Emperor Qin believed his clay army would help him rule in the afterlife. There are over 6000 individual handmade life size terracotta warriors, all lined up in their rank and ready for battle.
What Are the Terracotta Warriors?
The terracotta warriors are life like and life size. They were each based on true people as they have different facial features and expressions. They vary in height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance to their rank. No two terracotta warriors are the same in the tomb. The warriors are arranged in precise military formation.
Who Was Emperor Qin?
Emperor Qin unified China for the first time and ruled under the name of the First Emperor.
He came to the throne as king of the sate of Qin when he was thirteen and was under guidance until he was twenty one. When he was thirty nine in 221BC he conquered the last independent state in China. He ruled all China ruthlessly until his death in 210BC.
He was known for introducing a legal system and for starting the great wall, building a national road system and a city sized mausoleum guarded by the terracotta army. Many people died building these huge projects.
How Were the Warriors Made?
700,000 workers and craftsmen took 38 years to complete the mausoleum and assemble over 6,000 terracotta warriors. The terracotta warriors were manufactured in a factory style production line. The heads, arms, legs and torso were created separately then assembled. Lastly the facial features and expressions were sculptured.
The warriors were placed in the tomb with real weapons and armour, but unfortunately the armour and weapons were stolen shortly after the creation of the army.
Timeline
260BC. Qin born.
246 BC. Construction of mausoleum and terracotta warriors started.
247BC - 221BC. Ruled Qin state.
221BC. Conquered last independent state of China.
221BC - 210BC. Ruled over all China.
210 BC. Died in at 50 years old.
1974. Local farmers digging a water well discover terracotta warriors.
Why Did Emperor Qin Want the Terracotta Army?
Emperor Qin wanted to become immortal. He paid magicians for potions to help him live forever. The terracotta army was to help protect him and rule an empire in the afterlife.
Where Are the Terracotta Warriors?
Emperor Qin's capital was called Xianyang. Now days it is known as Xian in Shaanxi province right in the centre of China.
