The Terracotta Army, a Chinese National Treasure

So I guess I'm in for round two already. Might as well get another post out of the way for this week. This post will be one of the site link ones, so you can read up on more information about these interesting sculptures.

The Terracotta Army was unearthed in 1974 by archaeologists in Xian, Shaanxi Province. The archaeologists were summoned by several peasants who discovered ancient pottery when digging a well. During the years, three different pits have been excavated, containing thousands of the clay warriors, each one around actual size.

The earthen figures came in all sorts of different styles. They all have a variety of facial features, giving each sculpture a unique look when compared to his neighbors. It is believed that the ancient sculptors worked in an assembly line style to maximize output and achieve the individual features. Each part of the sculptures were sculpted separately and assembled at the end of the process. Scientists have discovered eight basic face shapes that utilize a plethora of different molds for facial features such as noses and lips. This mixing and matching allowed them to achieve all of the different faces of the soldiers. Along with facial differences, the soldiers were also arranged in combat formations and by rank. Their heights were used to show ranks in the army, with generals being the tallest sculptures. Also mixed in amongst the soldiers were musicians, government officials, horses, and chariots, allowing scientists to see a cross section of what made up a Chinese army at that time.

What kind of army would be complete without weapons and armor? The Qin era figures are wielding authentic weaponry from swords to crossbows and wearing armor modeled after the actual armor worn by their living counterparts. The armor of each soldier also comes in different styles based on his rank and job in the army. The foot soldiers all shared the same basic armor type, but officers and generals all had unique garb that signified their higher positions. Cavalrymen and archers also had their own types of armor that set them apart from the pack. Every soldier also came with Bronze age weapons fit for the battlefield. Many of the excavated weapons are still sharp and shiny, which shows that if the Chinese were willing to arm sculptures with such excellent weapons, then the weapons they gave to their living soldiers must be formidable indeed.

So what would be the point of this Terracotta Army? Why would anyone spend so much time and money into making the world's most useless army? The answer is that the first emperor of China, Shihuangdi, created them as part of his elaborate tomb. Around 221 BCE, Emperor Shihuangdi began construction of his tomb, which would not be finished until 210 BCE, right around the time that the Terracotta Army was being created. It is believed that Shihuangdi created the soldiers to either guard him in the afterlife, or help him establish a new kingdom in the next world.

Sadly enough, unfortunate events have led to the current state of decay of the Terracotta Army. Several years after Shihuangdi was buried, a Chinese general burned and looted the funeral complex, severely damaging almost all of the figures. Today, the clay soldiers are under assault from mold, pollution, and earthquakes. Scientists have begun to rebury some of the soldiers in order to preserve them for future generations.

For more information, visit
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/shaanxi/xian/terra_cotta_army/

As a side note, did anyone notice that one of the professors they interviewed in that video today never blinked? The one with the beard and the blue eyes in front of the statue of Athena. it made my eyes water just watching him talk. Feel free to comment or whatever.