秦陵兵马俑“不可言宣”三件事儿...
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老桑说
你是否渴望被人们永远铭记呢？
你是否想要immortal（永世不朽）呢？
「 朋友，你好，我是老桑。 」
老桑在特展走道里
2000年前，秦始皇也有过同样的雄心壮志。在那时，当时秦国是战国七雄之一，后来凭借着一百万训练有素的士兵，秦始皇征服了其他六个国家，实现了中国的统一，这是一项前所未有的壮举。
秦始皇坚信在他离世后，依然会在来世继续统治中国。为了他的永恒统治做准备，秦始皇建立了世界上最大的地下王国——秦兵马俑。据说，秦始皇一共动用了70万劳动力，花了11年时间才完成这面积57平方里的奇迹。共包括大约8000个和人大小相同的兵马俑，共持有4万多件青铜武器。这些数字真是staggering（惊人的）！
兵马俑现在已经是被人们所公认的世界上最受欢迎的考古遗址之一。秦始皇兵马俑位于中国的古都西安，其形态都处于战斗状态，象征着永远守护和效忠于秦始皇。
扩增实境
我曾看过很多次兵马俑。1991年，那是我还是一名来到中国交换的学生，我就曾参观过秦兵马俑。后来，我分别于2001年和2011年，先后带着我的父母和天普大学校长来参访这一奇迹。此外，一些兵马俑也被运往世界各地巡回展览，比如1998年时我便在纽约古根海姆博物馆看到过他们，上周我也在费城的富兰克林科技馆与他们又一次见面。
每一次我见到这些兵马俑时，我都会从古代皇帝追求长生不老的方法中学到很多。
富兰克林科技馆大厅
01
/ 勇于创新 /
历史学家们认为，秦始皇比亚历山大大帝、成吉思汗和拿破仑都发动了更多的士兵——这即使在现代标准下也是一项工程量巨大的任务。但是秦始皇明白，单纯在军队规模上的优势远不足以击败敌人。
秦军除了庞大的规模外，还拥有着先进的技术。兵马俑的战斗形态展现了一种进攻性的状态，还有立射俑和跪射佣这样能够造成sustained attack（长久持续的进攻）。弓箭手使用的弓具有连锁型的结构，一旦损坏便能够很简单地更换。它们射出箭的攻击范围可以覆盖近半英里。
这种战术型的布阵方式以及先进的武器，是秦始皇勇于创新的标志。
跪射俑与立射俑
02
/ 增加效率 /
秦始皇一统中国之后，他立刻开始统一度量衡，文字制度和货币（半两），以维护帝国的长治久安。他建造了运输和道路交通网络，以提高资源和武器的运输效率。同时，他也重视对于边界的保护，着手建造长城，1600年后的明代又将长城的规模进一步扩建。
秦始皇对内通过将原本不同国家的制度统一起来，便利了人们之间的交流和联系；对外，积极建立防御措施排斥侵略者。可以说，秦始皇在一统中国之后所做的各项措施，为中华文明奠定了基础性的制度和效率。
将军俑
03
/ 勇气 /
一进入富兰克林科技馆的展厅，你便会受到军吏佣的迎接。他的盔甲只遮盖了他身体的前半部分，这是勇敢的象征。再往里走，我们会见到将军俑，他头戴象征着英勇的燕尾长冠，背部几乎没有盔甲，这同样表现了他的军衔和勇敢。
秦始皇知道仅仅靠战略和兵力是不足以取得胜利的，除此之外，部队的领袖和士兵们也必须具备勇敢的品质。充足的准备，娴熟的技巧和先进的技术有助于让己方在战斗中处于优势地位，但最终决定战斗胜负的，还是勇气。
军吏俑
那么，秦始皇是否实现了永世不朽呢？
他非常迫切地想要长生不老、永世不朽。很多人都认为在秦始皇在世时服用了水银丸——当时的“长生不老药”。然而，他去世时还不到50岁，水银丸还可能是导致他早逝的原因之一。
尽管他的墓地规模庞大、设计精致，但却被后人遗忘了。直到1974年，西安郊外的农民在挖井世意外发现了几块陶土，于是他们深入挖掘，最终发现了我们今天所了解的更广阔的地下王国。
皇陵中有什么？
虽然秦始皇仅仅统治了中国短短十五年时间，但这一时期却在历史上有着pivotal（至关重要的）影响。通过他勇于创新的做法，提高效率的改革和充满勇气的军队，他为中国之后二千年的历史奠定了基础。在历史上留下浓墨重彩的一笔，是他真正实现永生的方式。
现在他的“士兵”正在环游世界，向世界各国展现秦代的魅力。士兵们虽然不再守护着他，但另一方面，他们也正在让秦始皇成为世界不朽的人物。
特展走道
My friend，我们可以从这个古老的皇帝身上学到什么，为自己留下永恒的印记呢？对于任何事情来说，大小并不重要，最重要的是要勇于创新；完善的系统和标准化的制度能够为后人创造可以持续数百年的效率基础；当我们面对人生的战争时，勇气是当之无愧的第一武器。
如果你今后的工作能够以这些原则为基础，那么我相信你也可以为世界的改变、为未来两千年历史的发展，作出属于你的贡献，留下属于你的浓墨重彩的一笔。
兵马俑展墙
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谢谢收看《老桑说》。
给你启发，激励你上进，陪伴你坚持。
敬请期待下一集。
3 Ways to Live Forever
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「 Hello, my friend,
I’m John Smagula.」
Do you want to be remembered…forever? Do you want to be immortal?
Over 2,000 years ago, Emperor Qin Shi Huang had the same ambition. At the time, Qin’s was one of seven warring states. With his well-trained army of 1 million warriors, the emperor conquered the other six states, unified China, and achieved unprecedented power.
He believed he would rule in the afterlife as he did in life. To prepare for this eternal rule, he built the largest underground kingdom the world has ever seen. 700,000 laborers took 11 years to build the 22 square mile site. It includes an estimated 8,000 life-size terracotta figures carrying more than 40,000 bronze weapons. These numbers are staggering.
The Terracotta Warriors, as they are now known, is one of the most popular archaeological sites in the world. Located in China’s ancient capital of Xi’an, the Terracotta Warriors are in battle formation to serve and protect the emperor for eternity.
I have seen the Terracotta Warriors many times. I visited as a student in 1991, then brought my parents in 2001, and later the president of Temple University in 2011. Some of the warriors also tour the world, and I saw them at the New York Guggenheim Museum in 1998 and then last week at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute.
Each time I see the warriors, I learn more about how the emperor sought immortality.
01
/ Innovation /
Historians believe that Qin Shi Huang mobilized more soldiers than Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Napoleon. A monumental task even under modern standards. But he knew that sheer size is not enough to defeat an enemy.
Qin’s armies also possessed advanced technological skill. Their battle formations were formed to mount an aggressive offense, with standing and kneeling archers able to inflict a sustained attack. The archers used bows with interlocking parts that could easily be replaced or substituted if broken. The arrows could fly nearly half a mile.
This strategic positioning and advanced weaponry became the hallmark of Qin Shi Huang’s innovation.
02
/ Create Efficiency /
Once the emperor unified China, he standardized weights and measures, the writing system, and the currency (the banliang) to maintain the empire’s stability. He created a transportation and road network to more easily move supplies and arms. He also secured the borders, beginning a great wall that the Ming Dynasty built to larger scale 1,600 years later.
By causing each state to use the same systems, facilitating transportation among them while repelling invaders from the outside, Qin Shi Huang created systems and efficiencies that formed the basis of Chinese civilization.
03
/ Courage /
Upon entering the Franklin Institute display, you are greeted by a brave commanding officer. His armor only covers the front part of his body, which is a sign of bravery. We later meet a general whose cap is adorned with pheasant feathers, which may have been associated with bravery. His back has very little armor, also sign or his rank and courage.
The emperor knew that victory does not come easily, and that strategy and force are not enough to win. The leader and his troops must also be brave. The preparation, skill, and technology help to build your position, but in the end, courage is needed to enter battle and fight your way through to victory.
So, did the emperor achieve immortality?
He was driven to live forever. During his life, he is believed to have taken mercury pills, which were thought could cause immortality. Yet he died before he was 50, and the mercury pills may have contributed to his early death.
And despite his burial complex’s vast size, it became forgotten. In 1974, as some farmers outside of Xi’an were digging a well, they uncovered a few fragments of terracotta pottery. They dug deeper, finding what became the vast underground kingdom we know more about today.
Qin Shi Huang’s short 15-year rule is a pivotal time in history. Through his innovation, efficiency, and courage, he set the stage for the next 2,000 years of Chinese history. To that extent, he achieved eternal life.
And now his warriors are traveling the world. They’re no longer guarding him, but on the other hand, they’re making him immortal for the world to see.
My friend, what can we learn from this ancient emperor to leave our own eternal mark? Size doesn’t matter, but innovation does. Systems and standardization create efficiencies that can last for centuries. There is no substitute for personal courage as we confront the battles of life.
If your work is grounded in these principles, then you, too can change the world and set the stage for the next 2,000 years of history.
01. Immortal
a) 含义：
i. adj. 不朽的，流芳百世的
ii. n. 不朽者，流芳百世者
b) 例句：
i. Qin Shi Huang is an immortal emperor in China’s history.
秦始皇是中国历史上一位不朽的皇帝。
ii. Shakespeare is one of the immortals
莎士比亚是一位流芳百世的作家。
c) 近义词：eternal, everlasting, undying
02. Staggering
a) 含义：adj. 惊人的，难以置信的
b) 例句：
i. The public response was absolutely staggering.
公众的反应非常令人惊愕。
ii. The excavation exposed a staggering number of Terracotta Warriors.
这次挖掘使一批数目惊人的兵马俑重现天日。
c) 近义词：astonishing, astounding, stupefying
03. Innovation
a) 含义：n. 发明, 革新
b) 例句：
i. This strategic positioning and advanced weaponry became the hallmark of Qin Shi Huang’sinnovation.
这种战术型的布阵方式以及先进的武器，是秦始皇勇于创新的标志。
ii. This technical innovation will save us much time and labor.
这项技术革新可以为我们节省大量的时间和劳力。
c) 近义词：reformation, renovation, renewal
04. Sustain
a) 含义：v. 承受，维持，长期保持
b) 例句：
i. The victim had sustained physical and psychological damage.
受害人的身心都承受了伤害。
ii. To produce and sustain this growth, they must expend vast amounts of energy.
为了制造和维持这种增长，人们必须要消耗巨大的能量。
iii. The standing and kneeling archers are able to inflict a sustained attack.
立射俑和跪射佣能够造成长久持续的进攻。
c) 近义词：maintain, undertake, support, accept
05. Pivotal
a) 含义：adj. 枢轴的，中枢的, 关键的
b) 例句：
i. Qin Shi Huang’s short 15-year rule is a pivotal time in history.
秦始皇短暂的十五年统治时期在中国历史上却有着至关重要的影响。
ii. Love plays a pivotal role on our life.
爱在生活之中扮演了一个关键的角色。
c) 近义词：important, central, key
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Thank you for watching me to inspire, encourage, and accompany you.
See you next time.
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John Smagula
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