Xi'an+and+the+Terra+Cotta+Soldiers

The Emperor and His Terra Cotta Soldiers –** //Fact Sheet from Sandra Williams on NCTAN China, Vietnam Trip 2008// ** Qin Shih Huang ** **  -   Royal names found that also refer to him Shi Huang Ti, - Ch’in Shih Huang Ti, Qin Shi Huang Di, or   o   When he unified China, he considered his achievement surpassing the legendary “ San Huang” ( three emperors) and Wu Di ( five sovereigns) so he created the title “Huangdi” and “Shi” and together they mean “the first” §  They were considered perfect rulers and had power and very long lives §  //“Di”// refers to the Supreme God in Heaven, creator of the world §  // He believed he was emperor of the whole world, just like the ancient Romans believed they were, too // o  The name means the first emperor of China (Qin) o  He was hoping his descendants would continue to rule and continue the names. Next would be called Er Shi Huangdi or second emperor of China. He was Hu Hai ... ruled only four years before the dynasty fell -  Was born Ying Zheng - Son of “King” Zhuang Xiang  - ruler of State of Qin o  Born in the kingdom of Zhao, therefore he received the last name Zhao, which is a branch of “Ying” o  He was born in the Chinese month of Zhēng – the first month of the Chinese calendar, so he received the given name Zheng. -  Became king at the age of 13 but did not fully take over from his courtiers until age 22 -  First Unified China - He declared himself China’s first sovereign emperor. Ruling it from 221 -210 B.C.E - a.k.a the Qin Dynasty which lasted only 4 years after his death in 210 B.C.E. to 206 B.C.E   -   Builder of the first Great Wall – joined smaller walls into a continuous wall. Very little left of this Great Wall. -  Created many extravagant palaces -  Burned books valued by Confucius and buried Confucian scholars alive -  Abolished feudalism and created 36 commanderies ruled by civilian governors which could easily be dismissed. Civilian and military powers were separated. Governors had to move often to limit a build up of power. -  Standardized the Chinese units of measurements such as weights and measures, and currency. One unique example was making the axles on carts standardized so they all could run smoothly in the ruts of new roads. -  He also developed a network of roads and canals that connected the provinces -  The Chinese script was unified -  Buried in 210 B.C (BCE) under an earth mound 15 stories high called Mount Li.( tumulus) -The land from Lishan to Mount Hua is shaped like a dragon according to traditional geomancy. The imperial tomb is the eye of the dragon. See more below under **Tomb**. Today it is 22 miles from Xian -  2,200 years ago -  He symbolically revived the tradition of live burial of servants, warriors, women, etc. in tombs with their emperor- he used replicas – although the last workers were entombed with the emperors body to guard the secret passage route. It is thought that his barren royal concubines also were entombed with him. -  He also believed that some people could escape from death, either by living for a very long time or being reborn, so he sent people to find drugs for longevity. -  Died of illness at age 50 while inspecting a tour of his empire. Could possibly have swallowed too much mercury. He believed that a “mercury pill” could give him power and make him immortal. It took two months to travel back to the palace to be buried. His death was kept a secret on the travel back. **Tomb** speculations of content- Is it still there or was it desecrated -  not unearthed yet -  He ordered the building of his tomb to begin the moment he became king at the age of 13, because he wished to retain his riches in the afterlife -  This was going to be his subterranean palace where he could spend eternity - two square enclosure walls 65 feet high – gates on N,S, E, W orientations – towers on corners -  The walls no longer exist – foundations remain Details of the tomb were recorded in the Shiji, an ancient historical record. It was written by a Hans Dynasty historian names Ssu-ma Ch’ien ( a century after the emperor’s death)- his name also written as Sima Qian -  Over 700,000 conscripts worked for 36 – 38 years on the project One source says they were convicts) Many died due to construction hardships   o   Workers had to dig through three subterranean streams,   o   Poured molten copper for the outer coffin   o   Made models for the palaces, pavilions, and offices so it would look like a miniature world   o   Created a heavenly constellation (pearls and jewels) above and made it look like earth regions below   o   The created candles of whale oil so they would burn for the longest possible time    -   A wooden dragon – beast of good fortune- bears the copper coffin across a miniature china    -   The Yellow River and the Yangtze were reproduced in quicksilver/ mercury by some mechanical means and made to flow into a miniature ocean    -   According to him the tomb was looted and desecrated in 206 B.C.(BCE) by rebellious peasants…..poor and hated his cruelty -  Invaders would have to pass booby traps of hair trigger crossbows to reach the prize -  There are approximately 600 satellite pits and tombs around the mausoleum of the emperor -  The tumulus is not as high as it was originally due to erosion by wind and rain height now is 1390 meters **Terra Cotta Soldiers/Horses/ Chariots and more** -  Discovered in 1974 by peasants digging a well -   Less than a mile away from the emperor’s tomb -  Only some pits opened so far – 3 pits are the terra cotta soldiers, – pit 4 is empty – probably means the project was left unfinished -  One pit contains the emperor’s bronze chariots and horses…symbolizing his journey of his spirit into the world of the dead – half size scale models – made from bronze and cast bullion – there are 1720 gold and silver pieces on the chariots -  Some pits contained rare birds and animals …for emperor’s hunting -  Stable pit was found for horses. -  Some pits are mass burial of workers … no coffins yet for them -  The Terra Cotta (clay) Warriors are the emperor’s guardian army for the afterlife – they were organized according to their military conventions of the time o  Pit #1 – largest and oblong – more than 6000 warriors and horses in this pit - floor is paved with black brick - all in battle line formation – §  has tunic infantrymen – wear knee- length tunic, short trousers, puttees and curved shoes,- would carry crossbows in their hands. Their hair is topknots – some have beards. Clothing was designed for movement §  has armored soldiers – each would have had a sword in left hand – heavily armored with a brown cape, red cap and green shin guards o  Pit #2 – 6,000 square meters – L-shaped sections – 1,000 warriors, 500 horses and 89 wooden chariots §  First group 334 archers some in heavy clad armor kneel in the front line position - other stand and shoot over the first lines heads §  Second 64 chariots – has and archer and flanked by infantrymen §  Third is in center of pit – 19 war chariots – 100 warriors – includes messengers §  Fourth section has chariots, horses and men, - each chariot carries two charioteers and a scout - L  ife size, most are 5ft 11 inches tall – their lower part of the body is solid while their upper part is hollow. -  Some found intact, others were shattered by looters just 4 years after the emperor’s burial -  Many weapons were stolen by the looters due to them being real metal (bronze) -  The chariots were real wood and bronze chariots – it took eight years to restore them – discovered in 1980 -  The figures was buried in a huge roofed gallery – -  Nearly 8,000 figures -  Colorful painted armor but faded now -  Iron farm tools, cooking pots, large ceramic soup bowls, silk and linen fabrics, and jade pieces are stored nearby -  No two look alike because it is believed to be models after each actual soldier -  Facial expressions – fierce, proud confident and almost on the verge of a smile – very life like – all eyes are focused on the distant -  Horses stand four abreast -  Sculptured animals include oxen, dogs, sheep and pigs.
 * trip photos are at http://[|www.flickr.com/photos/sandrawilliams]
 * Emperor (259-210 B.C.E.)

Speculation about other unearthed areas -  These soldiers are East of the tomb, what might be North, South and West of the tomb -  Maybe an array of life sized figures of officials, ministers, and ladies of the imperial court. -  Since the soldiers carry real weapons, could these have real jade, jewels and silk