YEAR ZERO: Jonathan Clements on the First Emperor of China

About this episode

Jonathan Clements discusses his book on the First Emperor of China and related historical themes.

Jonathan Clements returns to talk about his book on the First Emperor of China and the man who was sent to kill him: facts and fictions in Zhang Yimou’s movie Hero (2002), the evil mirror-universe version of Confucianism, an impossibly well-endowed “eunuch”, the construction of the Terracotta Army, the politics of archaeology, and how to spent a slave labour dividend. And what to do when you had the Mandate of Heaven a minute ago but can't remember where you put it.

People in this episode

Host: Russell Hogg

Guest: Jonathan Clements

Topics covered

• First Emperor of China
• Zhang Yimou
• Terracotta Army
• Confucianism
• archaeology
• history

Keywords

• First Emperor
• China
• Zhang Yimou
• Hero
• Terracotta Army
• Confucianism
• archaeology

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Hero

Places: Terracotta Army

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