Take a closer look at Emperor Qin Shihuang's Bronze Chariots and Horses
Take a closer look at Emperor Qin Shihuang's Bronze Chariots and Horses
In this activity, students will take a closer look at the bronze chariots and horses, charioteer figures, and related objects found in the Pit of Chariots and Horses, a small but essential part of the elaborate tomb complex of China's First Emperor, Emperor Qin Shihuang (259-221 BCE). Although the complex is perhaps better known for the discovery of the Terracotta Army, a group of approximately 7,000 life-size terracotta warriors and horses, the bronze objects also add to our understanding of the surviving material culture from the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE), a significant period in Chinese history. These objects are some of the best archaeological evidence researchers have for understanding the spiritual beliefs, military practices, and values of the ruler responsible for unifying China for the first time in its history. Upon completion of this lesson, students will understand that chariots and horses were necessary tools for empire creation in the Qin Dynasty.
This collection was created by the Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum.
Tags: #funerary practices, #spiritual beliefs, #Chinese, #ancient history, #world, #Asia, #Xi'an, #cross-cultural companion, #terracotta army, #bronze, #chariot, #Project Zero.
Notes to Other Users
Most of this collection can be completed individually or in small groups. It uses several Project Zero thinking routines that engage students with open-ended questions that can be used to spark discussion. For example, the "See, Think, Wonder" routine encourages students to make careful observations and thoughtful interpretations. Although thinking routines can be used at any point in a lesson, they work incredibly well at the beginning of a topic because they can draw on information students can readily see.
RELATED COLLECTIONS
This collection is one part of a series of focused on objects found in the elaborate tomb complex of China's first emperor, Emperor Qin Shihuang (259-221BCE). Created for use in the classroom, these resources It can be used as part of sequence or on their own. The collections are:
- Visual Art: Colors of the Terracotta Army
- Social Studies (Part 1): China’s Terracotta Army: Introduction to China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Army
- Social Studies (Part 2): China’s Terracotta Army: The Terracotta Warriors
- Social Studies (Part 3): China’s Terracotta Army: Exploring the Tomb Complex and Values of China’s First Emperor
- Visual Art： China's Terracotta Army: Examining Bronze Chariots and Horses
- Social Studies: Take a closer look at Emperor Qin Shihuang's Bronze Chariots and Horses
ABOUT ANCIENT CHINESE OBJECTS
Objects from ancient China are, in the present day, often referred to as "art." However, it should be noted that what is called "art" was not necessarily made at the time as fine art— many of these objects had ritual or practical functions when new but gradually became valued for their aesthetic qualities. (From The Art and Archaeology of Ancient China: A Teachers Guide, p2, published by the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.)