In our tour, Nancy stopped at one of the pits where statues were discovered. She explained that these were painted, but that the colors have faded due to soil erosion and humidity.
The terra-cotta soldiers are thought to guard the tomb of the first Emperor of a unified China. But why and how were they made?
The Story of the Terracotta Army
The Terracotta Army is a fascinating look at ancient Chinese culture and craftsmanship. It also reveals beliefs about the afterlife, and the military strategies and tactics that would have been employed at that time. The exhibition provides a unique window into the world of China’s first emperor.
Qin Shi Huang believed that he would be reincarnated after death and that his vast army would guard him. He spent a significant portion of his life preparing for this, and even began construction of his mausoleum before he was coronated.
After his death in 210 BC, the emperor was buried in his mausoleum with thousands of life-sized clay warriors. The sheer scale of the discovery amazed archaeologists and continues to amaze visitors today.
The terracotta soldiers are all made in different poses and with unique facial features, hair styles, and attire. Some are standing, others are sitting or kneeling. Some have armor, while others do not. The differences are intended to reflect the diversity of the real-life army. The warriors are arranged in pits according to rank and formation. Pit one contains cavalry units, pit two has infantry units, and pit three has a command post with high-ranking officers and war chariots.
In addition to the terracotta soldiers, other pits contained non-military figures such as civilians, animals, and entertainers. The terracotta soldiers were all carefully crafted and assembled with the purpose of representing real-life troops. In addition, they were made using a process that was similar to the manufacturing of terra-cotta drainage pipes at that time. Each figure was made from separate parts that were then joined and fired.
Although he unified a fragmented country, Qin’s rule was marked by tyranny and oppression. He carried out large-scale book burnings and buried scholars alive in an attempt to control thought and discourage rebellion. His death in 210 BC brought an end to his dynasty and left the country in turmoil until the rise of the Han Dynasty.
Shi Huangdi’s Mausoleum
When the founder of China’s first unified empire died in 246 BCE at the age of 13 he ordered his tomb to be built, with pits filled with clay warriors, horses and chariots lining a model of a subterranean city. This enormous tableau—which stands to this day, almost 2,000 years later—is known as the Terracotta Army and is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history.
The discovery was made when workers digging a well outside the city of Xi’an in 1974 hit upon a life-size soldier standing in military formation. The workers notified the local government, which dispatched archaeologists. The team uncovered thousands of figures, each with its own facial expression and positioned according to rank. They were also armed with bronze weapons that, though largely gray today, once bore patches of color.
Initially, the warriors were buried facing north, but over time their positions were changed so that they faced east. This arrangement was meant to protect the emperor in his afterlife from his chief rivals who would come from that direction, according to legend.
Each figure was crafted individually, allowing for detailed customization. For example, each warrior and horse had its own distinctive facial features. The figures were fired in standardized molds, but then individualized with clay for the details that gave each their unique appearance. This was an innovative manufacturing technique for the time, a precursor to assembly line production and a sign of the sophistication of the Qin dynasty’s artisans.
In addition to the Terracotta Army, archaeologists discovered a large number of pits filled with human remains (possibly the emperor’s family), a complex of 70 individual burial sites for chariots and horses, and even a zoo for exotic animals. The layout of the mausoleum and its underground chambers mirrored that of the imperial palace, illustrating the importance placed on honoring the king in his afterlife.
Archaeologists have not excavated the emperor’s tomb, however, due to fears that doing so could irreparably damage the mummies inside. This was a sensible decision, as the tomb’s contents are deteriorating at a much faster rate than expected. They are vulnerable to a wide range of contaminants, including air pollutants, temperature fluctuations, changes in humidity and bacteria and fungus.
The Terracotta Army’s Origins
While Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of a unified China, his rule was marked by tyranny. He burned books and buried scholars alive to suppress intellectual discourse, and his death in 210 BC led to the collapse of the Qin dynasty. This is why the Terracotta Army may be even more significant than it initially appeared. It is not simply a mausoleum for the deceased, but also a powerful statement of a ruler’s power and control.
The figures are life-sized and intricately detailed, with each one displaying distinctive facial features, hairstyles, and clothing. The sculptors also diversified the soldiers by military rank, dividing them into junior and intermediate soldiers, charioteers, and generals. This shows that the terracotta army was intended to replicate a real army, rather than being a fantasy.
Another clue about the army’s origins comes from the fact that the warriors’ faces display a great deal of variability, much like real people do. This is consistent with the Qin’s funeral tradition and culture, where tomb builders sought to duplicate all aspects of a person’s life in the afterlife.
In addition, the terracotta warriors were made as separate modules and then assembled after firing. This is similar to the way that terracotta drainage pipes were made in ancient China, and it suggests that the terracotta warriors were not simply crafted by workers but created by artists who based their sculptures on reality.
When the terracotta warriors were originally unearthed, they were painted with vivid colors. However, the paint quickly deteriorated due to humidity and erosion over time. Scientists have now discovered that the warriors originally possessed different protein-based paint binders. These binders are thought to have come from the food that the warriors ate during their creation and were used to help preserve the terracotta figures’ vibrant hues.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ exhibition of the Terracotta Army explores the 7,000-strong clay army’s history and significance. The exhibit brings together art from fourteen museums and archaeological institutes across Shaanxi province, including more than 40 objects that have never been shown in the United States. This show is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about Qin history, the creation of a unified China, and the First Emperor’s quest for immortality.
The Terracotta Army’s Meaning
The terracotta warriors aren’t just one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history, they’re a testament to China’s first emperor and his desire for immortality. The warriors and horses are believed to have accompanied the emperor into his afterlife, guarding his tomb. They represent the armed forces of an entire kingdom and are arranged in battle formations, reflecting military hierarchy and strategy. The fact that thousands of bronze weapons, including 40,000 arrow heads, were found with the warriors also supports this theory.
The figures themselves are incredibly realistic, even down to their hairstyles and distinct facial features. They have different builds and expressions, and although they are largely gray today, patches of paint suggest that the warriors originally were colored. A 2019 study revealed that the terracotta soldiers were painted with different protein-based binders, including milk, egg, and animal glues, which help to keep the pigments in place.
But there is one thing that differentiates these terracotta soldiers from those of contemporary Chinese citizens: the warriors’ ears. Despite their similar faces, the ears of terracotta warriors differ from one another, and researchers believe this is due to a mixture of factors. The differences in ear size could reflect genetic and environmental influences, and the different shapes could be related to local climate and food availability.
Other pits in the Xi’an complex contain non-military figurines, like civil servants equipped with knives and bamboo tablets for writing. There are even groups of terracotta acrobats, probably meant for entertainment. But just as with the army, these were not meant to be seen, only to be used in the afterlife.
The terracotta warriors have become a symbol of the Qin Dynasty and of ancient China, and they continue to fascinate visitors from around the world. The exhibits are constantly evolving, and new details about the warriors are being discovered. The exhibitions have been showcased in museums around the globe, from Seattle’s Pacific Science Center to London’s British Museum. In addition, the warriors have featured in traveling exhibitions in cities such as Atlanta’s High Museum and New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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