China’s Eternal Army

One of the most amazing archaeological discoveries of any century was made by Chinese laborers excavating wells near Xi’an in the northern province of Shaanxi in March 1974.  Buried in the reddish soil of the Yellow River (Huang He) valley, they uncovered the first of a vast army of 7,000 life-sized terracotta figures.  These were part of the 20 sq. mile (50 km2) funerary compound of King Zheng of Qin (259-210 BC), who in 221 united the Chinese warring states into an empire, assuming the name of Shi Huangdi, or ‘First Emperor”.

According to the historian Sima Qian, writing a century after Zheng’s death, work began on his tomb soon after he became King of Qin in 246.  More than 700,000 laborers were drafted.  They dug tunnels through three underground streams, lining the burial chamber with copper to prevent flooding.  Inside the chamber, they created a miniature version of china, building models of palaces and temples.  The Yellow and Yangtze Rivers were reproduced in mercury, and mechanically made to flow into the miniature ocean.  Birds of gold and silver, and pine trees of carved jade were set beneath the sky sparkling with assemblage of pearls.

To guard these treasures from thieves, Shi Huangdi ordered the setting of traps, including crossbows that automatically shoot at anyone attempting to enter the tomb.  Whether this proved a successful deterrent is not yet known, as the huge mound covering the emperor’s chamber has never been excavated.  The glorious treasures described by Sima Qian may still be in place, awaiting discovery.

The purpose of the terracotta army, which stands about a mile (1.6 km.) away from the burial chamber, was to protect the emperor in the afterlife.  Each figure was perhaps modeled from life, since no two are exactly the same.  Originally brightly painted, they have hollow heads and torsos, though their legs are solid to bear the weight.  The figures are deployed in the corridors of underground chambers, arranged as the Qin army would have been as if ready to charge into battle.

In front stand 200 bowmen and crossbowmen.  These were the Qin army’s equivalent of modern artillery.   The heavy bolts of the crossbows would have ripped straight through the shields of the Greek and Macedonian soldiers of the time.  

The swords and spears of the terracotta soldiers—most of which had long since been looted by grave robbers—were made of an unusual alloy.  Thirteen elements went into its composition including copper, tin, nickel, magnesium and cobalt.  The metal was treated with a preservative so effective that the weapons have not corroded for more than twenty two centuries. 

A second chamber holds 1,400 cavalry and 90 chariots.  A third may have held the commander in chief together with his chariots and guard.  However, none of these chambers has been fully excavated. Certainly, Qin Shi Huangdi’s terracotta army still possesses many secrets to reveal.

Yet, despite Shi Huangdi’s grandiose preparations—his terracotta army and the Great Wall of china—his dynasty fell within five years of his death, a victim of his own tyranny.

More Chinese history articles:

• China’s Eternal Army of Qin Shihuangdi
• The Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
• The Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)
• The Tang Dynasty (618-906)  
• The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)