ClassX Video Lessons The incredible history of China’s terracotta warriors – Megan Campisi and Pen-Pen Chen
Have you ever wondered what happens after we die? Some people think there might be a peaceful paradise, others fear eternal torment, and some believe in rebirth. But what if there’s just nothing? A long time ago, a Chinese emperor had his own ideas about the afterlife and decided to prepare for it in a big way. In 1974, farmers digging a well near their village made an amazing discovery: underground chambers filled with over 8,000 life-size clay soldiers, all ready for battle.
This incredible story starts with a young king named Ying Zheng. He became the king of the Qin state when he was just 13 years old in 246 BCE. He was ambitious and determined, and eventually, he united China’s seven warring kingdoms to become Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China. During his 36-year reign, he achieved many things, like creating a universal system of weights and measures, standardizing the writing script, and starting the construction of the Great Wall of China.
Qin Shi Huangdi was very concerned about what would happen after he died. He even searched for magical elixirs to make him live forever. From the start of his reign, he began building a massive underground city filled with monuments, artifacts, and an army to join him in the afterlife.
This amazing army is still in perfect battle formation and is spread across several pits. One pit holds a main force of 6,000 soldiers, each weighing hundreds of pounds. Another pit contains more than 130 war chariots and over 600 horses, while a third pit houses the high command. An empty fourth pit suggests that the project wasn’t finished before the emperor died.
Nearby chambers contain figures of musicians, acrobats, workers, government officials, and animals, showing that Emperor Qin planned for more than just war in the afterlife. All these figures are made from terracotta, a reddish-brown clay. To create them, over 720,000 workers, including skilled artisans, were involved. Each body part was molded separately, making each statue as unique as the real soldiers. They stand according to rank and have different weapons, uniforms, hairstyles, expressions, and even unique ears.
Originally, each warrior was painted in bright colors, but exposure to air caused the paint to dry and flake off, leaving only the terracotta base. This is why another chamber, less than a mile away, has not been excavated. This chamber is the actual tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, rumored to contain palaces, precious stones, artifacts, and even rivers of mercury flowing through bronze mountains. Until a way is found to open it without damaging the treasures inside, the tomb remains sealed.
Emperor Qin wasn’t the only one who wanted company in the afterlife. Ancient Egyptian tombs have clay models representing the ideal afterlife, the dead of Japan’s Kofun period were buried with sculptures of horses and houses, and the graves on Jaina Island off the Mexican coast are filled with ceramic figurines. Luckily, Emperor Qin chose to have clay figures made instead of sacrificing living people, a practice that was common in other cultures and even in China during earlier dynasties.
Today, people from all over the world visit these silent soldiers, who have been waiting for their battle orders for centuries. The terracotta warriors remain a fascinating glimpse into the past and a testament to the incredible history of China’s first emperor.
Imagine you are an artisan in ancient China tasked with creating a terracotta warrior. Use clay or modeling dough to sculpt your own warrior, paying attention to details like uniforms, hairstyles, and expressions. Think about what makes your warrior unique and write a short description of their role in the emperor’s army.
Based on what you’ve learned about Emperor Qin’s preparations for the afterlife, design your own tomb. Draw a layout that includes different chambers and what you would include in each one to prepare for the afterlife. Consider what items or figures you would want to accompany you and why.
Choose another culture mentioned in the article, such as Ancient Egypt or Japan’s Kofun period, and research their burial practices. Create a presentation comparing their beliefs and practices with those of Emperor Qin. Highlight similarities and differences in how they prepared for the afterlife.
Imagine you are a worker or artisan involved in the creation of the terracotta warriors. Write a diary entry describing a day in your life, your thoughts on the emperor’s project, and your feelings about the afterlife. Consider the challenges and rewards of your work.
Hold a class debate on the ethics of Emperor Qin’s preparations for the afterlife. Discuss whether it was justified to use so many resources and labor for his tomb. Consider the historical context and compare it to modern-day practices of honoring the deceased.
What happens after death? Is there a restful paradise? An eternal torment? A rebirth? Or maybe just nothingness? One Chinese emperor believed that whatever the afterlife held, he should prepare for it. In 1974, farmers digging a well near their village stumbled upon one of the most significant archaeological discoveries: vast underground chambers surrounding the emperor’s tomb, containing more than 8,000 life-size clay soldiers ready for battle.
The story of this subterranean army begins with Ying Zheng, who became king of the Qin state at the age of 13 in 246 BCE. Ambitious and determined, he would later become Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China after uniting its seven warring kingdoms. His 36-year reign saw many historic accomplishments, including a universal system of weights and measures, a standardized writing script for all of China, and the construction of what would later be known as the Great Wall.
Perhaps Qin Shi Huangdi dedicated so much effort to securing his legacy because he was preoccupied with his mortality. In his later years, he sought out alchemists and sent expeditions in search of elixirs of life to achieve immortality. As early as the first year of his reign, he began constructing a massive underground necropolis filled with monuments, artifacts, and an army to accompany him into the afterlife.
This remarkable army remains in precise battle formation and is divided across several pits. One pit contains a main force of 6,000 soldiers, each weighing several hundred pounds. A second pit holds more than 130 war chariots and over 600 horses, while a third houses the high command. An empty fourth pit suggests that the grand project could not be completed before the emperor’s death.
Additionally, nearby chambers contain figures of musicians, acrobats, workers, government officials, and various animals, indicating that Emperor Qin had more plans for the afterlife than merely waging war. All the figurines are sculpted from terracotta, a type of reddish-brown clay. To create them, multiple workshops and reportedly over 720,000 laborers were commissioned, including artisans who molded each body part separately to create statues as unique as the real warriors in the emperor’s army. They stand according to rank and feature different weapons, uniforms, hairstyles, expressions, and even unique ears.
Originally, each warrior was painted in bright colors, but exposure to air caused the paint to dry and flake, leaving only the terracotta base. This is why another chamber less than a mile away has not been excavated. This chamber is the actual tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, which is reported to contain palaces, precious stones, artifacts, and even rivers of mercury flowing through mountains of bronze. However, until a method can be found to expose it without damaging the treasures inside, the tomb remains sealed.
Emperor Qin was not alone in wanting company for his final destination. Ancient Egyptian tombs contain clay models representing the ideal afterlife, the dead of Japan’s Kofun period were buried with sculptures of horses and houses, and the graves of the Jaina island off the Mexican coast are filled with ceramic figurines. Fortunately, as ruthless as he was, Emperor Qin chose to have clay figures of servants and soldiers created for this purpose, rather than sacrificing living individuals, as had been practiced in Egypt, West Africa, Anatolia, parts of North America, and even China during the previous Shang and Zhou dynasties.
Today, people travel from all over the world to see these stoic soldiers silently awaiting their battle orders for centuries to come.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – History helps us understand how ancient civilizations developed and interacted with each other.
Archaeology – The scientific study of material remains of past human life and activities. – Archaeology allows us to uncover the secrets of ancient societies through their artifacts and ruins.
Terracotta – A type of earthenware made from clay, often used for sculptures and pottery. – The Terracotta Army is a famous collection of sculptures depicting the armies of the first Emperor of China.
Warriors – People who are experienced in or engaged in warfare. – The Terracotta Warriors were buried with the emperor to protect him in the afterlife.
Emperor – The ruler of an empire, often seen as the supreme authority. – Emperor Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of a unified China and commissioned the Terracotta Army.
Afterlife – A life or existence that some believe follows death. – Many ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Chinese, believed in an afterlife where the dead would continue to exist.
Tomb – A large vault, typically an underground one, for burying the dead. – The tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered in 1922, revealing a wealth of artifacts and treasures.
Artifacts – Objects made by humans, typically of cultural or historical interest. – Archaeologists discovered artifacts from the Roman Empire that provided insight into their daily lives.
Soldiers – Individuals who serve in an army. – The soldiers of the Terracotta Army were crafted to accompany the emperor in his tomb.
Excavation – The process of digging up and uncovering archaeological sites. – The excavation of ancient ruins can reveal much about the history and culture of past civilizations.
