China's Terracota Warriors: The First Emperor's Legacy

The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco presents a major exhibition examining the life and legacy of China's First Emperor, a complex leader whose sheer ambition continues to fascinate.

The Asian Art Museum celebrates its 10th anniversary in its Civic Center location by presenting a major exhibition examining the life and legacy of China's First Emperor, a complex leader whose sheer ambition continues to fascinate.

Featuring 120 rare objects—including 10 terracotta figures—from one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of our time, China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy takes visitors on a journey from the birth and rise of the Qin Empire to the life and rule of the First Emperor, his quest for immortality, and his death, burial, and complex legacy.

The exhibition also features bronze ritual and jade artifacts, gold and silver ornaments, and palatial architectural components—some on view for the first time in the U.S.—illustrating the emergence of the Qin State. The objects are drawn from more than 13 institutions in China, including the Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses, the Shaanxi Provincial Archaeological Institute, and the Shaanxi History Museum.

The Asian Art Museum was among the first museums outside China to feature some of the terracotta figures in a major exhibition held in 1994. Nearly forty years after its discovery, Chinese archaeologists are still making discoveries around the burial mound of one of the most remarkable figures in the history of China, the First Emperor. The exhibition focuses on this extraordinarily influential man.

About the First Emperor
Born in a time of turmoil in China's history, known as the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), the First Emperor founded the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–210 BCE). He forged the seven warring states into one nation and anointed himself Qin Shihuang, or First Emperor. His legacy of a centralized bureaucratic state would be carried onto successive dynasties over the next two millennia.

Driven by a desire for immortality, Qin Shihuang began to plan his burial from the moment he ascended to the throne at age 13. The complex plan and symbolic content of the mausoleum, as gradually revealed by the ongoing archaeological excavations, are far beyond the imagination of most.

The Terracotta Army was discovered in 1974, and later, Chinese archaeologists excavated three pits containing more than 7,000 terracotta warriors with horses and chariots, all designed to protect the emperor in the afterlife. The First Emperor apparently planned his tomb as an elaborate subterranean palace, a parallel world that would enable his rule after his death.

Ticket Information

Tickets for China's Terracotta Warriors are $8-$22 (Asian Art Museum members are always FREE. Join today!).

Advance tickets available Tuesday, October 16 at 10:00 am (Asian Art Musuem members only); Tuesday, October 30 at 10:00 (general public). Reserve tickets in advance at asianart.org.

Tickets may sell out at peak times and on weekends. All tickets include general museum admission and the China’s Terracotta Warriors exhibition

Ticket prices

FREE for Asian Art Museum Members, children 12 and under, corporate member employees, and active members of the U.S. armed forces, with ID

Adults – $20 Tuesday-Friday; $22 Saturday & Sunday 

Seniors (65+) and college students with ID – $16 Tuesday-Friday; $18 Saturday & Sunday 

Youth (ages 13-17) – $8 Tuesday-Friday; $8 Saturday & Sunday 

Reciprocal members – $8 Tuesday-Friday; $10 Saturday & Sunday

Thursdays after 5:00 pm – $10 for all visitors 13 and over

Group Rates:

Adults – $18 Tuesday-Friday; $20 Saturday & Sunday

Seniors (65+) and college students with ID – $15 Tuesday-Friday; $17 Saturday & Sunday

Youth (ages 13-17) – $7 Tuesday-Sunday

Thursdays after 5:00 pm – $10 for all visitors 13 and over

For more information on group visits call (415) 581-3624 or email groupvisits@asianart.org.

Hours

10:00 am to 5:00 pm – Tuesday – Wednesday, Friday – Sunday

10:00 am to 9:00 pm – Thursdays only