HORSEPOWER
Interactions between China, Mongolia and the steppe 2000-0 BCE
Xiuzhen Li
University of Oxford
“Because the terracotta warriors were so vividly depicted, sometimes you feel they look at you and that you can communicate with them, travelling back to 2,000 years ago when they were made."
“For me, this is far more than an academic project, it’s deeply personal."
After many years of research on the famous Terracotta Army in Xian, Xiuzhen (Janice) Li has a unique perspective on one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the world. She led excavations and supported international research on the warriors themselves and at the Qin First Emperor’s tomb complex generally. Now an honorary senior archaeologist at the Mausoleum Site Museum, she is also a senior researcher at University of Oxford and University College London. She has published extensively both in English and Chinese on many topics including the Qin bronze weapons and the making of the terracotta warriors.
For Xiuzhen, Horsepower continues a lifelong enthusiasm for studying this extraordinary glimpse into the ancient past.