THE EMPEROR’S ETERNAL ARMY
PROGRAMME LENGTH
1 hour
SCREENING DETAILS
Monday July 16 at 9.30am EST/ NZ
This program introduces a recent archaeological discovery near Xian from the Han
dynasty. This is used as the counterpoint for an examination of the role of the Qin and
Han dynasties in the genesis of Chinese society.
The early history of China, the early society and religious beliefs are discussed. There
is considerable discussion of the archaeological record found near Xian. The
recording of Chinese history is also discussed. Some parallels are drawn with more
recent history.
This program has much to recommend it to both junior and senior students of
archaeology and of Chinese history.
Denis Mootz
STAYING FOCUSED.
This is the data collection stage of the activity.
The detailed questioning is designed to ensure that students decode the visual and aural materials
presented to them in the video.
The video programs can be stopped at the end of each section. This will allow students to share and
discuss answers.
Introduction.
Note the terms used to describe the origins of China.
Note the implications of the new archaeological material now available.
Act 1.
Note the comparison to Egypt.
Where are China’s pyramids?
What was the purpose of these structures?
Note details of Qin Shi-Hwang Di.
Note the derivation of the name China?
Note details of the terracotta army.
When were the soldiers buried?
When were the soldiers rediscovered?
How were the soldiers discovered?
Why are they the source of speculation?
Note the physical description of the warriors.
Note Professor Robin Yates’s explanation of the purpose of the warriors.
Note the description of the first emperor. Implications?
Why haven’t the pyramids at Xian been excavated? Result?
What did road builders discover 10 years ago?
When did the Qin dynasty end? Result?
Note details of the Han Dynasty.
Note details of Emperor Jingdi.
Note details of the new discovery.
Why are the figures naked and without arms?
Note Dr Wang Tao’s comments on the new discovery.
Note details of the new burial site. Implications?
Note details of Jing Di’s terracotta “army”.
How is this “army” different from that of the Qin Emperor? Implications?
Note how the figures were dressed. Evidence?
Note the number and arrangement of Jing Di’s burial pits.
Note the details of Chinese beliefs about funerals and death.
How are souls judged? Result? Why is money important?
How is the money transferred to the after life? Result?
What else is burnt at funerals? Implications?
Why did the Qin Emperor need an army in his afterlife? Implications?
Why was the new belief in statues coming to life “humane”?
Act 2.
Note details of the earlier burial pit from northern China.
Note details of the other burials in this pit. Implications?
How did the Qin Emperor vary this custom? Result?
Note details of the story of General Zhou Yafu. Implications?
Why were the buried figures and objects reduced in size?
Why do modern Chinese still admire the Qin Emperor?
Note details of the life and career of the Qin Emperor.
What was the secret of success in the Qin army?
Note the building projects of the Qin Emperor. Result?
Note details of the terracotta warriors. Implications?
Where was the army buried?
Note details of the Qin Emperor’s pyramid.
Note the comment on the cost of the Qin Emperor’s tomb.
Note the modern industry making ‘dolls’ for funerals.
Why did the Qin Emperor need such a large tomb and army?
Note the latest discovery of the Qin tomb. Implications?
Note the discussion of why Jingdi was more restrained than the Qin Emperor.
Act 3.
What does discolouration in the Qin tomb show archaeologists? Implications? Result?
Note how the Qin Emperor dealt with opposition. Result?
Note Hugh Baker’s comments on emperors and laws.
How did Jingdi vary the role of the Emperor as law maker? Result?
Why were laws under the Qin Emperor so severe?
How did the Han emperors treat the Chinese people?
Note the comparison with recent Chinese history. Implications?
What does the variation in the buried figurines suggests about Jingdi’s approach to ruling
China?
Note the means by which Wengdi And Jingdi solved the Mongolian ‘problem’. Result?
Note details of the small Tang dynasty tomb that can be visited. Implications?
Note the speculation about the tomb of Jingdi.
Note details of the new discovery at Jingdi’s tomb. Implications?
Note the comment on caricatures. Implications?
Act 4.
Note the new discovery at Xian. Implications?
Note how the Emperor’s administrators kept notes.
What achievement of the Qin Emperor does this discovery underline? Result?
Why might our view of the Qin dynasty be less than objective?
Why would the Han ‘blacken the name’ of the Qin Emperor? Result?
Note details of the revolt of the Seven Kingdoms under Jingdi. Result? Implications?
Note the role of Jingdi’s mother. Implications?
Note the final comments on the Chinese Empire.
EXTENSIONS.
Useful, interesting, challenging, books, sources and websites will provide materials to supplement and
complement the History presented in the video program.
The data collected here should be used in the notemaking below.
Some useful Internet sites:
Chinese History: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_China
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/index.html
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/persons.html
http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/toc.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Records_of_the_Grand_Historian
Chinese Burial Customs: http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_chinaway/2004-03/03/content_46092.htm
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/b/burial_practices_in_china.aspx
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/snippets/issue17/chinese_burial_rituals
Chinese Pyramids: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_pyramids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFoz47v6Xwk
Xian: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi'an
Qin Dynasty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Dynasty
http://china.mrdonn.org/qin.html
http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/imperial.html#first
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/qind/hd_qind.htm
Qin Emperor (Qin Shi Huangdi): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_Dynasty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_books_and_burying_of_scholars
http://archaeology.about.com/od/china/a/terracotta.htm
Terracotta Warriors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terracotta_Army
http://www.globalmountainsummit.org/terra-cotta-warriors.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/11/china-terracotta-army-soldiers-unearthed
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2157181/Archaeologists-unveil-120-new-figuresdiscovered-excavation-site.html
Han Dynasty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Chinese
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Dynasty
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hand/hd_hand.htm
http://china.mrdonn.org/han.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_the_Han_Dynasty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_and_culture_of_the_Han_Dynasty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_Wen_and_Jing
Wendi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Wen_of_Han
http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2011/10/21/128898.html
Jingdi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Jingdi
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/essentials-for-the-afterlife-20120705-21jcf.html
http://www.chinaprivatetravel.com/attractions/xian/tomb-of-emperor-jingdi.htm
General Zhou Yafu: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Yafu
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Han/personszhouyafu.html
Seven Kingdoms Rebellion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebellion_of_the_Seven_States
http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_23029.htm
Mao: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong
http://www.sacu.org/qinemperor.html
Deng Xiaoping: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deng_Xiaoping
http://www.artofwaronwallstreet.com/wordpress/?tag=deng-xiao-ping
http://www.jochnowitz.net/Essays/Xiaoping.html
NOTEMAKING.
This is the collation stage of the activity. Students need to organise the field of information and begin to
explore its context.
Directions and /or Inquiry questions are provided for notemaking / summary exercises that
will follow the viewing of the video.
The materials / data for the summaries have been collected above.
The activity could be done in teams, groups, or by individuals, or as a class with teacher direction.
1. Draw up a timeline / chronological chart of the events described and discussed in this program.
2. Note details of the pyramids of China.
3. Note details of China before the Qin Dynasty.
4. Note details of the Qin Dynasty.
5. Note details of the Qin Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi
6. Note details of the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huangdi.
7. Note details of the Han Dynasty.
8. Note details of the Han Dynasty “Golden Age”.
9. Note details of Emperors Wendi and Jingdi.
10. Note details of the mausoleum of Jingdi.
11. Note details of the rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms.
ISSUES & INQUIRY.
Key issues and inquiry questions that have been raised by the video are addressed at this stage for
discussion and research.
1. Why has Qin Shi Huangdi been considered a tyrannical ruler of China?
2. Why have Wendi and Jingdi been considered enlightened rulers of China?
PROBLEMS of EVIDENCE.
Questions of reliability and validity of the perspectives, evidence and sources presented in the video
program need to be considered, tested and researched.
1. What evidence has caused historians to reconsider their view of Qin Shi Huangdi?
2. What evidence has caused historians to reconsider their view of Wendi and Jingdi?
COMMUNICATING.
The key issues and inquiry questions are potential topics for debate, essay writing, reports, historical
recount and explanation.
1. Write a REPORT on the pyramids of Xian.
2. Prepare notes (both sides) for a DEBATE of the proposition that
The winners write the History of any age.
3. How has the discovery of the tomb of Jingdi changed our understanding of Chinese history?