Terracotta Art

Long ago, before the great land of China was united, it was separated into multiple kingdoms. Each kingdom ruled by a king. One king was not satisfied with the amount of people and land he ruled over, he wanted more. While King Qin Shi Huang ruled over his kingdom, he began to unify the rest of the kingdoms and turned it into the great Empire of Qin, which he ruled over, naming this period in history the Qin Dynasty. Along with many of his accomplishments, Shi Huang is known for his great art. Although he did not create the art himself, these "art" became trademarks for China. During his time ruling he ordered thousands of workers to construct what is known as the Great Wall of China. Along with one of the wonders of the world, he ordered his

men to build him an army of clay. The clay army is known as the Terracotta Army. This army of clay warriors was not small, there were thousands of them. But why did Emperor Qin order this? Why did he want thousands of warriors created from clay? The legend behind these warriors begin with believing in the divine world in the afterlife.
Between 221 - 210 BC, Emperor Qin unified the land that is now known as China. Qin Shi Huang became the first emperor at the age of thirteen, throughout his life he accomplished many achievements from colonizing the kingdoms of China, improving weaponry and communication, to constructing the wall of defense and ruling over thousands of clay warriors. The First Emperor was known as the Son of Heaven and the fierce tiger of Qin. The Emperor owned various palace in different regions of his empire, he moved around a lot fearing that there are people who would kill him. Through the thought of death and being killed, in peperation, he ordered hundreds of men to create his tomb and an army for him. While the construction of his tomb was in process, there were various attempts for his assassination. This began his excavation for immortality. Shi Huang approached alchemists who made him believe that pills and various potions containing mercury and powdered jade would help him live for eternity. Along with his consumption of these elixirs, he sent his warriors on convoys to find "mythical isles of the immortal"1 for other elixirs that will give him immortality. During these excavations the Emperor fell ill and died in 210 BC. He was then brought back to his tomb located in modern day Xi'an, China and buried with his army. Long after his death, one of Shi Huang's warrior was found during the Han Dynasty. The villagers believed that the clay body entombs a soul that would bring them misfortune. The statue was then broken into pieces and reburied, and long forgotten. In March 1974, three farmers working in the fields of Northern China needed to dig a well to find water during a drought. They then discovered the hidden tomb. Archaeologist then uncovered thousands of life sized Chinese warriors, along with life size weapons, horses and chariots. Turning what was once a farming field into a world famous archaeological site.
What Emperor Qin used as protection, is considered a miraculous artwork in modern day society.

When a person first look at the Terracotta Army as a whole, they can only see that there are thousands of what looks like giant toy soldiers made of clay. The Terracotta army are man made, life size clay statues of men, horses and chariots. When looking at the army, one may think that all the figures are identical and lack individuality. Looking iconographically closer, there are details that makes each statue more life like. Each warrior was created to look differently, with different expressions and stance. Archaeologist noted that through the years of studying the Terracotta Warriors, no two warriors were identical, each statue was created to look differently, as if they were real men, consisting of their own identities. The Terracotta Warriors greatly reflects the period in which they were created. The soldiers wore long armours that were inscribed with details. The armours depicts the rankings of the warriors through the scales, ribbons, buttons, and length. The Qin Dynasty was depicted within each of the warriors through their style and facial features. The warriors each had different styled hairs, also showing their ranking as a warrior. Their facial features consisted of facial hair groomed in different fashion. The faces of the statues also showed the ages of the men that most likely served in the real army. They also showed whether or not the warriors were happy, excited, or sad and tired. These were not the only details of the statues. Viewers of the statues today can no longer see one of the vivid details of the statues. What looks like gray, baked clay today, were once painted in vibrant colors. Long ago, "the horses were painted in brown and black. The sculptures were first covered with a dark-brown lacquer ground and then painted with pigments in one or two layers..."2. Along with the warriors were bronze weapons and "wooden chariots as used in real

battle"3. Rather than seeing the Terracotta army as a means of protection, today we see it as a great work of art that was created by skilled craftsmen of the Qin Dynasty.
Although we see the Terracotta Army as art today, why did Emperor Qin order the construction of these warriors? Recalling back to Shi Huang's expedition to find immortality, why did he create a tomb when he wanted to live eternally? Emperor Qin believed that he already achieved immortality spiritually. He believed that after he dies he will live on, ruling over his kingdoms in his afterlife. Shi Huang ordered for a tomb to be constructed with thousands of clay army because he believed that in the afterlife he will still need an army for his protection. After attempts for his life, Shi Huang then excavated for physical immortality, fearing that he will be killed. Even then, he found rituals retrieved from his journey through the kingdoms of his empire that would help him prolong his life beyond death. After the death of Emperor Qin, many believed that the Terracotta warriors were empty vessels created to hold the spirits of Emperor Qin's soldiers after their death to begin their journey to the afterlife to protect the emperor. Because the statues were empty vessels, many believed that a demon spirit may inhabit the vessel thus bamboo slips inscribed with manuscripts to ward off evil spirits were buried with the clay soldiers. When the statues were found, even though they are made of clay, one may say, when looking at the statues it may feel as if they are real and inside lives the soul of an ancient warrior.
Even though Emperor Qin did not achieve physical immortality, who can say he did not achieve spiritual immortality? Emperor Qin died at the age of forty-nine, allowing him to rule over his empire for only thirty-six years. Through his years as emperor he achieved many miraculous things. He unified six kingdoms into one empire, he constructed the Great Wall of China, and his great tomb with his army. Although Emperor Qin was not able to live eternally, his legacy lived on. One may believe that maybe it is possible that his spirit lives eternally. His legacy is shown through his wondrous creations of his silent army. Thousands of handmade warriors, depicting the Qin Dynasty. Connecting the two worlds, the Terracotta Warriors are more than just art and statues, believe in China's silent warriors as capsules that entombs the soul of those who walked the lands of the great Qin Empire ruling beside the First Emperor and protecting him during his life on earth and beyond death.