The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army
13 September 2007 – 6 April 2008
Reading Room
Exhibition closed
"Exhibition of the year", Independent
"Endlessly fascinating", Observer
"Spell-binding", Sunday Times
"Awe-inspiring", Sunday Telegraph
"Wonderfully theatrical", Evening Standard
"You must see this show", The Times
The First Emperor: China's
Terracotta Army explored one of the greatest
archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century, giving an
insight into China’s First Emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, and his
legacy.
The exhibition included a number of the world-famous terracotta
warriors from Xi'an, China, which were buried alongside the First
Emperor in readiness for the afterlife, as well as some of the most
striking recent discoveries made on the site.
In introducing the idea of a unified state and effectively creating
China in 221 BC, the First Emperor of Qin created what is today the
oldest surviving political entity in the world. The exhibition and
related events explored how that state has survived, developed and
is viewed today.
- Total number of visitors: Over 850,000
- Total number of school visits: 11,000 students
Sponsored by Morgan Stanley