Are you looking for something fun and educational to do over winter break? Grab your ID badge and head to Richmond for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the highly anticipated Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China exhibition at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA)—free for teachers!
The exhibit shows the story of the First Emperor’s profound influence on Chinese history, art, and culture, showcasing 130 works of art, drawn from the collections of 14 art museums and archaeological institutes across Shaanxi Province in China. It features arms and armor, horse and chariot fittings, ritual bronze vessels, works in gold and silver, jade ornaments, precious jewelry, ceramics, and architectural components that were excavated from Emperor Qin Shihuang’s mausoleum, as well as aristocratic, commoner and nomadic tombs. Dating from the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC) through the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), these objects reflect the complex history, myths and burial customs of ancient China.
Presented in three sections, Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China explores the rise of the First Emperor, the history of the Qin state, and the emperor’s quest for immortality. The exhibition tells how the Qin state developed into an empire under Ying Zheng (259–210 BC), who unified China and declared himself Qin Shihuang, or the First Emperor of Qin. His quest for immortality began soon after he became the king of Qin.
The exhibit comprises one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. Highlights include 10 life-size terracotta figures—including warriors and a cavalry horse—that belonged to an underground army of life-size sculptures created by order of the First Emperor to accompany him to the afterlife. The terracotta army was not discovered until 1974, when farmers found pottery shards and bronze arrows while digging a well. Subsequent excavations led to the astonishing discovery of an estimated 8,000 terracotta figures buried in three pits east of the First Emperor’s tomb mound.
This exhibition is also important for Virginia families, as ancient Chinese history is incorporated throughout the state’s educational curriculum. Dig It!, an interactive exhibition in VMFA’s Memorial Foundation for Children Teaching Gallery, complements the Terracotta Army exhibition and offers visitors of all ages the opportunity to explore the field of archaeology through the use of augmented reality. Focusing on discovery, excavation, and lab study, Dig It! encourages visitors to uncover objects in VMFA’s permanent collection through a virtual dig and learn more about their date, function and how archaeology contributes to the study of objects from ancient China.
Although admission to VMFA’s permanent collection is free every day of the year, some special exhibitions, such as Terracotta Army, require a fee. To claim your free ticket (one per teacher), you must present your ACPS badge at VMFA’s visitor services desk. Family members will get a 50 percent discount on exhibition tickets: $10 for adults; $8 for seniors; and $5 for children ages 7–17. You can also reserve tickets by phone at 804-340-1405.
The museum will offer two audio tours, one targeted for adults and another for families, along with a printed gallery guide for general audiences.
As part of this special offer, you can also present your ACPS ID for discounts on dining and shopping at VMFA: a 20 percent discount on purchases in Best Café and the VMFA Shop, and a 10 percent discount at Amuse restaurant while at the exhibit.
The exhibit will close on March 11, 2018.
Learn more about Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China and plan your visit today.