My family is going to Washington, DC next week to see the terra cotta warriors at the National Geographic museum, and when I tell people, some of them have said, "The terra cotta what?" or, "Oh, really? What are they?"

Is it just me, or is it surprising that quite a number of people never heard or read about this find?

Don't be surprised. Have you ever watched Jay Leno when he does the street stroll and asks people the most basic, general knowledge questions? Most of them have no clue!

Dayle - you're right. And it's not only the young people he asks, it's often middle-aged people, too. Very scary....

Even if we know, how many of us can clearly explain what is "terra cotta" - not meaning the warriors, but what it's made of Honestly, without Googling? Is it some special clay?

I'm always astounded at what people don't know -- especially about geography. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if you started to tell them the story about it and when you said "China", they said, "Oh, China? What state is that in?"

They were really discovered a pretty long time ago now, and unless you are a Chinaphile, some might not even know about them.
Terra cotta is clay--think flower pots. Lifesize people of clay, each with a distinctly different face!

I hadn't thought about what some people may think when I say "terra cotta warriors." Maybe soldiers who fight with plant pots?

Terra cotta IS the material.

I have a good friend who got to tour China when the country first opened to visitors. One of the places they saw was the excavation site. She said it was incredible. She speaks Mandarin and had an amazing experience there.

If you are interested in learning more about the terra cotta soldiers as well as the forbidden city next time you are in Houston (hey it's closer and cheaper to get to than China) visit this site - forbidden-gardens.com. It is amazing and the only place like it outside China. Heck, even if you have been to the real forbidden city going to this site and looking at the scaled model while the guide explains it is easier to get the big picture than actually being there.

Barblab, thanks so much for that link! I have relatives (that we visit regularly) who live in Houston and they have never mentioned this place. I wonder if they even know about it. They live just about 30 miles from Katy, so I'm going to insist that we visit the Forbidden Gardens next summer.
We are going to the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit soon, but a major part of the attraction of them for me is the vast numbers of them. Since I don't expect to see thousands of the "real thing" in China, I'll be happy seeing a few up close in Washington in a couple of weeks and then thousands of scale models in Houston next summer.

Longhorn, you won't see thousands of them in China either. They haven't been excavated. I was there this summer and I hate to admit it but our family was underwhelmed. Stick with the states exhibition. And, the warriors they send aren't the ones unearthed. They are the reproductions. I don't believe for a minute they are the ones crumbled and put back together.

We saw these warriors when we were in China..pretty amazing..and each one has a different face...There are signs all around "no Photographs" but DH got out his camera and started shooting...We almost got arrested.!!

As Clarasong, we also saw them in China - Xian and took photos (like most of the visitors, despite the sign). We were impressed, there are not two identical statues! There are a lot of details - the hair, the clothes, positions, face expression...different from one to another. You can see thousands of soldiers, and are also thousands that are not yet unearthed. The problem is not to unearth them, but the restauration work, to find all small pieces and to put them together.. At the museum they explained us that it is not only a problem of money,but they have not enough specialist restaurators.

I am amazed at being "underwhelmed" by that array of standing warriors. I wonder at expectations sometimes.
They surmise that this parade of warriors stretches to the Emperor Quing's tomb in a hillock about a mile away.
The other reason they are not continuing excavations is that they project that in the future there will be better technology with which to do it for preservation and study.
Pictures are allowed--not flash, as in any museum where preservation is important.

After only seeing a handful of them in DC, I would be (and am) chomping at the bit to see the warriors in person in the burial mounds in Xian. I think though, the plus to this sort of exhibit is how close you can get to see detail. The shoelaces and soles of the shoes were absolutely amazing, as are the faces and detail work on the armor.

To those going to the DC exhibition, DEFINITELY get the audio tour. Things you will learn on it clear up some misconceptions about them, like:

-- The warriors were discovered by local farmers in the 1970s, not "long ago" as mentioned above. Approx 1000 have been unearthed, but they suspect up to 6000 more are still underground.
-- They will not unearth the Emperor's actual burial mound because at the time he was buried with large amounts of mercury, which of course is known to be highly hazardous now and they won't risk exposing excavators to it.
-- Classes of warrior can be identified by the type of hair piece or cap and whether their hands are tucked inside their sleeves (officer) or ready to hold a weapon (plebe).
-- Some of these soldiers were found in formation nearly a mile from the burial mound itself; I always thought they were a lot closer.

I was not allowed to take photos of any kind within the exhibit the day I went, but there is a replica outside the exhibit before the gift shop that you can photograph all you want.

Just in case there is any confusion--the exhibit of Terra Cotta Warriors which has been touring the U.S. and is now in Washington D.C. consists of 15 terra cotta warriors and over 100 other artifacts from the grave site of Qin Shihuangdi (259-210 B.C.) in Shaanxi province. These are NOT reproductions.

Thank you for correcting that, longhorn. They are very interesting and knowing there are so many to be unearthed is very exciting. The soldiers have colors painted on them when unearthed but fades so quickly after exposure to UV light. I believe that is why they are also slowing down on excavation.

Also, we heard something to the effect that they believe the soldiers are in a 2 mile by 2 mile square area. That would be impressive if that is ever unearthed and displayed.

I'm sorry if I brought my tainted view to the discussion.

NeoPatrick on Dec 1, 09 at 10:09am
Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if you started to tell them the story about it and when you said "China", they said, "Oh, China? What state is that in?"

Let's hope they won't ask which aisle it's in, and is it fine china or not

I saw the Terra Cotta exhibit and found it interesting, but no where near as impressive as the Forbidden Gardens just west of Houston (link above). They do not advertise much and are now open just Fri-Sun.

Longhorn55 - hook 'em.