After traveling to Beijing, China in the summer of 2008, the composer was inspired to create a concert work that depicts the ancient battles of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China in 221 BC, and his warriors. This Emperor's reign included unification, the building of the Great Wall and his endless search for immortality. Qin Shi Huang had over 8000 Terracotta Warriors buried in front of his tomb in order to have a strong underground army to defend him in the afterlife.