Published on: 20 November 2025






The Year 5 cohort enjoyed an enriching excursion to the Western Australian Museum to experience the world-class exhibition Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor. As part of their Mandarin studies, the students explored the life and legacy of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. His extraordinary Terracotta Army, created more than 2,000 years ago, was designed to protect him in the afterlife.

Through an immersive display of artefacts from the Qin dynasty, the students learned how the warriors were unearthed in 1974, revealing one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. The exhibition provided valuable insights into the beliefs, values, and cultural practices that shaped early Chinese civilisation. It also allowed the students to make meaningful connections between language, history, and culture.

Student Reflections

James Fuller: “I was surprised by how detailed the facial and body features were. Each artist was so precise and every warrior looked different. The height of each warrior showed their rank in the army.”

Murray Kornweibel: “I enjoyed the interactive activities. I felt like I was in China looking at the Terracotta Warriors. The 3D images and massive screens showed photos from the pits where they were found.”

Brom Bellinge: “We learned that the Emperor built the Terracotta Warriors to protect him in the afterlife. Sadly, he died at 49 after drinking a potion containing mercury. He believed it would give him eternal life.”

Hugo Maasdorp: “The Terracotta Warriors were originally brightly coloured, but the paint faded over time when exposed to sunlight and air. The Emperor’s tomb remains sealed today out of respect for him. The artefacts we saw were so interesting, my favourite piece was the chariots because they looked so realistic up close.”