The British Museum is perhaps the only national museum in the world that talks about cultures from across the world rather than its own people. ‘The First Emperor’, as the terracotta exhibition has been named, is one such show that marks the biggest tribute to Chinese culture and heritage. Financial giant Morgan Stanley has backed it with the largest sponsorship ever given to a British exhibition.

All about the collection

The collection originally belongs to Qin Shihuangdi, who was crowned the First August Divine Emperor of China. Born Ying Zheng in 259 BC, he became king of Qin at the early age of 13 and ruthlessly overpowered the belligerent states that were striving to overcome each other. The king had a powerful and devastatingly efficient army  – so very much evident from the statues.

He founded and named China a nation way back in 221 BC. Soon after, he gave top priority to law-enforcement which was unheard of in his time.

The stern leader also had a passion for architecture – he built more than 270 palaces in the capital city of Xianyang, besides creating a network of roads and canals for easy communication. Not only that, he also introduced one language of administration within the empire and a common currency.

Needless to say, emperor Qin had boundless energy and ambitions. Not content with conquering his neighbouring states and building his own empire, he decided to defy mortality, especially after enduring three assassination attempts. He began with swallowing pills, potions and magical herbs, till he found a way to combat his fear of death. He engaged 700,000 labourers – many of whom have inscribed their names on the sculptures – to create a burial ground with clay, wood and bronze, spread over 56 sq km. This alternative world was built over three decades as an underground palace for afterlife.

Qin, however, believed that every human being is by nature evil. As such, all the labourers were either worked to death or buried alive with the emperor. His own tomb remains intact to this day, but about 7,000 soldiers have been uncovered so far along with bureaucrats, musicians, carriage drivers and entertainers, who look like silent guards of their emperor.

The first terracotta warrior was unearthed by a few farmers while digging a well in 1974 and since then, an entire army and an empire has been dug up. Walking around the exhibition, you are bound to be captivated by the high professionalism of the workers and the finesse of their craft.

Right from the ceremonial burner surmounted on a phoenix to the exquisite ornaments on the belts of the soldiers, go to prove the supremacy of the ruler. Though some of the figures have lost their weapons, they haven't lost their aura. Every little detail is evident just as every strand of their braid is visible. The splashes of colours on them show that they were once vividly painted.

Looking at the 20 larger-than-life statues, it is difficult to believe that they were found broken, some into as many as 80 fragments. As you amble your way through, you cannot help but be surprised at the individuality and uniqueness of each figure.

While most of them are placed in glass boxes, you bump into a few that have been left outside. Their sheer presence transports you to a different world altogether. Even after you have trudged through the final arena and walked into reality, it is difficult to break free.