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(Redirected from Terracotta army)
The 'Terracotta Army' () or ''Terracotta Warriors and Horses'' is a collection of 8,099 life-size Chinese terra cotta figures of warriors and horses located near the 'Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor' (). The figures were discovered in 1974 near Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China.
The Terracotta Army was buried with the Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi Huangdi) in 210-209 BC (his reign over Qin was from 247 BC to 221 BC and over unified China from 221 BC to his death in 210 BC). Their purpose was to help rule another empire with Shi Huangdi in the afterlife. Consequently, they are also sometimes referred to as "Qin's Armies".
The Terracotta Army was discovered in March 1974 by local farmers drilling a water well to the east of Mount Lishan. (The precise coordinates are .) Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta warriors originated. In addition to the warriors, an entire man made necropolis for the emperor has been excavated.
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 Huangdi was interred inside the tomb complex upon his death in 210 BC. According to the Grand Historian Sima Qian, 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, planets, etc. Recent scientific work at the site has shown high levels of mercury in the soil of Mount Lishan, tentatively indicating an accurate description of the site’s contents by historian Sima Qian (145 BC-90 BC).
The tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi is near an earthen pyramid 76 meters tall and nearly 350 square meters. The tomb presently remains unopened. There are plans to seal off the area around the tomb with a special tent-type structure to prevent corrosion from exposure to outside air. However, there is at present only one company in the world that makes these tents, and their largest model will not cover the site as needed.
Qin Shi Huangdi’s necropolis complex was constructed to serve as an imperial compound or palace. It comprises several offices, halls and other structures and is surrounded by a wall with gateway entrances. 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. It was only fitting, therefore, to have this compound protected by the massive terracotta army interred nearby.
In July 2007 it was determined, using remote sensing technology, that the mausoleum contains a 90-foot tall building built above the tomb, with four stepped walls, each having nine steps. Researchers theorized it was built "for the soul of the emperor to depart."[1]
The terracotta figures were manufactured both in workshops by government laborers and also by local craftsmen. It is believed they were made in much the same way that terracotta drainage pipes were manufactured at the time. This would make it a factory line style of production, with specific parts manufactured and assembled after being fired as opposed to crafting one solid piece of terracotta and subsequently firing it. After completion, the terracotta figures were placed in the pits outlined above in precise military formation according to rank and duty.
The terracotta figures are life-like and life-sized. They vary in height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance with rank. The colored lacquer finish, molded faces (each is individual), and real weapons and armor used in manufacturing these figures created a realistic appearance. The weapons were stolen shortly after the creation of the army and the coloring has mostly faded. However, their existence served as a testament to the amount of labour and skill involved in their construction. It is also proof of the incredible amount of power the First Emperor possessed to order such a monumental undertaking as the manufacturing of the terracotta army. People believe that the terracotta warriors were based on true people as every face has different facial features and expressions. On 31 July 2007 nine pieces of the Terracotta army were placed in the National History of Archeology Valletta (Malta).
There is evidence of a large fire that burned the wooden structures once housing the Terracotta Army. The fire was described by Sima Qian, who described them as the consequences of General Xiang Yu, who raided the tomb less than five years after the death of the First Emperor, as that the effects of General Xiang’s army included looting of the tomb and structures holding the Terracotta Army, as well as setting fire to the necropolis and starting a blaze that lasted for three months. Because of this, only one statue has survived intact: a statue of a kneeling archer. Despite the fire, 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 are 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 8,099 terracotta figures eternally serving to protect their leader.
In 1999, it was reported that pottery warriors were suffering from "nine different kinds of mold", caused by raised temperatures and humidity in the building which houses the soldiers, and the breath of tourists.[2] In addition, ''South China Morning Post'' reported the figures have become oxidised grey from being exposed to air, which may cause noses and hairstyles to disappear, and falling arms.[3] However, the officials dismissed the claims.[4] In ''Daily Planet Goes to China'', the Terracotta Warriors segment reported the Chinese scientists found soot on the surface of the statue, concluding that the pollution introduced from coal burning plants was responsible for the decaying of the terracotta statues..
★ Six of the warriors were displayed at Selfridges department store in London in 1981 as part of a marketing event called 'East Meets West'.
★ Four terracotta warriors and horses from the Mausoleum were displayed at 1982 World's Fair; this was the first time China had participated in a World Fair since 1904.
★ In 2004, an exhibit of the terracotta warriors was featured at 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona. It later inaugurated the Cuarto Depósito Art Center at Madrid[5]. It consisted of ten warriors, four other big figures and other pieces (totalling 170) from the Qin and Han dynasties.
★ Silent Warriors, 81 original artifacts including ten soldiers, were on display in Malta at the Archaeological Museum (http://www.heritagemalta.org) in Valletta during 2007. (http://www.heritagemalta.org/documents/Silent%20Warriors.pdf)
★ 120 objects as well as 20 warriors are on display at the British Museum in London between September 2007 and April 2008 making it the largest ever exhbition outside China.[1]
★ Forbidden Gardens, a privately funded outdoor museum in Katy, Texas has 6,000 1/3 scale replica terra-cotta soldiers displayed in formation as they were buried in the 3rd century BC. Several full-size replicas are included for scale, and replicas of weapons discovered with the army are shown in a separate Weapons Room. The museum's sponsor is a Chinese businessman whose goal is to share his country's history.
★ Other replicas may be seen at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.
★ Some are now on show at the Britsh museum in London.
On September 16, 2006, a German art student, Pablo Wendel, infiltrated a Terracotta Army exhibit in a Xi'an museum and disguised himself as one of the soldiers. According to museum officials, his disguise was good enough to make it difficult for security to discern him among the statues; he was able to hide with the Terracotta Army for several minutes before being found. However, because Wendel had no malicious intentions against the historic exhibits - he merely wanted to live out his fantasy of being one of the warriors - and he had damaged none of the statues, he was let off with only an official rebuke and no serious legal consequences. [6]
[7]
★ A version of the Terracotta Army was brought to life in the direct-to-DVD animated movie ''The Invincible Iron Man.''
★ Stolen Terracotta Warriors feature in ''Aces Go Places V'', the Karl Maka / Sam Hui action adventure series.
★ ''The Mummy 3'', scheduled to be released on July 11, 2008, will feature a sequence with the Terracotta ArmyReport on Mummy 3 movie having a Terracotta Warriors sequence.
★ An episode of the animated ''Martin Mystery'' series featured the Terracotta Army.
★ The ABC Miniseries ''Arabian Nights'' features the Terracotta army in the Aladdin story.
★ The video game ''Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb'' featured terracotta soldiers as literal guardians inside Huangdi's tomb; wraiths can take control of them to attack Indiana.
★ The Terracotta Army is a buildable wonder in the PC game ''Rise of Nations''.
★ In ''The Legend of Zelda'' for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Terracotta soldiers are featured guarding entrances to the games levels which are depicted as tombs. In a creative twist, these soldiers are stationary but then "come to life" if the player makes contact with the statues. It should be noted however, that these terracotta soldiers do not appear as soldiers similar to the actual terracotta army, but rather as statues with glowing eyes and swords and shields.
★ Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' multi-layered fantasy satire on Western views of China ''Interesting Times'' features a final battle in which the Wizzard [sic] Rincewind takes charge of a buried terracotta army using a very science-fictiony helmet and boots with heads-up display and too many icons instead of the magic expected in the series. He gets stuck in the mud.
★ The '' card "Mausoleum of the Emperor" is supposed to be reminiscent of the First Emperor's tomb; as such, when Astor Phoenix uses it in the ''Yu-Gi-Oh! GX'' anime, representations of the Terracotta Army are used as "tributes" to bring out his high-level monsters.
★ In '' Lara meets a collector who has some terracotta soldiers and comments that they are the biggest he has seen. They then have a fight in the same room and most of the warriors get destroyed.
★ Debainne-Francfort, Corrine. "The Search for Ancient China," (Harry N. Abrams Inc. Pub. 1999): 91-99.
★ Dillon, Michael(ed). "China: A Cultural and Historical Dictionary," (Curzon Press, 1998): 196.
★ Ledderose, Lothar. "A Magic Army for the Emperor." from "Ten Thousand Things : Module and Mass Production in Chinese Art" ed. Lothar Ledderose, (Princeton UP, 2000): 51-73.
★ Perkins, Dorothy. "Encyclopedia of China: The Essential Reference to China, Its History and Culture," (Roundtable Press, 1999): 517-518.
★ Richards, Jack C. Interchange 2, Third Edition, (Cambridge University Press, 2005):80.
★ Macmanus, Caitlyn. oxford university specialty in Chinas history.
1. China's Terracotta Tomb Hides Mystery, ''AOL'', 2 July 2007.
2. World: Asia-Pacific Pollution threat to terracotta army
3. Air pollution harms terracotta warriors
4. http://www.danwei.org/media_and_advertising/is_the_terracotta_army_in_dang.php
5. Los Guerreros de Xian llegan a Madrid, ''El Mundo'', 28 September 2004.
6. Story on German student infiltrating exhibit on BBC website
7. [2](video)
★ UNESCO description of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
★ Charles Billich created the Terracotta warriors traditional symbol as the official turtle image of the 2008 Beijing Bid. Billich's images are represented on a collection of 16 postage stamps.
★ Museum of Terracotta Army Travel Guide and Photo Gallery
★ The only museum outside China dedicated to Terracotta warriors - featured in Britain
★ Skeptic World - Xian Terracotta Army
★ People's Daily article on the Terracotta Army
★ Wide angle shot of the Terracotta Army (requires Quicktime)!
★ Video from the Terracotta Army pit no. 1 - gives general view of the spot and details on the statues
The 'Terracotta Army' () or ''Terracotta Warriors and Horses'' is a collection of 8,099 life-size Chinese terra cotta figures of warriors and horses located near the 'Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor' (). The figures were discovered in 1974 near Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China.
| Contents |
| Introduction |
| Construction |
| Destruction |
| Terracotta Army outside China |
| Infiltration |
| Entertainment references |
| Further reading |
| References |
| External links |
Introduction
The Terracotta Tomb Museum entrance
One of the Terracotta Tomb Museum building
The Terracotta Army was buried with the Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi Huangdi) in 210-209 BC (his reign over Qin was from 247 BC to 221 BC and over unified China from 221 BC to his death in 210 BC). Their purpose was to help rule another empire with Shi Huangdi in the afterlife. Consequently, they are also sometimes referred to as "Qin's Armies".
The Terracotta Army was discovered in March 1974 by local farmers drilling a water well to the east of Mount Lishan. (The precise coordinates are .) Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta warriors originated. In addition to the warriors, an entire man made necropolis for the emperor has been excavated.
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 Huangdi was interred inside the tomb complex upon his death in 210 BC. According to the Grand Historian Sima Qian, 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, planets, etc. Recent scientific work at the site has shown high levels of mercury in the soil of Mount Lishan, tentatively indicating an accurate description of the site’s contents by historian Sima Qian (145 BC-90 BC).
A Qin terracotta soldier.
The tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi is near an earthen pyramid 76 meters tall and nearly 350 square meters. The tomb presently remains unopened. There are plans to seal off the area around the tomb with a special tent-type structure to prevent corrosion from exposure to outside air. However, there is at present only one company in the world that makes these tents, and their largest model will not cover the site as needed.
A terracotta soldier and his horse
Qin Shi Huangdi’s necropolis complex was constructed to serve as an imperial compound or palace. It comprises several offices, halls and other structures and is surrounded by a wall with gateway entrances. 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. It was only fitting, therefore, to have this compound protected by the massive terracotta army interred nearby.
In July 2007 it was determined, using remote sensing technology, that the mausoleum contains a 90-foot tall building built above the tomb, with four stepped walls, each having nine steps. Researchers theorized it was built "for the soul of the emperor to depart."[1]
Construction
Terracotta detail. No two life-sized figures are alike in the tomb.
The terracotta figures were manufactured both in workshops by government laborers and also by local craftsmen. It is believed they were made in much the same way that terracotta drainage pipes were manufactured at the time. This would make it a factory line style of production, with specific parts manufactured and assembled after being fired as opposed to crafting one solid piece of terracotta and subsequently firing it. After completion, the terracotta figures were placed in the pits outlined above in precise military formation according to rank and duty.
Rear view of the Terracotta warrior reconstruction area
The terracotta figures are life-like and life-sized. They vary in height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance with rank. The colored lacquer finish, molded faces (each is individual), and real weapons and armor used in manufacturing these figures created a realistic appearance. The weapons were stolen shortly after the creation of the army and the coloring has mostly faded. However, their existence served as a testament to the amount of labour and skill involved in their construction. It is also proof of the incredible amount of power the First Emperor possessed to order such a monumental undertaking as the manufacturing of the terracotta army. People believe that the terracotta warriors were based on true people as every face has different facial features and expressions. On 31 July 2007 nine pieces of the Terracotta army were placed in the National History of Archeology Valletta (Malta).
Destruction
Terracotta figures in various stages of re-assembly after being unearthed.
There is evidence of a large fire that burned the wooden structures once housing the Terracotta Army. The fire was described by Sima Qian, who described them as the consequences of General Xiang Yu, who raided the tomb less than five years after the death of the First Emperor, as that the effects of General Xiang’s army included looting of the tomb and structures holding the Terracotta Army, as well as setting fire to the necropolis and starting a blaze that lasted for three months. Because of this, only one statue has survived intact: a statue of a kneeling archer. Despite the fire, 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 are 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 8,099 terracotta figures eternally serving to protect their leader.
In 1999, it was reported that pottery warriors were suffering from "nine different kinds of mold", caused by raised temperatures and humidity in the building which houses the soldiers, and the breath of tourists.[2] In addition, ''South China Morning Post'' reported the figures have become oxidised grey from being exposed to air, which may cause noses and hairstyles to disappear, and falling arms.[3] However, the officials dismissed the claims.[4] In ''Daily Planet Goes to China'', the Terracotta Warriors segment reported the Chinese scientists found soot on the surface of the statue, concluding that the pollution introduced from coal burning plants was responsible for the decaying of the terracotta statues..
Terracotta Army outside China
★ Six of the warriors were displayed at Selfridges department store in London in 1981 as part of a marketing event called 'East Meets West'.
★ Four terracotta warriors and horses from the Mausoleum were displayed at 1982 World's Fair; this was the first time China had participated in a World Fair since 1904.
★ In 2004, an exhibit of the terracotta warriors was featured at 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona. It later inaugurated the Cuarto Depósito Art Center at Madrid[5]. It consisted of ten warriors, four other big figures and other pieces (totalling 170) from the Qin and Han dynasties.
★ Silent Warriors, 81 original artifacts including ten soldiers, were on display in Malta at the Archaeological Museum (http://www.heritagemalta.org) in Valletta during 2007. (http://www.heritagemalta.org/documents/Silent%20Warriors.pdf)
★ 120 objects as well as 20 warriors are on display at the British Museum in London between September 2007 and April 2008 making it the largest ever exhbition outside China.[1]
★ Forbidden Gardens, a privately funded outdoor museum in Katy, Texas has 6,000 1/3 scale replica terra-cotta soldiers displayed in formation as they were buried in the 3rd century BC. Several full-size replicas are included for scale, and replicas of weapons discovered with the army are shown in a separate Weapons Room. The museum's sponsor is a Chinese businessman whose goal is to share his country's history.
★ Other replicas may be seen at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.
★ Some are now on show at the Britsh museum in London.
Infiltration
On September 16, 2006, a German art student, Pablo Wendel, infiltrated a Terracotta Army exhibit in a Xi'an museum and disguised himself as one of the soldiers. According to museum officials, his disguise was good enough to make it difficult for security to discern him among the statues; he was able to hide with the Terracotta Army for several minutes before being found. However, because Wendel had no malicious intentions against the historic exhibits - he merely wanted to live out his fantasy of being one of the warriors - and he had damaged none of the statues, he was let off with only an official rebuke and no serious legal consequences. [6]
[7]
Entertainment references
★ A version of the Terracotta Army was brought to life in the direct-to-DVD animated movie ''The Invincible Iron Man.''
★ Stolen Terracotta Warriors feature in ''Aces Go Places V'', the Karl Maka / Sam Hui action adventure series.
★ ''The Mummy 3'', scheduled to be released on July 11, 2008, will feature a sequence with the Terracotta ArmyReport on Mummy 3 movie having a Terracotta Warriors sequence.
★ An episode of the animated ''Martin Mystery'' series featured the Terracotta Army.
★ The ABC Miniseries ''Arabian Nights'' features the Terracotta army in the Aladdin story.
★ The video game ''Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb'' featured terracotta soldiers as literal guardians inside Huangdi's tomb; wraiths can take control of them to attack Indiana.
★ The Terracotta Army is a buildable wonder in the PC game ''Rise of Nations''.
★ In ''The Legend of Zelda'' for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Terracotta soldiers are featured guarding entrances to the games levels which are depicted as tombs. In a creative twist, these soldiers are stationary but then "come to life" if the player makes contact with the statues. It should be noted however, that these terracotta soldiers do not appear as soldiers similar to the actual terracotta army, but rather as statues with glowing eyes and swords and shields.
★ Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' multi-layered fantasy satire on Western views of China ''Interesting Times'' features a final battle in which the Wizzard [sic] Rincewind takes charge of a buried terracotta army using a very science-fictiony helmet and boots with heads-up display and too many icons instead of the magic expected in the series. He gets stuck in the mud.
★ The '' card "Mausoleum of the Emperor" is supposed to be reminiscent of the First Emperor's tomb; as such, when Astor Phoenix uses it in the ''Yu-Gi-Oh! GX'' anime, representations of the Terracotta Army are used as "tributes" to bring out his high-level monsters.
★ In '' Lara meets a collector who has some terracotta soldiers and comments that they are the biggest he has seen. They then have a fight in the same room and most of the warriors get destroyed.
Further reading
★ Debainne-Francfort, Corrine. "The Search for Ancient China," (Harry N. Abrams Inc. Pub. 1999): 91-99.
★ Dillon, Michael(ed). "China: A Cultural and Historical Dictionary," (Curzon Press, 1998): 196.
★ Ledderose, Lothar. "A Magic Army for the Emperor." from "Ten Thousand Things : Module and Mass Production in Chinese Art" ed. Lothar Ledderose, (Princeton UP, 2000): 51-73.
★ Perkins, Dorothy. "Encyclopedia of China: The Essential Reference to China, Its History and Culture," (Roundtable Press, 1999): 517-518.
★ Richards, Jack C. Interchange 2, Third Edition, (Cambridge University Press, 2005):80.
★ Macmanus, Caitlyn. oxford university specialty in Chinas history.
References
1. China's Terracotta Tomb Hides Mystery, ''AOL'', 2 July 2007.
2. World: Asia-Pacific Pollution threat to terracotta army
3. Air pollution harms terracotta warriors
4. http://www.danwei.org/media_and_advertising/is_the_terracotta_army_in_dang.php
5. Los Guerreros de Xian llegan a Madrid, ''El Mundo'', 28 September 2004.
6. Story on German student infiltrating exhibit on BBC website
7. [2](video)
External links
★ UNESCO description of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
★ Charles Billich created the Terracotta warriors traditional symbol as the official turtle image of the 2008 Beijing Bid. Billich's images are represented on a collection of 16 postage stamps.
★ Museum of Terracotta Army Travel Guide and Photo Gallery
★ The only museum outside China dedicated to Terracotta warriors - featured in Britain
★ Skeptic World - Xian Terracotta Army
★ People's Daily article on the Terracotta Army
★ Wide angle shot of the Terracotta Army (requires Quicktime)!
★ Video from the Terracotta Army pit no. 1 - gives general view of the spot and details on the statues
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