Busacca Gallery

Origin: China Circa: 550 AD to 577 AD Dimensions: 12.75" (32.4cm) high Collection: Chinese Medium: Painted Terracotta An amazing archaeological find, a set of terracotta warriors. Qí) was one of the Northern dynasties of Chinese history and ruled northern China from 550 to 577. As implied by its short duration, the Northern Qi Dynasty was a turbulent time in the vast history of China. Locusts plagued the lands, ruining the crops. Hunger and ethnic feuding ravaged the population. This set of ten warriors is a memorial to the only individual that could secure peace and prosperity in such chaotic times. Clearly, none of the turmoil is exhibited in these calm, refined representations of warrior figures. They stand tall, some wearing armor, others dressed in a sleeveless tabard draped over a long-sleeved garment secured at their waist with a band. They wear small, snug caps while those in armor brandish pointed helmets, both typical of this era. Some of the original polychrome paint that once decorated these works is still visibly, most often seen on their faces, shoes, caps, or belts. Originally, these warriors would have brandished weapons inserted into the holes present in their hands. Most likely halberds or spears, these weapons were probably fabricated in a material such as wood that deteriorated over the centuries. This group was discovered entombed together in the grave of an elite member of the Northern Qi nobility. Although they were intended to protect the tomb and ward off any infiltrators, be they robbers or malevolent spirits, these warriors do not repel us; instead, their compelling history and stunning aesthetic beauty attracts us to them.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Qi

The Chinese state of Northern Qi was the successor state of the Chinese/Xianbei state of Eastern Wei and was founded by Emperor Wenxuan. Emperor Wenxuan had a Han Chinese father Gao Huan, and a Xianbei mother, Lou Zhaojun.[4] As Eastern Wei's paramount general Gao Huan was succeeded by his sons Gao Cheng and Gao Yang, who took the throne from Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei in 550 and established Northern Qi as Emperor Wenxuan. Although Northern Qi was plagued by violence and/or incompetent emperors (Emperor Wenxuan, Emperor Wucheng, and Gao Wei), corrupt officials, and deteriorating armies for most of its existence, it was the strongest state of the three main Chinese states (along with Northern Zhou state and Chen Dynasty) when it was established. It was destroyed by Northern Zhou in 577. Emperor Wenxuan's son Gao Shaoyi, the Prince of Fanyang, under protection by Tujue, later declared himself the emperor of Northern Qi in exile, but was turned over by Tujue to Northern Zhou in 580 and exiled to modern Sichuan. It is a matter of controversy whether Gao Shaoyi should properly be considered a Northern Qi emperor, but in any case the year 577 is generally considered by historians as the ending date for Northern Qi.