The public has never had this kind of access to China’s famous Terracotta Warriors, even in China itself.

The Asian Art Museum recently had their press preview for China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy, which will be on view until May 27^th, 2013.

The exhibitions main attractions are the ten life-size terracotta figures, which is the maximum number permitted outside China in a single exhibition. Accompanying the figured are 110 rare objects from underground sites surrounding the First Emperor’s tomb and early Qin dynasty burial chambers, some newly discovered, from bronze weapons, sculptures of waterfowl, and a ceremonial limestone suit of armor to tiny gold animal-like figurines, all of which create a picture of the First Emperor’s obsession with eternity and the afterlife.

The Terracotta Warriors were discovered in 1974 near Xi'an in Shaanxi province by a group of farmers that were digging a water well. For centuries, there had been occasional reports of pieces of terracotta figures and fragments of the Qin necropolis – roofing tiles, bricks, and chunks of masonry – having been dug up in the area.This most recent discovery prompted Chinese archaeologists to investigate, and they unearthed the largest pottery figurine group ever found in China.

The Director of the Asian Art Museum, Jay Xu, is pretty excited that the museum was given this sort of access by China to these works. “This tests the tremendous collaboration and confidence in our museum by the Chinese,” said Xu. “Also, a test to the reputation of our museums pursuit of artistic excellence…and our reputation in presenting art in the safest and most immediate way for our audience.”

For more information, visit AsianArt.org.