Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Liverpool 2018: A World City (Part 2)

On Friday, 29th March, 1974, in China’s Shaanxi province, 670 miles southwest of Beijing, farmers were digging for water near to the tomb mound of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. An accidental discovery has since captivated the entire world. A magnificent collection of terracotta sculptures was carefully unearthed by Chinese archaeologists. These included military figures, chariots and horses, all carved in intricate detail and well preserved.

The purpose of the ‘Terracotta Warriors’ was to protect the emperor in the afterlife, following his death circa 210 BCE. It is estimated that, in three vast subterranean pits, there were 8,000 soldiers, 130 quadrigas (four-horse chariots) and 150 cavalry horses. It is both unique and easily the largest collection of pottery figurines ever found.

A selection of the 2,200-year-old artefacts was displayed in the UK for the first time, in 2007-8 at the British Museum, London. Hundreds of thousands of people bought tickets for the exhibition. Prior to that, only items of RMS Titanic wreckage and the Treasures of Tutankhamun had generated such intense fascination.

In February this year, the Warriors paid a second visit to Britain, this time to Liverpool, home of Europe’s oldest Chinatown, and whose unsurpassed World Museum (Figure 118.1) happens to be a family favourite. By the time I had bought tickets, only three half-hour viewing sessions, from February to October, remained available.


Figure 118.1: Liverpool’s World Museum has been housed in this imposing neoclassical building since 1851.

Copyright © 2018 Paul Spradbery

Last night’s visit was well worth the wait, and I would have happily paid far more for tickets for my younger son and myself. There was a short film show, extolling the cultural and economic prowess of modern China, followed by the exhibition itself. Initially, we perused small artefacts, including crockery, hand weapons, gold buttons, shoe soles made from jade, and even musical instruments (Figure 118.2).


Figure 118.2: Music, played by bells and chimes, was believed to create a conducive atmosphere for communicating with the spirit world.

Copyright © 2018 Paul Spradbery

The main attractions, however, were, of course, the warriors (Figure 118.3) and their horses and chariots (Figure 118.4). There were army generals, heavy and light infantrymen, and – my son’s favourites – archers (Figures 118.5 & 118.6). Each remarkable human face was different, but with noticeably mongoloid features. Finally, there were sculptures of sculptors sculpting the sculptures (Figure 118.7).


Figure 118.3: I could not help but think that all the different warriors, with their elaborate robes, armour, ribbons and head-dresses, would make an amazing chess set.

Copyright © 2018 Paul Spradbery


Figure 118.4: Cast in bronze and embellished with gold, chariots were believed to have transported the emperor across his newly-unified Empire. When he died, they were buried alongside him, presumably so that he could continue his travels in the afterlife.

Copyright © 2018 Paul Spradbery


Figure 118.5: The ‘kneeling archer’ and ‘standing archer’ were particularly impressive. The former wears a long tunic and heavy armour with overlapping plaques. The latter is unarmoured, to allow him greater mobility on the battlefield.

Copyright © 2018 Paul Spradbery


Figure 118.6: The kneeling archer turns his head for a photograph!

Copyright © 2018 Paul Spradbery


Figure 118.7: Craftsmen construct a terracotta horse. Its legs are solid, but its head and body, needing to be lighter, are hollow. Ventilation holes in its underside prevented the model from cracking during the firing process and were filled with clay plugs afterwards.

Copyright © 2018 Paul Spradbery

For the second time this month, Liverpool has hosted rare examples of human art and design. From huge, charming mechanical marionettes striding through the city streets, to one of the world’s greatest ever archaeological discoveries, this great British city has done itself proud.

Post script: On a personal note, my interest in all things Chinese has exploded since my younger daughter began reading Languages, including Mandarin, at university. Her latest project, a short story submitted to this year’s Liverpool Literary Festival, was not only shortlisted by judges Philip Pullman and Frank Cottrell Boyce but won its category (Figure 118.8).


Figure 118.8: Well done, kid xx

Copyright © 2018 Liverpool Literary Festival

Copyright © 2018 Paul Spradbery

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