Page 14 - PGA Community News - October '22

Page 14, PGA C.A.N.! October 2022 October 2022
Xi’an: The Wonders Of Clay

By Don Kiselewski, MCC, Xi’an has more than
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens 3,100 years of recorded
Travel Leaders history and for more than
The first thing that 1,100 years, served as the
visitors are told when capital for 13 imperial
they reach Xi’an is how dynasties. At the time of
to pronounce the name of the Tang Dynasty (619 to
their city. The apostrophe 907 A.D.), it was the largest
between “i” and “a” has a city in the world; however,
special purpose – to make its decline started at the end
sure the word is spoken of the Dynasty. Xi’an was
in two syllables. Xi’ in also the eastern end of the
Chinese is pronounced as “Shee,” so therefore it’s Shee-an Silk Road. Today, Xi’an
and not Shean. That being said, most people had probably has a population of over
never heard of the place until over 40 years ago, when the nine million (https://www.
discovery of the buried army caught the world’s attention. britannica.com/place/Xian-
Today, these terracotta warriors are on the “must see” list China) – slightly less than
of things to do in China. half of Florida’s population.
So what are the events leading up to this popularity? The city’s earlier name,
Starting at the beginning, the Chinese people anchored which still sometimes is used
their civilization at the bend of the Huang He (Yellow) as its nickname, is Chang’an.
River, in the center of the country. The river and fertile In 194 B.C., Chang’an
valley were the two necessary ingredients that provided commenced building a city
sustenance to the people. In harmony with the land, the wall for protection … the job
Shaanxi Province area grew in population as well as was completed four years
strength, becoming the strongest state in China. Xi’an later. The original wall was
is located on the Wei River, some 100 miles west of its about 15 miles in length,
intersection with the Huang He. 50 feet wide at the base,
It was in this fertile valley that Qin Shi Huang was able and surrounded an area of
to unify China. Qin (pronounced Cheen) was born the son 14 square miles. In 1370
of King Zhuangxiang of Qin and a beautiful concubine A.D., the Ming Dynasty
belonging to merchant and advisor Lü Buwei. He became constructed a new wall to
emperor at the age of 13, after the death of his father, and encircle a smaller space
proceeded to organize the various warring states in 221 – around six square miles. While the city wall and the completion of the mountain tomb, his sons saw to it that
B.C. into the Qin Dynasty, which was a gigantic task. Some Chinese opera performances in Xi’an are both marvelous, the tomb builders were buried alive, along with officials,
of his other achievements included the standardization of it is the world-famous Terracotta Army that attracts the craftsmen and the emperor’s childless concubines.
weights and measures, writing and currency, along with the most tourists. All was forgotten until 1974, when a few local farmers,
width of carriage axles to facilitate transport. Additionally, Emperor Qin’s mausoleum is at the foot of Mount Lishan, while digging a water well, came upon a startling surprise.
he built the first road network in China to connect all the some 20 miles east of Xi’an. The man-made mountain, some In the process of emptying dirt from the bottom of the
major cities. 4,300 feet high, houses the actual burial tomb, and who knows well, one of the men came across a terracotta head, and
who else, as the mountain has yet to be excavated. Qin was believed that he had come in contact with an evil spirit.
buried in his tomb long before the mountain was completed.
The mountain is larger than the greatest pyramid. At the Xi’an: The Wonders Of Clay on page 15

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