The Terracotta Army

Terracotta Army

Two centuries before the birth of Christ an army was being formed a beautiful army that would protect the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi in his afterlife. His elaborate mausoleum began in the year he became emperor, in 246BC and continued for 40 years, even after his death. But why terracotta warriors and not human sacrifices as was the 1000 year old tradition? In 678 BC Funeral human sacrifice a practice that was started by Duke Wu took place, which comprised of killing the emperor’s entire court, including his army. The violence of war put an end to human sacrifice. Thousands of people were wiped out by the devastation of war and subsequently they couldn’t afford to bury human sacrifices any more. This practice was abolished by Duke Xian in 384. Pottery figurines then took the place of human sacrifice but Qin Shi Huangdi took it to another level. Emperor Han Ling Di took the throne 53 years after Qin’s death he too had a terracotta army. His tomb was discovered 25 miles from Qin's mausoleum in 1990. While these two Emperors both had terracotta army’s there were vast difference between the two. From the size of the figurines to the amount of soldiers, to the differences of the items found in each tomb.

Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi (259-210BC) was responsible for unifying seven warring kingdoms into one ruling empire now considered China. What he is most noted for though, is his terracotta warriors made 2,200 years ago considered the “Eight Wonder of the World.” He spent his entire life looking for the key of immortality. He believed that after death there was an afterlife so he built an elaborate tomb to house him and all the things he would need for his new life. He included a massive terracotta army 8,000...

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...t so tall but what he did have was naked pottery figurines, chariots, horses and weapons. He also had a royal kitchen pit, which included hundreds of dogs, sheep, pigs and articles of everyday use. His pits ranged in sizes and lengths ranged from 13 to 328 feet. Compared to Qin warriors, the pottery figures are one tenth of the actual objects and vary from warriors to civilian, male and female.” ( )

Qin and Han were both emperors of China who believed in the afterlife which was a custom at that time period in history. They both had terracotta army’s Qin had 4 pits with over 8,000 warriors while Han had 81 pits focused more on figurines of more of a domestic and everyday life. Maybe because Han had a more evenhanded ruling style and was not afraid of the enemy like Qin who had several attempts made on his life was Han did not focus a lot on his army. While both