Towering Terracotta Warriors and ornate chariots are showcasing the grandeur of the ancient Chinese civilization, featuring a series of relics on display for the first time in North America.
The exhibition "World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century" at the Bowers Museum in Orange County, California is the third time that China's iconic Terracotta Warriors have been showcased in the United States.
Upon entering the exhibition hall of the Bowers and laying eyes on the Terracotta Warriors and other relics, part of the burial complex for China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang of the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-207B.C), visitors paused to admire and took photos of the displays, immersed in a sea of history.
This display features more than 110 newly unearthed artifacts, including Terracotta Warriors, Chariot regalia, jade and gold adornments and bronze vessels, many of which are on display for the first time in North America.
"Bowers Museum is famous for hosting Terracotta Warrior shows. The first one was in 2008 and the second one in 2011. But this one is completely different. The first one focused exclusively on Terracotta Warriors. The second one explored the influence of the Qin Dynasty to the Han (202 B.C.-A.D. 220) and Tang (618-907) dynasties. But this one, we're going the other direction. We are chasing the origin, the sources of 2,000 years, leading up to the rise of the Qin Empire," said Jiao Tianlong, chief curator and director of the Asian Exhibition Program at the museum.
"This is an exhibition that puts together collections from more than one museum, so this is unusual. You've got to see stuff from the Shang (1600-1046 B.C.), Zhou (1046-256 B.C.) dynasties, Qin Dynasty," said Sean O'Harrow, president and CEO of the museum.
The museum has incorporated cutting-edge multimedia and interactive technology into the show. Visitors can digitally "paint" colorful uniforms for the Terracotta Warriors with computers, or "step into" a formidable Qin Dynasty military formation via a panoramic surround screen.
Many visitors to the gallery said that the experience is like being transported in time and coming face-to-to face with China's ancestors.
"None of us have ever seen anything like this, and for them to be outside of China is really important to us. But also, my children are half Chinese American, and so it's really important for me, for them, to learn about their culture and their heritage," said Jamie Sah, a visitor.
"I've learned a little bit more about the Bronze Age, and I'm really intrigued by just how they could sculpt these structures here, or these soldiers -- they're so realistic," said Salvia Fernandez, another visitor.
At a time of global uncertainty, this exhibition offers not just ancient relics, but a reminder that cultural understanding can transcend borders.
"This exhibition carries special significance, especially amid current tensions between China and the United States. It represents a valuable moment of cultural exchange," said Anne Shih, chairwoman of the Bowers Museum's Board of Governors.
Founded in 1936, the Bowers Museum is the largest and one of the oldest museums in Orange County. the museum houses over 100,000 works of art and cultural artifacts from around the world. The museum previously hosted Terracotta Warrior exhibitions in 2008 and 2011, both of which sparked significant interest in Chinese culture throughout Southern California.
The exhibition will run through Oct 19.
Terracotta Warriors exhibition in southern California showcases China's ancient civilization
