In 246BC at the age of 13, Qin Shi Huang ascended the throne to become the first emperor of China. Soon after, he began building his mausoleum. Located in Xian, the site lay dormant for some two thousand years until it was discovered in 1974 by four farmers digging a well. It has fascinated the world ever since.
Some 8,000 warriors, 400 horses, 100 chariots, and 10,000 weapons have been found. This clay army was made to protect the emperor in the underworld.
When you “meet” the warriors, you are introduced to individuals. Even though 8 molds were used to shape the heads, craftsmen spent hours carving unique features into each. Tiny details such as the shape of the eyes and the gaze of the warrior express different temperaments, character, and mental states. Different face shapes match facial features.
No warrior is like another. Facial features, hair styles, head gear, dressing are as individual as if these were real people. The military rank of each warrior is clear from the way he is dressed.
Of all the warriors found, only one was intact. He is a kneeling archer and commands an elite place in the museum where he can be enjoyed up close and personal by all. Imagine all he’s seen.
