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Published: June 24th 2007
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The Historical Museum
This is where we walked through the various Chinese Dynasties in chronological order. Very educational and it was easy to draw comparison to other historical references (i.e. bronze age, time of Jesus and Mohammed, Roman times, etc.). China represents an ancient and viable record of world events in post-historic time. Our day exploring the Terra Cotta Warriors
Another U.N. World Heritiage Site, one of several we have visited
Today we awoke, had a great international buffet breakfast, met Sally and our driver and headed out to the Terra Cotta Museum, a Terra Cotta warrior factory and government store, lunch and a visit to the Terra Cotta Warrior reclaimation site at the base of a mountain outside Xian.
Hot day, 100 degree F, but a dry heat (yeah!). Bought Ginny a sun umbrella to help ward off the heat. She fit right in with the locals.
We headed to the Museum where, for the first time, we received a chronological presentation of the Chinese Dynasties. This was a great value for us as it is hard to place the different Dynasties into order. We also were able to see the "Peking Man" historical discoveries made in the Xian area.
We pushed on to the Terra Cotta warrior factory where Ginny bought items for our home and for Brent. She had them shipped back to the United States. Prices were very reasonable and fair.
We went on to a traditional Chinese lunch and the tour of the Terra
The Terra Cotta Factory
Going in we knew we were going to purchase something from this Government Store and Factory. Ginny selected a Terra Cotta warrior for our garden and a collection set(s) for Brent. They will be shipped home to us. Cotta warrior dig.
We mentioned yesterday about the farmer who discovered the more than 8,000 terra cotta warriors, horses and chariots guarding the Emperor's tomb. Today, we met him. He is 80 years old and autographed the book we purchased. It's been 30 years since he sunk that well on his farm looking for water to irrigate his crops. His life has changed dramatically. The majority of the experience we had today is on video tape so look for the DVD when it becomes available. Either way, we have Mr. Young's autograph. Things did not turn out as he planned, but in the end, good fortune came his way. In just 30 years China has built a tremendous infrastructure around the site. The major digs are all covered by stadium sized buildings. Half of the warriors have remained buried as they have learned that when air hits the warriors, their colors fade. They are still working out the details.
Either way, it is amazing. There was a major war which the Emperor won, then he enslaved 70,000 enemy soldiers to dig his tomb, manufacture the terra cotta warriors and ultimately perished and buried in the tomb with the
Emperor. Separatists later stormed the tomb and shattered all the terra cotta statues except one. What you see standing is the painstaking reassembly of thousands of shards of terra cotta to create the statues. Shattered remains are still visible both as a reminder of what had happened and represent pieces of a giant puzzle not yet resolved...an amazing sight to behold.
We had about an hour drive back to the hotel and along the way I engaged our tour guide, Sally, in a discussion about the Communist Party in China. The most interesting result of the conversation was that you do not have to be a member of the Communist Party in China - that is a personal choice. If you aspire to a government job (politician, police, military, etc.) you need to join with monthly dues similar to a union. If you do not aspire to a government job, you don't have to join. No pressure, no fear...it is not as it is portrayed to us in the States.
This is why the Soviet Union (CCCP) failed and why Peoples Republic of China (RPC) continues to succeed. They are clearly aware that the future will not be
Sally, our tour guide in Xian
At the Terra Cotta Warrior main discovery area. It was very crowded and she did a great job trying to complete her delivery of information given the crush of people around the main viewing point. She was great! You really had to be there to understand how great she was. easy. They know they have 700 million farmers outside of the cities earning only about $1.50 USD per day and they also know that not everyone (1.3 billion people) can move to the cities for the opportunity to achieve increased financial rewards, but they do not believe in war (they are engaged in no wars today) and they like to be "middle of the road" and work in teams.
No doubt it is hard for young people to make their way in China today, as hard as it is for older people to adapt to a faster, more urban way of life. They know about the copywrite problems within the country and the government is trying to do something about it. It seems that the people are out in front of the Government and continue to find ways to make a profit.
We come away from China with a greater respect for what they have achieved, recognize the challenges they face today and wish them the best of luck moving forward...economically, socially and environmentally. We must all wish them success as they represent a major portion of the human race on the planet.
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nancy
non-member comment
Hello! I feel I am on your trip with you. What a wonderful experience and I am so happy for you. Please keep the blogs coming! Nancy