Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang
The Terracotta Army are the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China. The terracotta figures, dating from 210 BC, were discovered in 1974 by several local farmers near the Mausouleum of the First China Emperor.
To date, the tomb of the Emperor Qin has not been excavated. But his buried terracotta army unearthed nearby has already stunned the world. They are the largest pottery figurine group ever unearthed in China.
 The figures vary in height (183–195cm, 6ft–6.5ft), according to their role, the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians. It was said as a legend that the Terracotta Warriors were real soldiers, buried with Emperor Qin so that they can guard him in the next life.
On the site of Terracotta Army finding, a world-famous museum was built and opened to be public in 1979. The main exhibits of the Museum of the Terracotta Army are three exposed pits with clay warriors and horses, as well as the hall of the two bronze chariots and horses.
 Pit One, first discovered in 1974, measures 230 meters long and 62 meters wide, covering over 14,000 square meters. It contains more than 6,000 terracotta warriors, which, with their individual features and facial expressions, line up in battle-readiness, creating an awe-inspiring effect. The pit also buried a large number of chariots, weapons and other precious relics, of which some 10,000 metal weapons were unearthed. An unearthed bronze horse-driven chariot is the largest bronze ware ever found in the world.
The mausoleum of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty along with the underground army entered the list of world cultural heritage sites in 1987. and Today the "Eighth Wonder of the world" has become a synonym for the well-known terracotta army. |
