A “historic day”, in the words of Mazón, who has highlighted the projection provided by having this legacy, which turns Alicante into a “European cultural epicenter”. Although some of these unique warriors have been seen before, this is the first time to see them since the coronavirus pandemic.
The curator of the exhibition, Marcos Martinón-Torres, professor at the University of Cambridge, has assured that the Marq will “create unforgettable days for thousands of people” and in a first guided tour for the media, he has revealed some of the details of this fascinating journey through “a millennium of history”.
The foundations of that empire comparable to the Roman are reflected in this exhibition of more than 120 pieces and replicas - full-scale reproductions such as the chariot weighing more than a ton in bronze with gold inlays and several horses on the team - that even give the original number key from China, from Qin, the first dynasty.
In the mausoleum of the first emperor, the 7.000 life-size clay warriors (all with different features) were covered underground and, according to the philosophy of the time, several centuries before Christ, servants, concubines, animals... were also buried. In the case of the soldiers, because they thought they would also protect them after death.
Among the thousands of workers who sculpted this legacy of sculptures, manufactured irrigation pipes or made all kinds of objects such as bells (without clapper, with a different sound than European ones), there were slaves and prisoners sentenced to forced labor.
In a stone place with inscriptions, it has been possible to identify only 18 of those "heroes who wrote history", as the curator of the exhibition has defined them. Their numbers now appear on a canvas next to this piece as a “tribute” to all those who gave their lives in that construction feat, whose remains were found a short distance away in mass graves.
In total, just the excavation of such a kilometer-long space for the emperor's burial required the removal of 5.000 trucks with stands.
The horse-drawn carriage weighing more than one ton reconstructed at full scale ABC
The visit to the three rooms (life, death and Terracotta warriors) has been set to music composed for the occasion by Alicante native Luis Ivars and performed with indigenous Chinese instruments, as well as the smells that have historically been documented permeating the atmosphere of that room. period, such as cherry trees, lotus blossom, rice, incense or tea.
"It was one of the most spectacular discoveries of Humanity," stressed Carlos Mazón at the inauguration, who also insisted that foreign visitors can also enjoy the tourist, landscape, gastronomic and hotel offerings while passing through Alicante. in a province with 15 Michelin Stars.
“The Costa Blanca is once again projecting itself in the world,” he concluded, in addition to predicting “the greatest success achieved” by the Marq, which will also surprise the public with its “avant-garde techniques.”
For his part, the Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism, representing the President of his Government, has alluded to the 50th anniversary of relations between China and Spain with the emphasis that, despite the distance, they are two countries that attracted each other to the progress of human civilization.
Hu Heping: “Fruitful results”
Hu Heping has assessed that "this association has fruitful results" for both countries and, although the presentation is sober in detail, he has highlighted how a report from China offers about its "formation of a unified country" and has provided sober information, for example , the paper factory “as one of the great Chinese inventions”, or the Silk Road, which connected China with Spain and European countries.
Finally, it was declared that the Ministry is “willing” to work with Spain in order to “strengthen collaborations” that can contribute to the conservation of “heritage.”
For his part, the deputy for Culture, Juan de Dios Navarro, host of the inauguration, has praised the “extraordinary exhibition” and has shared the honors of this presentation with his predecessor in office, Julia Parra, who has worked on the preparation of the exhibition throughout the entire legislature, an initiative that “was born as a dream shared by many.”
Likewise, Parra has congratulated that “the main museums in the world trust their treasures” to the Marq, as has been evident in this exhibition, in which nine Chinese museums have contributed pieces.
He has also participated in the presentation of the Cultural Heritage Administration Counselor of the Shaanxi Provincial Government, Luo Wenli, who highlighted that this legacy is valued as “the eighth wonder of the world” and has trusted that after this initiative there will be other “futures”. cultural exchanges between both countries.”
