Chariot No. 2 has a carriage enclosure where the emperor could ride in style to inspect his troops. The carriage measures 10.4 feet long by 3.48 feet high (317 x 106 cm). It has three windows covered by grills which can be opened. The door is narrow to maintain the strength of the structure. The inside of the carriage would have been covered with silks and cushions to make the ride a bit more pleasant. There are no springs to protect the occupant from the vagaries of pot holes and rocks in the road. You can see the detail of the umbrella roof. It would give a bit more headroom than a flat roof and would shed rain well away from the windows. |
http://hua.umf.maine.edu/China/xian2.html
Last
update: March 2010
© Marilyn Shea, 2010