Most people know the story about the incredible twist of fortune that led to the discovery of the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang by farmers in March 1974 – just casually digging a well and oops, greatest archaeological discovery of the 20th century!
Let’s begin with a little background on Qin Shi Huang himself…He was China’s first emperor, uniting warring nations into one entity, building the foundations of what was to become the Great Wall and chasing his dream of becoming immortal, a quest that, ironically, killed him. Qin Shi Huang came to power at the age of 13, and it was then that the construction of the army and its necropolis began. It is said that the craftsmen who worked on his burial plot where sealed within the tomb alive – a grisly discover for the excavation team.
It is actually 41 years today (11 July) that the project to excavate the central necropolis was completed, giving the world a first glimpse of the incredible Terracotta Warriors, created in the 3rd century BCE. It was found that the warriors were life size – their height, ranging from 5 foot 8 to 6 foot 7, depended on their rank; that they were once brightly painted; and that their individual detail was so incredible that they must be based on a real army.
Excavations continue today on the three main pits, which are believed to contain about 8,000 warriors in total. Pit 1 holds the main bulk of the army with 6,000 warriors, Pit 2 is home to cavalry and war chariots, whilst in Pit 3, an honour guard and the chariot of the chief commander have been uncovered. Other pits have contained the figures of entertainers and musicians, bronze chariots and stone armour suits.
The Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses is the place to start uncovering the mysteries of the Terracotta Army – new things are being unearthed every week. Though perhaps until the day it is decided to unseal the burial chamber of the emperor himself, the picture will remain incomplete.
As fascinating as just wandering through the museum is (you can meet one of the farmers who actually stumbled across the warriors too), there are many ways that you can amplify your experience for the better. How about being guided around the excavation pits by a member of the excavation team? This is something that Asia Inspirations can easily organise for you, though if you’d rather just have a guided tour with a local guide, this is possible too. Just give us a call to find out more.
For more information of the Terracotta Warriors and other things to do in the area, just click.