The Terra Cotta Army: China's First Emperor and the Birth of a Nation

by John Man

Overview

"A virtuoso historical investigation" of the discovery and history of the sculptures of the first emperor of China's army (Kirkus Reviews).

The Terra Cotta Army is an account of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries ever made. Over seven thousand life-size figures of warriors and horses were interred in the mausoleum of the first emperor of China'and each figure was individually carved.

Weaving together history and a first-hand account of his experiences in China, John Man tells the fascinating story of how and why these astonishing figures were created in the third century BC, and how they have become a symbol of China's history, culture, and society.

"John Man conjures up an ancient people in an alien landscape in such a way as to make them live." —Guardian

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786732067
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	03/05/2009
Sold by:	OPEN ROAD INTEGRATED - EBKS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	308
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

John Man is a historian and travel writer with a special interest in Asia. His many acclaimed books include bestselling biographies of Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun, as well as The Great Wall and The Terracotta Army. He lives in the United Kingdom.

Table of Contents

List of Maps     vii
A Note on Spelling     ix
Acknowledgements     xi
Picture Acknowledgements     xiii
Preface: An Army of the Past and Present     xv
Origins
Discovery     3
The Grand Historian's Hidden Agenda     16
Warring States, Conflicting Ideas     27
From Prince to King     42
The Making of China     61
A Ruthless Frenzy     72
Beyond the Grave
The World to Come     97
Digging the Tomb     115
Making the Eternal Army     127
Sudden Death     157
Consumed by Fire     179
The Eighth Wonder
Six Thousand Characters in Search of a Role     205
New Marvels in Bronze and Stone     230
On Handling Treasures     247
To Be Revealed     257
Dates and Dynasties     269
Qin and the Terra Cotta Army in Context     271
Bibliography     275
Index     281

Editorial Reviews

Roanoke Times 5/11/0
“If you can’t make it to China anytime soon to see the warriors, do the next best thing: Grab a warm cup of tea, sink into your favorite reading spot and open The Terra Cotta Army to the preface. And begin.”
Library Journal, 6/15/08
“Brilliant and utterly readable…Reads much like an adventure story that offers fine access to this highly detailed subject.” 

Houston Chronicle China book roundup
“Provides essential background reading...Man is a genial guide…learned but not dry.”
Toronto Globe and Mail, 7/19/08
“[Man’s] travel journalism evocatively describes the terra cotta warriors as artifacts, and appropriately overwhelms us with their scale…Man’s prose attains precision and genuine awe.”
Charleston Post & Courier
“[Man] uses his skills as a travel writer to set the scene and fill it with vignettes...The folk stories and humorous incidents that salt the text prevent the dust of history from obscuring the glory of the story.”
Roanoke Times, 8/18/08
“[An] engaging foray into Chinese history.

From the Publisher