Qin Shi Huang's Immortality Obsession: The Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army was one of the greatest historical treasure that was ever created. Qin Shi Huang (First Emperor) was very active during the time he ruled. He influenced the idea of the Terracotta Army. Different historians would argue different reason behind the motivation that he had to construct the army.

Frances Wood would argue that the concept of immortality that Qin Shi Huang had upon himself was the leading cause of the construction of the Terracotta Army. Immortality is the objective to live forever and in The First Emperor’s case, to rule and have authority over everyone. The concept of immortality comes from internal desires that one wants to happen and influence the way that they are perceived as. Immortality was the motivation to build a foundation that The First Emperor would have to make sure he was around people and the military. His internal desires as Frances Wood would put it is, “The First Emperor was obsessed with death” (Wood 116). His “beliefs about death and the afterlife were highly developed” (Wood 115). Ideas that Qin Shi Huang had for his death were, how could he protect himself and keep his body together. Construction lasted for “ more than thirty years” (O’Connor 16). Ideas of what something should look like started very early. The notion of death was a major topic

Between the concept of immortality that the First Emperor had on himself, to the devotion he had toward the army, to the idea of have a united China. Each motivation support each other. However, based on the reasoning of each source, centralization of a united country was the main intention that Qin Shi Huang had. The idea of immortality soon followed to make sure the objective was meant, along with him constantly ruling over the unified dynasty. The military, that he was heavily involved in, influenced the design process. More of how will he be able to be immortalized to keep a centralized