Pasadena, Calif.—What prompted Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, to create the elaborate funerary structure for himself that housed the famous Terracotta Warriors? Juliann Wolfgram, lecturer of art history at the California Institute of Technology, sought to answer this question for the Caltech Associates at a luncheon program at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, where Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor was on display.

Before viewing the popular exhibit, members of the Associates, a support organization for Caltech, had the opportunity to learn about the history behind mortuary practices in China. In her presentation, Wolfgram described the political and social structure of the Qin Dynasty and provided an overview of the earlier Zhou Dynasty.

“Juliann Wolfgram gave an excellent lecture to the Associates, which included a very thorough discussion of China’s mortuary practices before and during the creation of the Terracotta Warriors,” said Associates member Rita Pudenz. “I had seen the Warriors in China, but it was such a thrill to see them up close and with such detail at the Bowers Museum.”

The Bowers Museum has seen an impressive number of visitors since the opening of the exhibit, with almost the same number of people attending daily as in a week previously.

The Associates attending the private luncheon program enjoyed the privilege of being part of this special group of visitors to the exhibit. They not only shared a catered lunch in the Fluor Gallery with their friends, but they also listened to an educational history lesson by Wolfgram that gave them unique insights into the Terracotta Warriors. After the lecture, Caltech Associates received special access to the exhibit with thanks to Associate members S.L. and Betty Huang who helped facilitate the tour.

To learn more about the Caltech Associates and how you can participate in the unique events it sponsors, please visit http://associates.caltech.edu/ or call 626-395-3919.

About the Associates: Founded in 1926, the Associates is a support organization for the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) with over 2,300 members throughout the United States and abroad - a diverse cross section of members of the local & business community, Caltech alumni and faculty, and philanthropists.

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The Associates of the California Institute of Technology
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Source URL: http://associates.caltech.edu

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