charioteer,’’ the museum label said.

“It has three small windows and a door at the rear.

“Its exterior is decorated with multicoloured swirling cloud.

“(The) open combat chariot would have escorted the first emperor’s carriage.

“The standing charioteer is a general, distinguished by his headwear and the long sword at his back.

“The fixed umbrella is both honorific and protective.

“The two inner horses are yoked and the two outer horses are ready as a back-up team.’’

I visited the exhibition with my sister and we were both drawn to the life-sized statue of the terracotta horse on display and we both agreed he was about the same height as the first pony she’d owned as a teenager.

Cavalry horses were the best in the Qin empire,’’ the museum label said.

“This tall mature gelding is one of the 116 life-sized terracotta cavalry horses from pit 2 at Qin Shihuang’s tomb.

“It has a saddle with no stirrups as they hadn’t been invented yet and a long elaborately braided tail.

“A real bridle would also have been fitted.’’

The kneeling archer was one of the 160 kneeling archers found in pit 2.

“Archers with light armour kneeled behind the standing archers to reload their crossbows during battle, then take their place boldly at the front and shoot,’’ the museum label said.

“With his torso upright and his head up, his light armour protects his body and shoulders.

“Unusually he wears his bun to the left.”

The general on display stands 195cm tall wearing his general’s uniform of a long jacket with tassels, pants, boots, light armour, epaulettes and a pheasant-tail cap.

“At the highest rank in the Qin military, this general has a mature and experienced demeanour,’’ the museum label said.

“Generals’ caps had pheasant feathers at the back because pheasants are brave and are known to fight to the death.

“He has a beard, a moustache and a flat bun; only generals could have beards.

“His cuffs are pushed back revealing his muscular forearms – strong for sword fighting.

“His hands once rested on the hilt of a long sword.’’

The WA Museum’s overview said Qin Shihuang’s tomb chamber remained sealed – its secrets preserved beneath layers of earth.

“Ancient records describe the tomb as containing detailed models of palaces, pavilions and offices, a ceiling that mirrors the night sky with constellations and flowing rivers of mercury feeding into a miniature ocean,’’ the overview said.

“To deter intruders, crossbows were reportedly set to fire at anyone who entered.

“Though the burial chamber has never been opened, elevated mercury levels have been detected within the pyramid, adding weight to these accounts.

“As you enter this final digital immersive experience these vivid accounts are brought to life, offering a breathtaking glimpse at the first emperor’s vision for the afterlife and leaving you with a sense of awe at the mysteries still buried beneath the earth.’’

The WA Museum said all the terracotta figures were on loan from Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum with additional artefacts in the exhibition on loan from 17 other museums across China.