Qin bronze chariot

{{Short description|Ancient Chinese bronze chariots}}

File:Bronze Chariot and Horses (24163255235).jpg

The Qin bronze chariot (銅車馬 or 秦銅車馬) refers to a set of two Qin dynasty bronze model chariots that were unearthed in 1980 at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, Qin Shi Huang (reigned 247–220 BCE).Wenbao.net. "[http://www.wenbao.net/html/whyichan/64th/41hezun.htm Chinese cultural heritage protection official web list]." 何尊 . Retrieved on 2010-05-01. When the models were found they were in many broken pieces, and it took five years to restore them both.News.sohu.com. "[http://news.sohu.com/20080516/n256886925.shtml News.sohu.com]." 秦皇御車修復記. Retrieved on 2010-07-12. Both models are about half life-size.

The first piece, "bronze chariot number one" (一號銅車馬), consists of an open chariot drawn by four bronze horses, with a single standing driver and a bronze umbrella on a stand placed next to him.

The second piece, "bronze chariot number two" (二號銅車馬), is a closed carriage with two seats and an umbrella-like roof, which is also drawn by four bronze horses.

File:Flickr - archer10 (Dennis) - China-7252.jpg

The chariots are stored at the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇兵馬俑博物館) in Shaanxi.Bmy.com.cn. "[http://www.bmy.com.cn/template/gzb/index_big.aspx#QLBWshow_big@680 Bmy.com.cn] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420120734/http://www.bmy.com.cn/template/gzb/index_big.aspx#QLBWshow_big@680 |date=April 20, 2010 }}." Museum link. Retrieved on 2010-07-12. In 2010 the piece was showcased at the Shanghai Expo as an exhibit inside the China Pavilion building.News.cnwest.com. "[http://news.cnwest.com/content/2010-06/02/content_3079018.htm News.cnwest.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023353/http://news.cnwest.com/content/2010-06/02/content_3079018.htm |date=2016-03-04 }}." 「秦陵一號銅車馬」進駐世博中國館 成鎮館之寶. Retrieved on 2010-07-12.

The chariots are one of the designated historical artifacts that are prohibited from being exhibited outside China.