Since the historic accidental discovery in March 1974, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang have become a unique business card of the Chinese nation with its majestic momentum and profound cultural heritage, and it is also a strong stroke in the history of world archaeology. This journey from the field to the international stage not only shows the brilliant achievements of China's ancient civilization, but also reflects the importance and strength of New China to the protection of cultural heritage.
The terracotta figurines unearthed unexpectedly when farmers digging wells in Lintong, Shaanxi Province, have attracted great attention from the top level after being keenly observed and reported by reporter Lin Anwen. The Vice Premier's instructions opened a new chapter in the protection of the Qin Warriors, and the Marshal of the Emperor's proposal to establish a museum provided a solid guarantee for the protection and display of the Terracotta Warriors. In 1979, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum of Qin Shi Huang was officially opened to the public, the world's largest underground military museum, vividly reproducing the majestic image of the Qin army and demonstrating the long-standing strength of the Chinese nation.
The excavation and display of the terracotta warriors and horses quickly attracted the attention of the world, and leaders from various countries came one after another, such as Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and France's ** Chirac, and gave it a high evaluation. Chirac** praised it as the "Eighth Wonder of the World", making it an important bridge for foreign cultural exchanges. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987, further enhancing their global influence.
The excavation process of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses has witnessed the progress and development of Chinese archaeology, from the initial open-pit mining to the scientific and rigorous excavation method, and then to the great importance attached to the protection of cultural relics, which fully demonstrates the conceptual transformation and technological improvement of China's cultural heritage protection. At the same time, the international status of the Qin Terracotta Warriors also reflects the rise of New China and the enhancement of international influence, as Lin Anwen said, without the strong motherland as a backing, such a precious cultural treasure may not escape the fate of the old era of theft and excavation.
Looking back on the past half century, every change of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses in the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang is a vivid history textbook, which is not only a witness to the 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization, but also a symbol of Chinese cultural self-confidence in the new era. In the days to come, this group of underground legions that have been sleeping for thousands of years will continue to tell the story of the Qin Dynasty, convey the charm of ancient oriental wisdom, and continue to write a cultural legend shared by all mankind.