Page 8 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - October '22

Page 8, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Xi’an: The Wonders Of Clay

By Don Kiselewski, MCC, of King Zhuangxiang of Qin
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens and a beautiful concubine
Travel Leaders belonging to merchant
The first thing that visitors and advisor Lü Buwei. He
are told when they reach became emperor at the age
Xi’an is how to pronounce of 13, after the death of
the name of their city. The his father, and proceeded
apostrophe between “i” and to organize the various
“a” has a special purpose warring states in 221 B.C.
– to make sure the word is into the Qin Dynasty, which
spoken in two syllables. Xi’ was a gigantic task. Some
in Chinese is pronounced as of his other achievements
“Shee,” so therefore it’s Shee-an and not Shean. That being included the standardization
said, most people had probably never heard of the place of weights and measures,
until over 40 years ago, when the discovery of the buried writing and currency, along
army caught the world’s attention. Today, these terracotta with the width of carriage
warriors are on the “must see” list of things to do in China. axles to facilitate transport.
So what are the events leading up to this popularity? Additionally, he built the first road network in China to The full-size
Starting at the beginning, the Chinese people anchored their connect all the major cities. wa r r i o r s, t h e i r
civilization at the bend of the Huang He (Yellow) River, in Xi’an has more than 3,100 years of recorded history horses and other
the center of the country. The river and fertile valley were and for more than 1,100 years, served as the capital for 13 battle accessories
the two necessary ingredients that provided sustenance to imperial dynasties. At the time of the Tang Dynasty (619 to were uncovered in
the people. In harmony with the land, the Shaanxi Province 907 A.D.), it was the largest city in the world; however, its longitudinal pits about
area grew in population as well as strength, becoming the decline started at the end of the dynasty. Xi’an was also the 20 feet deep. These
strongest state in China. Xi’an is located on the Wei River, eastern end of the Silk Road. Today, Xi’an has a population pits were enough to
some 100 miles west of its intersection with the Huang He. of over nine million (https://www.britannica.com/place/ hold four soldiers and/
It was in this fertile valley that Qin Shi Huang was able Xian-China) – slightly less than half of Florida’s population. or four horses with
to unify China. Qin (pronounced Cheen) was born the son The city’s earlier name, which still sometimes is used as its chariots. Between
nickname, is Chang’an. In 194 B.C., Chang’an commenced these pits, the ground
building a city wall for protection … the job was completed was undisturbed to a
four years later. The original wall was about 15 miles in length, depth of approximately
50 feet wide at the base, and surrounded an area of 14 square 10 feet. Spanning the
miles. In 1370 A.D., the Ming Dynasty constructed a new wall pits above the soldiers,
to encircle a smaller space – around six square miles. While the logs were placed to
city wall and the Chinese opera performances in Xi’an are both form a roof. Earth was filled in over the logs, bringing the
marvelous, it is the world-famous Terracotta Army that attracts level up to the natural earth elevation. Years later, during a
the most tourists. farmers’ revolt, the underground army was attacked and the
Emperor Qin’s mausoleum is at the foot of Mount figures were broken apart by the invaders. The weapons and
Lishan, some 20 miles east of Xi’an. The man-made valuable items were pillaged, leaving many of the warriors in
mountain, some 4,300 feet high, houses the actual burial pieces. This was the condition that they were found in when
tomb, and who knows who else, as the mountain has yet the pits were opened 2,200 years later.
to be excavated. Qin was buried in his tomb long before The main pit is covered by a 14,000-square-meter building
the mountain was completed. The mountain is larger than and contains some 7,000 life-size terracotta warriors, the bulk
the greatest pyramid. At the completion of the mountain of which have been restored. The figures are made of local
tomb, his sons saw to it that the tomb builders were buried clay and the warrior’s weigh between 250 and 700 pounds.
alive, along with officials, craftsmen and the emperor’s The same method of construction was used throughout the
childless concubines. entire production. The bodies, head and arms are hollow,
All was forgotten until 1974, when a few local farmers, while the legs and platforms to which they are attached are
while digging a water well, came upon a startling surprise. solid. Larger pieces were made in a mold and then joined
In the process of emptying dirt from the bottom of the well, together before firing. Each of the warriors was individually
one of the men came across a terracotta head, and believed crafted and signed by one of the 88 craftsmen who placed
that he had come in contact with an evil spirit. Officials were their quality control mark on the piece … no two warriors
brought in and excavations in the area began. It is believed look alike.
that there are some 600 pits that surround the mausoleum
within a few miles. Xi’an: The Wonders Of Clay on page 9

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