Page 6 - The Shores of Jupiter - October '22

Page 6, The Shores
Xi’an: The Wonders Of Clay

By Don Kiselewski, MCC, to merchant and advisor Lü
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens Buwei. He became emperor at
Travel Leaders the age of 13, after the death
The first thing that visitors of his father, and proceeded to
are told when they reach Xi’an organize the various warring
is how to pronounce the name states in 221 B.C. into the
of their city. The apostrophe Qin Dynasty, which was a
between “i” and “a” has a gigantic task. Some of his
special purpose – to make other achievements included
sure the word is spoken in the standardization of weights
two syllables. Xi’ in Chinese and measures, writing and
is pronounced as “Shee,” so currency, along with the width
therefore it’s Shee-an and not Shean. That being said, most of carriage axles to facilitate
people had probably never heard of the place until over 40 years transport. Additionally, he built
ago, when the discovery of the buried army caught the world’s the first road network in China
attention. Today, these terracotta warriors are on the “must see” to connect all the major cities. many of the warriors
list of things to do in China. Xi’an has more than 3,100 years of recorded history and in pieces. This was
So what are the events leading up to this popularity? Starting for more than 1,100 years, served as the capital for 13 imperial the condition that they
at the beginning, the Chinese people anchored their civilization dynasties. At the time of the Tang Dynasty (619 to 907 A.D.), were found in when the
at the bend of the Huang He (Yellow) River, in the center of it was the largest city in the world; however, its decline started pits were opened 2,200
the country. The river and fertile valley were the two necessary at the end of the dynasty. Xi’an was also the eastern end of the years later.
ingredients that provided sustenance to the people. In harmony Silk Road. Today, Xi’an has a population of over nine million The main pit
with the land, the Shaanxi Province area grew in population as (https://www.britannica.com/place/Xian-China) – slightly less is covered by a
well as strength, becoming the strongest state in China. Xi’an is than half of Florida’s population. 14,000-square-meter
located on the Wei River, some 100 miles west of its intersection The city’s earlier name, which still sometimes is used as its building and contains
with the Huang He. nickname, is Chang’an. In 194 B.C., Chang’an commenced some 7,000 life-size
It was in this fertile valley that Qin Shi Huang was able building a city wall for protection … the job was completed terracotta warriors, the
to unify China. Qin (pronounced Cheen) was born the son of four years later. The original wall was about 15 miles in length, bulk of which have been
King Zhuangxiang of Qin and a beautiful concubine belonging 50 feet wide at the base, and surrounded an area of 14 square restored. The figures
miles. In 1370 A.D., the Ming Dynasty constructed a new wall are made of local clay
to encircle a smaller space – around six square miles. While the and the warrior’s weigh
city wall and the Chinese opera performances in Xi’an are both between 250 and 700
marvelous, it is the world-famous Terracotta Army that attracts pounds. The same method of construction was used throughout
the most tourists. the entire production. The bodies, head and arms are hollow,
Emperor Qin’s mausoleum is at the foot of Mount Lishan, while the legs and platforms to which they are attached are solid.
some 20 miles east of Xi’an. The man-made mountain, some Larger pieces were made in a mold and then joined together
4,300 feet high, houses the actual burial tomb, and who knows before firing. Each of the warriors was individually crafted and
who else, as the mountain has yet to be excavated. Qin was signed by one of the 88 craftsmen who placed their quality control
buried in his tomb long before the mountain was completed. The mark on the piece … no two warriors look alike.
mountain is larger than the greatest pyramid. At the completion of The warriors are definitely the drawing card in Xi’ an. They
the mountain tomb, his sons saw to it that the tomb builders were have been viewed by more than 50 million visitors from home
buried alive, along with officials, craftsmen and the emperor’s and abroad in the last three decades. Today, the description
childless concubines. “Eighth Wonder of the World” has become synonymous with
All was forgotten until 1974, when a few local farmers, the Terracotta Army. In 1987, the site of the warriors was placed
while digging a water well, came upon a startling surprise. In on the list of World Heritage Sites.
the process of emptying dirt from the bottom of the well, one Don Kiselewski writes from his personal experiences, having
of the men came across a terracotta head, and believed that he traveled in 122 countries and cruised the oceans, seas and rivers
had come in contact with an evil spirit. Officials were brought of the world. Palm Beach Gardens Travel Leaders, his family
in and excavations in the area began. It is believed that there are owned and operated agency, is located at Mirasol Town Square,
some 600 pits that surround the mausoleum within a few miles. 11360 North Jog Road, Building A, Suite 102-6, Palm Beach
The full-size warriors, their horses and other battle accessories Gardens. The agency has been serving the travel needs of the
were uncovered in longitudinal pits about 20 feet deep. These South Florida area for over a quarter of a century. Contact him
pits were enough to hold four soldiers and/or four horses with at (561) 694-9696 or Aussie@PBGTravel.com.
chariots. Between these pits, the ground was undisturbed Photos by Don Kiselewski
to a depth of approximately
10 feet. Spanning the pits
above the soldiers, logs were
placed to form a roof. Earth
was filled in over the logs,
bringing the level up to the
natural earth elevation. Years
later, during a farmers’ revolt,
the underground army was
attacked and the figures were
broken apart by the invaders.
The weapons and valuable
items were pillaged, leaving

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