Terracotta

 The first Emperor of China had himself buried under a hill surrounded by a simulacrum of his earthly Empire. The pits containing the terracotta army are merely a outlying section of this enormous folie de grandeur. Archaeologists continue to nibble away at it but haven't yet worked up the nerve to strike at its centre- where, allegedly, the Emperor lies under an artificial sky surrounded by the rivers in China in liquid mercury. Perhaps they fear the black magic that was enacted to animate this subterranean world with its thousands of golems. I don't blame them. The thing is a colossal evil. A tumour on the skin of the good earth. Best leave it well alone.....

The first Chin Emperor was a standardiser and a centraliser. He aspired to complete control of everything in life- and complete control of everything in death. Those who fear death also fear life. "I want things to stay this way forevver", is what they're saying, "With me in charge, of course." The Chin Emperor's funerary complex is a monument to his fear. I can think of few things more abject.

Or sad.

Did the First Emperor ever experience a moment free of that fear- fear of enemies, fear of betrayal by friends, fear of things not going entirely his way, fear of someone thinking or doing something of which he might not approve? Did he ever know love?

Here was perfected the model of governance which the present rulers of China still aspire to- and not just the rulers of China, but all dictators always and everywhere.....