The Emperor's Warriors

Today was a site seeing day to the Terra Cotta Soldiers museum. Absolutely fascinating!  It was really cold and even though we were all bundled up it was still difficult to keep warm. Even the indoor sections of the museum were almost like being outside (without the breeze). It was a sunny day so that helped but our guide said about mid-way through that Grace was saying her feet were cold. It broke my heart. The Guide unzipped the bottom part of her coat and wrapped it around Grace's legs. We tried to keep her in the sun as much as possible.

A short history of the soldiers...

As told by our Guide, over 2000 years ago the Emperor of the Qin Dynasty ordered 8,000 soldiers to be built and buried with him. He began his reign at age 13 and died at 50. It was around the age of 20 or 30 that he ordered the soldiers to begin being built. In 1974, a local farmer was digging a well and discovered the head of a soldier complete with skin tones, eyelashes and facial expression. He was very sad because he thought he had dug up a real man's head...it looked so lifelike. Long story short, over time they began to dig the fields finding thousands of the soldiers, horses and chariots (the chariots were wooden) in battle formation underground. Most were found in pieces that they have put back together but one, the kneeling archer, was found in one piece. Less than two thousand, I believe, have been restored but the work of putting them back together continues today.

This Emperor believed that if he had these 8,000 soldiers buried with him, he would be protected in the afterlife.

My heart broke as I heard the story and saw the hundreds of statues. It was so fascinating but as I began to wonder why he would have done such a thing my only conclusion is fear. He must have been so afraid to die.  Or at least afraid of what came after death.  Why else would he feel the need for a host of military replicas to go down with him?

I am so thankful to know Jesus and to have confidence that when I lay my head down in death I have nothing to fear!  Do you have that assurance? Perfect love (the love of a perfect God) casts out fear (1 John 4), so knowing and loving and trusting our God dispels all fear!  May the love of Jesus continually shine in us to those living in darkness. So thankful Grace will know the Way, the Truth and the Life...praying for this nation today.

Grace has been so sweet today. Once we got her back to the hotel and warmed up she opened up.  I tried to get a video clip of her sent but it didn't work. It was Grace just babbling in mandarin acting silly and giggling her little head off. We just laughed and laughed today. She's precious!!

P.s.  She doesn't like her hair washed and she REALLY doesn't like the blow dryer. However, she'll eat anything!!  Should fit in well at the Webb house!