The Terracotta Warriors, or Warriors of Xi'an, guarded the first emperor of China and were discovered by chance by a group of peasants . But… what is their story? What do they look like?
Let's delve a little deeper into the story of the largest army ever found in a tomb, destined to make their emperor a ruler even in the afterlife.
Discovery of the Terracotta Warriors
In 1974, farmers digging a well near a small village stumbled upon one of the greatest archaeological finds of the era: vast underground chambers surrounding the tomb of an emperor. Inside were more than 8000 terracotta soldiers, a large army that appeared ready for battle.
The discovery, while surprising, had actually been gradually revealed for centuries, as the area is riddled with underground springs. Excavating in this area occasionally unearthed fragments of pottery, masonry, or roof tiles from Qin's tomb. This discovery is considered vital for understanding the history of Chinese civilization and its legacy.
The first emperor of China
Ying Zheng came to power in the state of Qin at the age of 13 in 246 BC. He would eventually become the first emperor of China, after uniting the seven kingdoms that comprised it. His reign lasted 36 years and was marked by various advancements, such as a standardized or unified alphabet for all of China. He is also responsible for China's most famous landmark: the Great Wall.
This emperor was focused on leaving a legacy and being remembered . Perhaps this speaks to a turbulent feeling surrounding his own mortality. Moreover, he spent the last years of his life seeking out alchemists and undertaking various expeditions, all in search of the elixir of eternal life.
The construction of the emperor's tomb
In the first year of his reign, the emperor ordered the construction of a vast underground necropolis. It would be filled with artifacts and monuments, and would also house an army. All of this would accompany him to the afterlife, where he would continue to exercise his duties as emperor.
How is the army of terracotta warriors?
This army still stands, ready for battle, divided into several pits. One of these pits, the main one, measures 200 x 50 meters and contains more than 7500 warriors, some of whom have yet to be unearthed. A second pit holds more than 130 chariots and over 600 horses . The third pit houses the high-ranking officers in charge of leading the army . A fourth, empty pit was found, suggesting that the project was likely left unfinished upon the emperor's death.
However, we shouldn't assume that this large army was the only thing in the emperor's tomb. There were also chambers containing figures of musicians, workers, government officials, and so on, as well as exotic animals . This indicates the emperor's ambitious plans for the afterlife.
These sculptures are carved from terracotta , a type of reddish-brown clay. Their creation required several workshops and approximately 700.000 workers. They are life-size , around 1.8 meters tall. In this context, it is interesting to note how other civilizations also dedicated themselves to creating monuments for the afterlife, as is the case with ancient Greek art.
The sculptures were made from various pieces that were later joined together , representing the members of the emperor's army. They were made according to their ranks and featured different weapons and uniforms. Each one was personalized in terms of features, expressions, hairstyles, beards, and mustaches.
They were polychromed in vibrant colors, although this paint flakes off with exposure to air, revealing the terracotta beneath. Due to oxidation from the air, the pigment detaches from the terracotta in just 5 hours. Therefore, research is underway into a technique that will preserve the original colors, and until this is achieved, the remaining warriors will not be excavated.
Once the tomb was completed and the emperor buried, it did not remain untouched. After the fall of the Qin dynasty, peasants looted it and stole many of the weapons carried by the terracotta army.
Preparation for life in the afterlife
Ying Zheng was not the only person who prepared so meticulously for the afterlife. The dead of the Kofun era in Japan were buried with sculptures of horses and houses. Tombs on Jaina Island off the coast of Mexico contain ceramic figurines.
And, of course, the most famous civilization in terms of preparing for the afterlife: the Egyptians. To explore more about life after death in other cultures, you can consult the article on African art.
We recommend you take a look at the article about The Tomb of Tutankhamun: Egypt from the tomb of the boy king.
Where are they currently?
Once the tomb was located, a museum complex was built on the site. The largest cavern is roofed and open to visitors. Research on this tomb is ongoing, reflecting the continued interest in discovering more about ancient sculpture and its influence.
To see it we would have to travel to a mountain located northeast of Xian, in the Shaanxi province of China.
To learn about other archaeological finds, consult the other articles on our website and do not miss the news.