Cincinnati is among one of the first stops for a new exhibit on China's famed terracotta soldiers. Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China features 120 objects telling the story of northwest China's nomads.The first clay warrior was discovered in 1974 by a crew digging a well near Xi'an, China. Archeologists went on to unearth thousands of sculpted soldiers buried alongside the first emperor of China, Ying Zheng, later known as Qin Shi Huang Di.
Qin (pronounced chin) took the throne in the Qin state in 246 B.C., ultimately uniting China's seven warring regions into one state with him as emperor in 221 B.C.
The Terracotta Army exhibit includes nine life-size clay figures, "a cavalry horse, arms and armor, ritual bronze vessels, works in gold and silver, jade ornaments, precious jewelry and ceramics."
The Cincinnati Art Museum says this is the first time at least 40 of the items have ever been displayed in the United States.
"This international exchange is a momentous occasion for our museum and the Greater Cincinnati region," says Cameron Kitchin, Cincinnati Art Museum's Louis and Louise Dieterle Nippert Director in a statement. "The original scholarship supporting the exhibition and the opportunity for Cincinnati to learn about the legacy of the First Emperor will be a revelation to every visitor to the museum. We are proud to showcase the splendor of the art and history of China through our ambitious partnership with Shaanxi Province."
The exhibit debuts first at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts from now until March, 2018. It runs in Cincinnati from April 20 through August 12, 2018.
