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St. Martin's Press
China's First Emperor and His Terracotta Warriors
China's First Emperor and His Terracotta Warriors
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As the traveling exhibition of terracotta warriors tours the U.S. from 2008 to 2010, a scholar chronicles the life of their terrifying emperor.
China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi (258-210 B.C.), began work on his tomb at age thirteen, when he became boy king of Xian, a dusty state in western China. By the time he died, over seven thousand meticulously detailed figures of soldiers and horses, acrobats, strongmen, scribes, administrators, musicians, artists, birds, and other animals in terracotta and bronze were waiting to be buried with him. In the first biography of this fascinating, powerful and terrifying man, Frances Wood brings Qin to life amidst the glory of early China and reflects on the historical arguments that make him a mystery. Qin Shihuangdi was one of the greatest military leaders in history. He set out to conquer and unify China. He introduced coinage, standardized weights and measures, and the written word. He gave us the name "China," and the Great Wall, begun during his reign, still fascinates the world. Despite his achievements, however, he has been vilified throughout history for achieving his goals by suppressing opposition, burning books, and burying scholars alive. Frances Wood encourages readers to look more closely at the life of a man who created the country we know today as China.
About the Author
FRANCES WOOD is head of the Chinese Department at the British Library. She lives in London, England.
China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi (258-210 B.C.), began work on his tomb at age thirteen, when he became boy king of Xian, a dusty state in western China. By the time he died, over seven thousand meticulously detailed figures of soldiers and horses, acrobats, strongmen, scribes, administrators, musicians, artists, birds, and other animals in terracotta and bronze were waiting to be buried with him. In the first biography of this fascinating, powerful and terrifying man, Frances Wood brings Qin to life amidst the glory of early China and reflects on the historical arguments that make him a mystery. Qin Shihuangdi was one of the greatest military leaders in history. He set out to conquer and unify China. He introduced coinage, standardized weights and measures, and the written word. He gave us the name "China," and the Great Wall, begun during his reign, still fascinates the world. Despite his achievements, however, he has been vilified throughout history for achieving his goals by suppressing opposition, burning books, and burying scholars alive. Frances Wood encourages readers to look more closely at the life of a man who created the country we know today as China.
About the Author
FRANCES WOOD is head of the Chinese Department at the British Library. She lives in London, England.
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