An exhibition featuring China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang and his terracotta army has kicked off in Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark.
An exhibition featuring China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang and his terracotta army has kicked off in Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark. The exhibition is part of a series of cultural exchanges to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between China and Denmark.
"The First Emperor -- China's Terracotta Army", is the first major temporary exhibition at the Moesgaard Museum since the building was completed last autumn. It features 104 cultural objects from Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb and from the Qin and Han dynasties. And it includes 10 of the world renowned large terracotta sculptures, portraying warriors, government officials and horses from the first Chinese emperor's time. The objects have been specifically selected for the exhibition and are from 10 different museums in China's Shaanxi Province.
The Queen of Denmark Margrethe the Second, and Prince Consort Henrik came from the capital, Copenhagen, to attend the opening ceremony. It was the queen's second glimpse of the famous clay statues. In September of 1979, the queen visited China, and went to see the terracotta warriors in Xi'an, becoming the first foreign leader to ever enter the pit where the archeological treasures were buried.
This exhibition at the Moesgaard is part of celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between China and Denmark.
"The exhibition not only presents and promotes Chinese culture in Denmark, in North Europe and also in the world, but also, it deepens bilateral ties between the two countries," said Liu Biwei, Chinese ambassador to Denmark.
The terracotta army was discovered in Shaanxi province in 1974. They were made over two thousand years ago by Qin Shi Huang, who is known today as the first ruler to unite China and the man who first ordered the construction of the Great Wall.
"It's nice for everyone to get so close to all the objects, sort of stand in front of the warriors and look at them in the eye. That was what I experienced in Xi'an when I went to Shaanxi History Museum, to stand close to them and look at them in the eye. I think we have a little of the same here," said Moesgaard Museum organizer.
The exhibition will last till September 30th.
