The Terracotta Army refers to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. These famed statues of historical significance were discovered in 1974 near Xi’an, Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling water well to the East of Mounot Lishan. Archeological investigations further revealed the site has been serving as the imperial burial ground to the First Emperor of the Qin dynasty (Qin Shi Huangdi) and his army errected to help rule the Emperor afterlife. The First Emperor an acclaimed name in unifying the Chinese Empire for the first time in the history of China around 220 BC is also regarded one of country’s most ruthless rulers. The material used to create and construct the terracotta figures was taken up from Lishan. The distinctive collection of 8099 life size and very realistic terracotta figures of warriors and horses were excavated underground and are located near the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. The site is officially classified and currently inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site and is popularly called the Eighth Wonder of the world.

Background

The construction of this massive monument and world heritage site completed in 38 long years began in 246 BC took up the services of 7 lakh workers and master craftsmen. The first Qin Emperor was interred inside the tomb complex upon his demise in 210BC amidst the embellishments of huge treasure, beautified ceiling adorned with gems and pearls giving a look of the cosmos adorned with heavenly bodies. The flowing mercury represented the life supporting water bodies. The excavation and scientific research studies has revealed the presence of substantial quantity of mercury in the soil of Lishan, pointing towards the authenticity of the description of the site as mentioned in the exemplary works of great historian Sima Qian. The imperial cemetery also termed as necropolis was built with the intension to continue with the Empire and the eternal rule of the Qin Shi Huangdi preceding his death, the terracotta structures in wooden enclosure represented the entire set up in terms of infrastructural luxuries, palace, warriors, army and other services required by the emperor while executing his orders from the heaven afterlife. The compound with imposing gateway entrance is complete with several offices, halls and other structures. The terracotta army signifies the security system to protect the imperial palace and their Emperor. Interestingly even the remains of the craftsmen working in the tomb have also been excavated from the necropolis, presumably to prevent pilferage of any imperial information to outside amongst the masses.

The Terracotta army is a phenomenal archeological discovery and an icon of the China’s past recognizable world wide. It is visited and appreciated by nearly two million people who visit the site annually of which one fifth are the foreigners.

The tomb of the First Emperor lies in the vicinity of an unsealed earthen pyramid 76meters tall and in the circumference of 350 sq meters. The area around the tomb was proposed to be sealed with a special tent to prevent its corrosion from exposure to outside air. This building of this special type of tents is the monopoly of one company in the world and unfortunately even their largest structure is incapable of sheltering the site as per the requirement. The tomb is a testimony to the power and the creative mindset that the Emperor possessed while ordering such a monumental undertaking. His cherished desire to display his unparalleled military achievement and retain the reigns of power even after his departure from the earth is well exhibited in this master work.

Terracotta statues

The terracotta statues are life like and life sized and their physical attributes armed with weapons are tailor made in consonance with the ranks and positions of the said figure. However the weapons were stolen immediately after construction and the color has faded with time. The figures were constructed in the manner of assembly line system in the government workshops as well as by the local craftsmen. Each part was manufactured in mass production and re-assembled and subjected to fire treatment subsequently and then placed in pits of different types of moulds prepared in advance in precise military formation in accordance to ranks and duties.

There have been reports of the pottery warriors being infected by fungal moulds due to raised temperature and humidity as a result of breaths of tourists. The South China Morning Post has reported the figures have been oxidized grey and distorted due to exposure by air. Another journal Daily Planet Goes to China, reported that the pollution and soot from nearby coal burning units is capable of decaying the terracotta material.

The noted Historian Sima Qian has mentioned the evidence of destruction by fire of the wooden enclosure that housed the Terracotta Army. The fire burning the terracotta army snuggled for three months. The tomb was raided by General Xiang Yu in less than five years of the death of the Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi with the intension of looting the riches of the tomb and setting the royal cemetery ablaze. Despite this remains of the structures of the Terracotta army in various stages of preservation retain their original grandeur and splendor of their regal past.

A replica of this historical monument is erected in the Forbidden Gardens, a privately funded museum in Katy Texas sponsored by a Chinese businessman to show case to the world the grandeur of his country’s distant past.