Everlasting Guardians

#07019     130 X 194 cm     ac     2007

Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin, was a pivotal figure in Chinese history, best known for unifying China. The country temporarily lost its footing during the Opium Wars, however, is now emerging onto the world stage again stronger than ever. The upcoming 2008 Olympic Games is a noteworthy symbol of this progress. In this painting, Tiananmen Square and the auspicious Temple of Heaven represent the capital city of Beijing-the political, cultural and touristic center of China. With vibrant blooms of flowers, Beijing welcomes the new century with a booming economy and powerful cultural promotion.

During his reign, Qin Shi Huang also laid down the precursor version of the current Great Wall of China and created a life-sized Terracotta army. In this painting, we see Qin Shi Huang’s army of Terracotta Warriors dotted like stars in the sky-celestial protectors guarding the unity of China for ever.