The Terracotta Army figures, which means in simplified Chinese … “soldier and horse funerary statues”, a small portion of which is shown in the photo depicted above, is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, who was the first Emperor of China. They are considered prime examples of funerary art (any work of art placed in a storehouse for the benefit of the dead) which was buried with the emperor in 210 or 209 BC. There purpose was apparently intended to help guard his empire in his afterlife and in a general sense just make things a little easier for the emperor who was no doubt in hot pursuit of the afterlife.
The life sized figures, date from the early 3rd century BC, and were accidently found in 1974 by several local farmers near the ancient Burial chamber of the First Qin & Emperor of China
They vary in height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance with rank; the tallest being the generals. The majority of the soldiers originally held real weapons such as spears, swords, or crossbows. Weapons such as swords, spears, battle-axe, shields, crossbows and arrowheads were found in the pits; in fact some of these weapons such as the swords are still quite sharp but most of the original weapons were most likely looted shortly after the creation of the army or in the alternative, have simply rotted away.
Each given warrior is unique, but experts believe a set number (a total of 8 has been suggested) of facial moulds were used, before workmen crafted clay to each face to make one different from the other. In addition, it’s thought that an assembly line of a sort was used when constructing each torso with arms and legs; each of which were made prior to construction in the same mold but the head was created separately and affixed to the torso last.
The figures consist of warriors, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, chariots, and musicians. The original dress of each was colored in pink, red, green, blue, black, brown, white and lilac which flaked off or faded to an oxidized grey when exposed to air.
Current estimates predict that the three pits containing the Terracotta Army includes over 8,000 soldiers; 130 chariots, 520 horses (for the chariots), and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still at rest in the pits.
The former Emperor didn't just want an army to protect him in the afterlife, as evidenced by a 1999 excavation at the site, he also wanted to be entertained; there were eleven terracotta acrobats and strongmen uncovered at the site as well. Such folk were popular performers 2,000 years ago; they were undoubtedly placed there to entertain the emperor in his journey through or to the afterlife.
Archaeologists begun to excavate the third of the three burial pits containing the warriors on Saturday, June 6th 2009 and are expected to produce hundreds more of the famous figures. This time, however, experts hope to keep the vivid colors intact.
Qin Shi Huang was believed to be terrified of death and was constantly searching for the so-called 'elixir of life'. He allegedly sent 8,000 people on an unsuccessful expedition to find his “cure to death” (they never returned, knowing they'd be killed without the elixir but legend says they founded Japan instead), Qin, in the mean time, relied on mercury tablets in increasing doses to help ensure longevity, until the mercury (which is more than a little bit poison) killed him at age 50.
He must have secretly at least known that he would eventually die because it’s said that he was pleased with his vast tomb. So pleased, in fact, that when it was completed, he promptly murdered its builders to help maintain a decisive mystery (in his view anyway) which endures to this day. I venture to guess that with such “clear” thinking, is it any wonder he elected to use all those clay figures for after life assistance; I bet he new real bodies would quickly decay and therefore be unable to provide the assistance he was sure to require.
Very Interesting! Especially about the 8,000 who were thought to be the founders of Japan. Thanks!
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