Terracotta Warriors and Horses is also known as the Terracotta Army. The terracotta warriors and horses were buried with the first Emperor of Qin dynasty (Qin Shi Huang). Consequently, they are also sometimes referred to as "Qin’s Armies". Being a part of the Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum, the terra cotta warriors and horses took up the job of defending the mausoleum after the emperor’s death.

The Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum was built nearly an earthen pyramid, 76 meters tall and nearly 350 meters square. Originally there were also inner and outer city wall to protect the mausoleum. The tomb presently remains unopened and unfound for the sake of protection. Construction of this mausoleum began in 246 BC and is believed to have taken 700,000 workers and craftsmen 38 years to complete. Qin Shi Huang was interred inside the tomb complex upon his death in 210 BC. According to the history book Historical Records, the First Emperor was buried alongside great amounts of treasure and objects of craftsmanship, as well as a scale replica of the universe complete with gemmed ceilings representing the cosmos, and flowing mercury representing the great earthly bodies of water. Pearls were also placed on the ceilings in the tomb to represent the stars and planets, etc. Besides, hidden weapons were equipped to protect the underground palace from robbing. The remains of the craftsmen working in the tomb may also be found within its confines, as it is believed they were sealed inside alive to keep them from divulging any secrets about its riches or entrance. Recent scientific work at the site has shown high levels of mercury in the soil of Mount Lishan (which means Black Horse Mountain), tentatively indicating an accurate description of the site’s contents by Sima Qian. There were plans to excavate the mausoleum and protect it with a tent-type structure, however, there is at present no such size structure to cover the whole mausoleum area.

The Terracotta Army was discovered in March 1974 by local farmers when they were trying to drill water well to the east of Mount Lishan. This is also where the material to make the terracotta warriors was made, and found.

Archaeology of the Terracotta Army

Archaeological excavations of the Terracotta Army are still ongoing over thirty years after its discovery. The last vast excavation was in 2009. This is largely due to the fragile nature of the material and its difficult preservation. Terracotta is literally “baked earth” which is kiln fired at relatively low temperatures. After firing each figure, the Terracotta Army was coated with a lacquer finish to improve durability. Various colors were also applied in order to create a more realistic appearance of the figures and their clothing and equipment. Some excavated materials still retain traces of this coloring; however their exposure to air quickly causes the finish to chip or flake off.

A group of terracotta figures have been unearthed at the site. These figures include infantry, archers, and officers and are manufactured in a crouching or standing pose. Each figure was given a real weapon such as bronze spears, halberds or swords, or wooden crossbows with bronze fittings. It is believed these weapons date to as early as 228 BC and may have been used in actual warfare. Along with the soldiers and officers, chariots made with great detail and precision were also included as part of Qin Shi Huang’s army.

The terracotta figures were found in three separate pits, with an empty fourth pit also discovered. Pit No. 1 is believed to be the largest pit, holding over 6,000 figures of infantrymen, chariots and horses. Pit No.1 is a 5- meter deep oblong pit with east-west 230 meters and north-south 62 meters. The 6,000 figures were arrayed in a practical battle formation in 11 unions, representing the first emperor’s main army. The second pit contains about 1,400 figures of cavalry, infantry, chariots, along with standing archer and kneeling archer. Comparing pit No.1, pit No.2 is much smaller, but it is believed to be an exhibition of the powerful Qin military forces. The third pit is actually the command unit, comprised of high ranking officers, lesser officers, and a war chariot drawn by four horses. It is the smallest of the four and contains 68 figures within a 465 square meter area.

Construction

The terracotta figures were made in a factory line style of production in Qin dynasty by both government laborers and local craftsman. Because on the weapons discovered in the site people’s names were found. And those names may be the craftsman who used to make the part of the weapon. The terracotta figures are life-like and life-sized. They vary in height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance with rank. When they were making, the body part and head part were separated with each other assembled to different craftsmen. The body part of the figures was hollow with the neck a big hole, because after the shape was made, it was also going to be fired. Thus, the hot air stream can be escaped from the hole and left on the outer side of the body there would be no crackles. The legs were solid to keep the heavy figure standing firm. When the head part was completed, the two parts will be combined to be an intact soldier. For the horses, the body part and tail was separated with each other, with the body part a hollow one. Thus, the hot air steam escaped from the hole of tail. Sometimes one hole is not enough due to the huge size of horse. So another or more holes will be made on the body part of the horses. After it was fired, a same size terra cotta cake will be made to fetch it up. When all the figures were fired, it was then to be colored with lacquer. Then the real weapons and armors were assigned to each one and a realistic underground army was completed.

Destruction

Excavation at the site has shown a great deal of evidence pointing towards a rather sizable fire which burned the wooden structures of the pits once housing the Terracotta Army. Such a fire is described by Sima Qian as part of the consequences of the raiding General Xiang Yu less than five years after the death of the First Emperor. It said that when General Xiang’s army arrived at the emperor’s mausoleum site, they set a fire to destroy all the pits of the underground army. However, much of the remains of the Terracotta Army still survive in various stages of preservation, surrounded by remnants of the burnt wooden structures.

Today nearly two million people visit the site annually, and almost one-fifth is foreigners. The Terracotta Army now serves as both a phenomenal archaeological discovery as well as an icon of China’s distant past recognizable the world over. The power and military achievement of the First Emperor Qin Shi Huang is evident in the massive and monumental achievements present throughout his tomb complex, most notably the 8,000 terracotta figures eternally serving to protect their emperor.

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