The Emperor and the
Chairman: Exploring
Leadership in Ancient
and Modern China
By Abigail Kuhn
Ann Arbor Learning Community, Ann Arbor, Michigan
L
Editor’s Note: A full version of this lesson, including connections to Common Core and C3 Framework, graphic organizers, and
all documents can be found at www.nhd.org/themebook.htm.
Introduction:
ooking at the Terracotta Warriors, a group of sculptures depicting the armies of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang,
it’s as though history is frozen in time. Each individual face seems to tell a story, arousing our curiosity about who
and what the real warriors represented. We find ourselves asking questions that transcend time and place. Why
were they created? Who built them? How were they constructed? What else might be buried, as these figures were so many
years ago, that we have yet to discover?
These fascinating artifacts are tourist magnets. Each year more than a million visitors come to see the Chinese warriors lined up
in battle formation, still standing at the ready to defend their emperor and their homeland. Despite their undeniable appeal, for
American tourists, the Terracotta Warriors can also be a dramatic reminder of some of the ways in which the United States differs
from China—even though we might find it difficult to articulate exactly what those cultural differences are. Misunderstandings can
arise from such cultural distinctions. It can be hard to know
how to reach common ground, for example, when it comes to
teaching Asian history in American schools.
For a variety of reasons, many of today’s American educators
never studied China during their formative years. Perhaps in
part because of that, China’s long and complex history can seem
overpowering to teachers. But we must bear in mind that the
Chinese economy will likely surpass the U.S. economy by the year
2020, which means our students will be living in a world that
looks much different than today. Despite their teachers’ comfort
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level with Chinese history, it is critical that our students gain an
understanding of Asian history.
NATIONAL HISTORY DAY 2015
NO MAN WILL MAKE A
GREAT LEADER WHO
WANTS TO DO IT ALL
HIMSELF, OR TO GET
ALL THE CREDIT FOR
DOING IT.
– ANDREW CARNEGIE