Terracotta Army arrives in Tampere

The exhibition called The Terracotta Army and Treasures of the First Emperors of China will open at Museum Centre Vapriikki in Tampere, Finland, on 14 June.

Also known as the eighth wonder of the world, the terracotta army is a UNESCO world heritage site. In addition to the tomb’s eerie guards and the First Emperor’s bronze chariot, the exhibition at Vapriikki displays other tomb discoveries and imperial treasures from the Qin and Han dynasties, including precious jade, gold and bronze objects. Some of the discoveries were made during the most recent excavations, carried out since 2000.

The first emperor of China, Qin Shihuangdi (259–210 BC) was one of the most powerful rulers of all time. He unified seven warring states into one empire. He began the construction of the Great Wall, harmonized the system of weights and measures used in his empire, imposed a common monetary system, developed transport systems, and built an army based on conscription. In many ways, he laid the foundations of modern China. 

Today, China’s First Emperor is best known for his terracotta army, discovered in 1974. It guards his underground empire, a huge tomb complex containing a vast range of items that provide rich and diverse insights into life in ancient China. It has been estimated that the pits forming the tomb complex contain over 8,000 soldiers and horses.

‘It is a dream come true to any museum to present an exhibition on the terracotta army, and we are very honoured to be able to display this wonderful collection of objects at Vapriikki,’ says Exhibition Manager Marjo-Riitta Saloniemi.

Archaeological excavations of the First Emperor’s tomb site continue. Many new and interesting finds have been made in recent years, in the 1990s and the first years of the 2000s. Among these are bronze birds, and a stone armour, which will be on display at Vapriikki.

‘The First Emperor appreciated exotic animals and took some of his pets with him to the afterlife. These objects have not been on display in the Nordic region before,’ Saloniemi says.

The Terracotta Army and Treasures of the First Emperors of China exhibition will be hosted at Vapriikki from 14 June to 1 December 2013. There will be plenty of related events in the autumn of 2013.

Museum Centre Vapriikki

Located on the banks of the Tammerkoski rapids, Vapriikki is a museum centre that offers things to see and do for the whole family. The museum hosts about a dozen exhibitions each year with varied themes including history, technology and natural sciences. Vapriikki is also home to The Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame, The Shoe Museum, and The Doll Museum. Visitors are served by the museum restaurant Valssi and the museum shop which sells a wide selection of literature and gifts. More information: www.vapriikki.fi

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For more information, contact:
Exhibition Manager Marjo-Riitta Saloniemi, tel. +358 50 553 8671
Communications Coordinator Tähtitalvikki Poikajärvi, tel. +358 50 321 1189
Photos: http://siiri.tampere.fi/ > Tiedotuskuvat >Terrakotta-armeija

Museum Centre Vapriikki
vapriikki(at)tampere.fi
Tel. +358 (0) 3 5656 6966
Alaverstaanraitti 5
33101 Tampere, Finland

www.vapriikki.fi