Jessica Rawson Knihy

Exploring twelve significant tombs from various historical periods, this work reveals the intricate connections between burial practices and the broader political and cultural developments of Ancient China. Highlighting the sophistication of these tombs, which rival those of Ancient Egypt, the author illustrates how they reflect a unique worldview where ancestors coexist with the living. The book culminates in an examination of the First Emperor's monumental tomb, guarded by terracotta warriors, offering insights into the civilization's enduring legacy and beliefs about life and death.

In contrast to the West, where diamonds, gold and silver have usually been highly valued, in China bronzes and jades were chosen early on for the society's valued artefact's. This title celebrates an important collection and highlights the extraordinary skills of the craftsmen of early cultures, placing the objects in their historical context.

These dramatic discoveries, largely from tombs and burial pits, have revealed the unexpected existence of previously unknown civilizations with mysterious beliefs and social systems. Striking human-like figures from Guanghan in the southwest and strange monster heads from central China are evidence of religious practices quite different from those of the great dynasties we know from later written records.