WorlDvignettes — China’s first army

BEIJING: A chinese scientist has found new evidence that Qinshihuang, China’s first Emperor, used a very strong army to unite the country for the first time around 2000 years ago. Feng Shenglin, a biologist from Hunan Education College, has been using modern anatomy for ten years to study 8,000 terracotta figures unearthed near the Emperor’s tomb in the Chinese City of Xi’an.

Qinshihuang built China’s first dynasty in 221 BC. After several years of battle with six rival kingdoms in the Yellow and Yangtze River valleys. According to historical documents, millions of Qin’s soldiers played a part in the re-unification efforts. Many of them were then used to help build the Great Wall after the dynasty was established. Prior to his death, the proud Chinese Emperor duplicated his beloved soldiers and officers in terracotta in hopes that these would “safeguard” his underground palace.

The experts also found that the terracotta warriors, now a famous tourist attraction, represent almost all types of faces that can be found among today’s Chinese population.

Mass circumcision

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian minister has proposed that mass circumcision ceremonies be staged as cultural events to boost tourism. “By charging tourists a small fee of between four to five Ringgit (about $ 1.30) to watch such cultural events, the organisational costs can be covered,” S Abbaruddin Chik, the Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister, was quoted as saying by the Sunday Star newspaper. He said such cultural activities could be turned into money-making ventures.