UNIQUE STORYLINES
The highlight of the displays will be the 18 lifelike terracotta figures, including two horses and 16 full-sized unique human figures. The terracotta warriors are famous for the fact that no two are exactly alike. Each is exquisitely executed and therefore accorded a distinct personality.
Other highlights of the exhibition will include the earliest prototypes of the Terracotta Warriors, the Qin royal family’s collection of jade, and the earliest war painting ever discovered in China.
The exhibition will be displayed in three sections following a chronological sequence of events – the emergence of a strong Qin State, China’s first emperor and his Terracotta Army, and the rise of the Han Dynasty.
The exhibition’s story starts at the end of the Xizhou Dynasty (the 9th century BC), 600 years before the birth of Emperor Qin, and ends at the beginning of western Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 221), 200 years after his death.Shen, the Chinese-born curator, told Xinhua that he is developing the unique storylines based on the stories written in the renowned Chinese chronicle known as "The Records of the Grand Historian." This book is also known in English by its Chinese name "Shiji", which is the masterpiece of Si Maqian, a court astrologer during the Han Dynasty.
"Therefore, our storylines will be different from any other terracotta exhibits," emphasized Shen.
The presentation will also explore the political and social changes that took place with the rise of the Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 221) following the First Emperor’s sudden death in 210 BC. This topic has not been explored in previous similar exhibits in North America.
"This is a great opportunity for Canadians to explore Chinese history," said Dr. Mark Engstrom, the ROM’s Deputy Director of Collections & Research. "At a time when the China’s economy is booming, it’s very crucial to understand Chinese culture by learning Chinese history. This includes business people,”"he said.
300,000 VISITORS EXPECTED
"We’re expecting 300,000 visitors to participate in this six-month long event," Dr. Engstrom told Xinhua.
He also pointed out this exhibition will not only benefit the ROM through ticket sales, but will also give a boost to Toronto’s entire tourism industry. Organizers hope that since the exhibition starts in the summertime, it will attract visitors from outside Toronto, including from the United States. "This truly awe-inspiring exhibit will be the must-see attraction of 2010 for visitors to the ROM," said Engstrom.
Engstrom’s words were echoed by Michael Chan, the newly appointed Ontario Minister of Tourism and Culture. "The Terracotta Army exhibit is yet another example of the current cultural renaissance that is helping re-establish Toronto as an exciting center of creativity and excellence,"Chan told Xinhua.
