Terracotta Warriors exhibition

[Cathyhuns]

There have been several reports in the news recently about an exhibition of the Xian terracotta warriors. These reports have all said that this will be the first time that the warriors have left China.

However I remember going to an exhibition of the terractoota warriors at the Horticultural Halls in London in 1987 or 1988.

Does any one else remember this and, if so, how can the reports regarding the new exhibition be right?

[Lindylou]

My husband and I visited London for a weekend during the late 80's especially to visit the Terracotta Army. So the reports are incorrect!

[Gromit]

Not the same exhibition - the latest is just some cheap Chinese imports.

[gumboot]

Funnily enough, the reports are right, but I think they could have done with some clarification.

I read about this exhibition in the Daily Telegraph on Thursday last week. It seems that the dozen warriors being sent to the British Museum is "the largest group of the reign of Qin Shihuangdi ever lent abroad". It also seems that amongst the warriors, there are figures of musicians, acrobats and bureacrats that were discovered "more recently".

I can't say I've seen anyone claiming that this is the first time they've left China not even the Daily Telegraph. On the contrary, the paper says they have been seen in other countries before, so I can't quite understand why the rest of the media would think otherwise.

However, the signicance of this news story revolves around the fact that this number of warriors being sent here has never been lent abroad previously. This is why the media have made such a big story out of it.

Incidentally, it seems that China are also lending us two-half sized bronze chariots, a suit of armour made from stone and a number of bronze birds found in an underground river.

Can you remember how many warriors you saw in 87/88 Cathyhuns? Was it less than a dozen?

[Cathyhuns]

It wasn't very many but there were certainly some. And it was so long ago that we were almost wondering whether we'd imagined it.

This is what it said in the Times "An advance guard of the Terracotta Army is leaving China for the first time to be displayed in Britain." This could be interpreted as saying that this is the first time the warriors have been exhibited in Britain and some of the freebie newspapers in London have written their articles to imply this.

[gumboot]

Well firstly Cathhuns, you certainly didn't imagine going to the exhibition in the RHS halls. Have a look towards the bottom of this page:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Learning/publications/pu bs/garden0904/horthalls.asp

I agree that the quote from the Times could have been misunderstood. All the same, I know that some of the London frrebies have a habit of picking up news stories from some of the more prestigious papers to cut costs, in the same way that Monday's papers also include most of the stories from the Sunday papers.

This is one possibly explanation. I wouldn't be surprised that the TV channels might have repeated the story without checking it out first.

[Miss Inquiry]

Sorry to ask a question in a question, but I have just go so excited!!!
Where is this exhibition going to be? My Granny is 90, she has been battling with numerous holiday companies to take her to China for 2 years now, but no one will insure her or my grandad, her one wish is to see the Terracotta Army before she dies. This could be something to make my Granny the happiest lady alive..... (jumping about at the prospect of taking her). x

[Cathyhuns]

At the British Museum from September 2007 to April 2008.

Having been lucky enough to actually go to Xian I'm not sure that any exhibition will convey the scale of the site or how most of the warriors are in bits. Any photos usually show the ones that have been reconstructed, which is good to see what they looked like but doesn't convey the atmosphere of the place at all.

[Francesca Fr]

At last! I was beginning to think I'd dreamt it! Even the people I went with don't remember! I contacted the British Museum and they think it's a first for them. I'll take great delight in forwarded them the details of THE first time Terracotta Warriors came to London. Thanks Cathyhuns