Exhibition

Visitors will get an impression of the remarkable work performed and the outstanding art created to please the emperors during their lifetime as well as in the hereafter!

Fourteen warriors from the Terracotta Army will be on display inside the Minorite church, the exhibition space of the Maaseik Museums. Each of these statues has its own unique appearance. The facial features, hair style, posture and costume make each of the statues into a strikingly individual member of this awesome army.
On average the statues are 186 cm tall, weighing about 300 kilograms.

These life-size sculptures are literally placed in confrontation with the more delicate terracotta armies of the emperors from the Western Han dynasty. In addition to the fourteen original terracotta warriors, the Maaseik Museums are proud to present over two hundred grave gifts from the Qin and Western Han dynasties. These objects originate from the tomb complexes of the emperors and the tombs of aristocrats following their emperor into the hereafter. These unique weapons and other objects made of iron, bronze, silver, gold, stoneware and jade exemplify the riches of the ruling class of the early Chinese Empire.

The context of these objects will be shown to the public by means of a film. The public is taken back in time, to the China of 2200 years ago. There, we travel to Shaanxi province, the centre of power for the first two Chinese dynasties. This region abounds in archaeological sites. The film is an integral part of the exhibition. In addition, intermediary presentations will be provided by the Educational Service of the Maaseik Museums.