Building on the success of Terra-Cotta Army (兵馬俑) of Qin Shihuangdi (秦始皇帝) , an exhibit that attracted over 1.5 million visitors during the summer of 2007, the National Museum of History returns with a new exhibition of ancient Chinese funerary objects, The Smiling Kingdom: The Terra-Cotta Warriors of Han Yang Ling (微笑彩俑—漢景帝的地下王國), which displays figurines excavated from the mausoleum of the Emperor Jing of Han, dating from the early Han Dynasty (180BC to 141BC).
Though less than a century separates the figurines of the Han Dynasty exhibit and the preceding Qin Dynasty (221BC to 206BC) show, their style and stature differs significantly, with the latter favoring life-sized terra-cotta warriors and martial animals and the former miniature figures.
The Smiling Kingdom examines two aspects of the Emperor Jing’s imperial tomb to illustrate the concept that changes in society can be examined through funeral practices. The main part focuses on the clay figurines that were buried with the emperor, while a smaller section is devoted to the building materials that were employed to construct his mausoleum. Small replica burial sites, illustrations detailing the excavation area and a documentary of the archeological dig complement the 200 display objects, which include bronze utensils and jade decorations.
Two model excavation sites enable visitors to view the animal and human figurines as they were found in situ. The first, at the entrance, is approximately a 2m-by-10m glass case sunk 1m below ground and lined with rows of miniature terra-cotta dogs, pigs, goats and roosters, a display that would have been difficult to employ with the larger horses found in Qin Shihuang’s (秦始皇) mausoleum.
Immediately beyond this display is a replica burial mound strewn with armless, smiling and nude terra-cotta figures — all 60cm in height — with the originals located in an adjoining room displayed behind glass, accompanied by diagrams illustrating how they were created.
The figures were first modeled as nude bodies complete with male or female sexual organs (or none for eunuchs). The craftsmen then painted on hair and skin, fitted the torsos with movable wooden arms and hands and covered them with clothing. With the passage of time, however, the paint has faded and the arms and clothing have disintegrated. Several examples with limbs made of clay survived intact.
The building materials on display offer unique insights into the design of the emperor’s mausoleum: paving bricks inscribed with horizontal and vertical lines and roof tiles and bricks embossed with dragon designs show that the construction of the mausoleum’s buildings was as detailed and important as the figures inside.
Although not as wide ranging as Terra-Cotta Army of Qin Shihuangdi, the current exhibit of early Han Dynasty terra-cotta objects provides a solid introduction to the period and draws connections between societal changes and funeral practices.
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