Qin Dynasty Bronze Chariot Collection Displayed for First Time in Xi'an, China

The complete set of Qin Dynasty bronze chariots and horses, including soldier figures, were put on display to the public together for the first time on Thursday in Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China. The collection, crafted over 2,200 years ago during the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C. - 207 B.C.), is part of the "Phoenix Kingdoms" exhibition that reveals the previously unknown splendor, sophistication, and extravagance of the Zeng and Chu states that flourished at the end of China's Bronze Age.

The two bronze model chariots were discovered in 1978 at the mausoleum site of Emperor Qinshihuang. The first piece, the No. 1 bronze chariot and horse, initially housed at the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, underwent three years of thorough maintenance before being relocated to the Bronze Chariot and Horse Museum, where the second piece, the No. 2 bronze chariot, was already kept. Both models were restored and exhibited at the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum in the 1980s.

In 2021, the Bronze Chariot and Horse Museum opened just 200 meters away from the official excavation site, and the No. 2 bronze chariot and horse were moved there for public viewing, while the No. 1 bronze chariot and horse underwent further protection and restoration at the original exhibition hall. The skilled artisans of the Qin Dynasty crafted these bronze chariots to replicate the original appearance of the imperial carriage used by Emperor Qinshihuang.

Why this matters: The exhibition highlights the advanced achievements of the middle Yangzi River region and provides a window into a forgotten but critical period in China's early history. It is the third in a trilogy of exhibitions at the Asian Art Museum that began with "Terracotta Warriors" and "Tomb Treasures: New Discoveries from China's Han Dynasty."

The bronze chariot collection offers a glimpse into the grandeur and sophistication of the Qin Dynasty, one of the most significant periods in ancient Chinese history. "The complete set of Qin Dynasty bronze chariots and horses were put on display to the public together on Thursday in Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China," said a museum spokesperson. The exhibition is expected to attract history enthusiasts and scholars from around the world, eager to witness these remarkable artifacts that have survived for over two millennia.

Key Takeaways

• Complete set of Qin Dynasty bronze chariots and horses displayed in Xi'an, China.
• Chariots discovered in 1978 at Emperor Qinshihuang's mausoleum site, now in museums.
• Skilled Qin artisans crafted the bronze chariots to replicate the imperial carriage.
• Exhibition highlights advanced achievements of the middle Yangzi River region in China.
• Exhibition expected to attract history enthusiasts and scholars worldwide.