Terracotta Unification History

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It wasn’t until the year of 221BC that the warring states of China were unified. The unification was under the power of China’s first and most famous Emperor Qin Shihuangdi. Not only famed for is input to the development of China but his discovered terracotta warriors which surrounded his mausoleum. Paragraph One: The year 1974 unlocked hidden mysteries about Qin Shihaungdi and the ancient history of China. Yang Zhifa, digging a well during a drought in March 1974, came across the face of a man made from terracotta. It was apparent to the farmer that he had come across something significant. (Unlocking The Past, 2008). An excavation project commenced to reveal the rest of what was lying beneath the ground of the farm. With the continuation …show more content…

The Chinese believed at this time that the soul was divided into two parts: one that would stay with the body, earthbound, and one that would ascend to heaven after death. (Emperor Qin in the Afterlife, Online, 2007). For China’s first emperor Qin Shihuangdi entering the afterlife with power and authority was his number one priority. Shihuangdi hired more than 50,000 conscripts to recreate his entire army out of terracotta. Having a large fear of dying, the terracotta warriors were designed to protect Shihuangdi and assisted with his arrival into the afterlife. (Terracotta Warriors, Online, 2010). Before unexpectedly dying in 210BC he went on a quest to find immortality. He devoted years of his life discovering new methods of immorality. Employing 300 astrologers to elude evil spirits, taking a journey through China to find fabled herbs and then creating the terracotta warriors. (Unlocking The Past, 2008). “However, it is puzzling why someone so focused on staying alive as long as possible would have such lavish and detailed plans in place for his tomb.” (Emperor Qin in the Afterlife, Online, …show more content…

(Britannica, Online, 2015). Along with being one of the most famous figures in history, the creation of a mausoleum of such high precision and the discovery of the terracotta warriors which surrounded his tomb suggests that the authority held was far more powerful than his peers. (Famous Wonders, Online 2015). (The First Emperor of China,

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