Qin Shi Huang, who was the ruler of the Qin kingdom, was the first in the world to form a centralized power structure. To strengthen the integrity of the state, he undertook various major transformations. During his reign, the construction of a national road network was begun. In addition, he banned Confucianism, announced the burning of all books not allowed by the government.
Brief historical background
Qin Shi Huang was born in 259 BC. e., in the first month of the Chinese calendar year. In this regard, he was given the name Zheng, which means "first." The birthplace of the ruler was Handan. There, his father was a hostage and his mother a concubine. Qin Shi Huang initiated a wide construction activity. Palaces and temples were erected in all cities of the empire, so, 270 palaces were built in the vicinity of Chang'an. The rooms in them were all decorated with canopies and curtains. Everywhere there lived the most beautiful concubines. Apart from the people closest to the ruler, no one knew where he was at any given moment. Qin Shi Huang died in 210 BC. e. (at 48 years old). He was buried in one of the forty-meter mounds, but his remains have not been found to this day, since excavations in this territory have been prohibited for some time.
Terracotta Army of China
Long before his death, the ruler began the construction of a luxurious, huge burial complex in Mount Lishan. The construction of the building lasted for thirty-eight years. At the time, it was revealed that this complex has the shape of a square. The length of the structure is 350 meters from south to north. The length from east to west is 345 m. The memorial has a height of 76 meters. The total area of the burial complex is 56 square meters. km. Three powerful crypts were found on the territory of the memorial. The terracotta army is buried in them, the war cavalry, which recreates the real army. It was completed according to all state rules of that time.
Mystery of the Terracotta Army
The buried figures, which had been underground for over two millennia, were discovered by accident in March 1974. At that time, the peasants were digging a well and stumbled upon the figures of horses and soldiers in the growth of a man. And there were several thousand of them. This was the same terracotta army of the emperor, buried next to him. She had to fight for her ruler and in the realm of death. Qin Shi Huang believed that he would rule his state even from the afterlife. But he, as he believed, was indispensable soldiers. Therefore, the Terracotta Army was created. At first, the ruler was going to bury four thousand young soldiers with him. But the advisers were able to convince him not to. Living people were to be replaced by clay statues. It was assumed that the souls of all the soldiers who died in battles would move into them. At least there is such a legend. But for greater reliability, it was decided to double the number of the ruler's defenders, that is, there were 8 thousand of them.
What did the statues look like?
The army of terracotta warriors was like a real one. All the statues were made with amazing diligence and jewelry precision. None of the figures are alike. The faces of the soldiers show the multinationality of the middle state. So, the terracotta army of China consisted not only of the direct inhabitants of the country. Among the soldiers were Mongols, and Tibetans, and Uighurs, and representatives of other nationalities. Every detail of clothing was made in accordance with that period. Armor, shoes are reproduced in the fashion of that time with amazing accuracy.
galleries
First, a hall with an area of 210 x 60 meters appears before your eyes. It was laid at a depth of 4.9 m. There are about 6 thousand infantrymen here. The statues are located in 11 parallel corridors. In front of the footmen are war chariots, which, unlike clay human and horse figures, were originally made of wood. That is why there is practically nothing left of them. The infantrymen, located around them, are armed with six-meter bamboo spears, using which the soldiers blocked the enemy's path to the horses. Signal drums and bells were once placed on two chariots, by which orders were given and the direction of the attack was determined. Soldiers are also stationed in the northern and eastern corridors, guarding the approaches from the flanks to the main parts. They, like most foot soldiers, lack shields. The fact is that the terracotta army of Qin Shi Huang consisted only of fearless and strong soldiers who, not being afraid of death, did not wear either shields or armor. On the heads of the officers, as a rule, there were caps, and the ordinary soldiers had false hair in the form of buns. In the 2nd hall there are about 1400 figures of horses and soldiers. The second gallery is located about twenty meters from the first. The soldiers of the 2nd hall are significantly different from those in the first. There are only 68 figures in the third gallery. Presumably, these are staff officers and batmen.
How were the figures made?
According to technology, the torso was molded first. From below, the statue was monolithic and massive, respectively. It is on this lower part that the entire center of gravity falls. From above, the body of the figure is hollow. After the body was burned, the arms and head were attached to it. Finally, the sculptor sculpted the face, covering the head with a thin additional layer of clay. Each soldier had his own individual. The hairstyle of each warrior was also accurately conveyed. Back then, hair was the subject heightened attention. The figures were fired for several days at a constantly maintained temperature not lower than a thousand degrees. Thanks to such a long firing, the clay, hardening, became like granite. After that, the best artists applied paint to the statues. It should be said that the terracotta army was painted in natural colors. But over the course of two millennia, the colors nevertheless became faded, and in some places disappeared completely.
Other finds
Bronze chariots with horses harnessed to them found in the burial complex were thus popular vehicle, which was used by the ruler, the staff of courtiers and concubines. Weapons, linen and silk items, etc., should also be noted among the items found. The swords are well preserved. Their blades are still as sharp as in those ancient times, and it is simply impossible to touch them with a bare hand - a cut immediately remains. The eleven corridors of the main hall are separated by thick walls. Ancient masters laid out whole tree trunks on top, which they covered with mats. On top of this, a thirty-centimeter layer of cement was poured. Three meters of earth were laid on it. All this was supposed to provide reliable protection to the deceased ruler in the kingdom of the living. But, unfortunately, the calculation failed.
Peasant uprising
A few years after the death of their ruler, the Chinese terracotta army was defeated. His son Er ascended the throne. The inept actions of the heir caused a flurry of popular discontent. A peasant revolt broke out - an uprising that the ruler's advisers feared so much. There was no one to suppress the discontent of the people: Er Shi Huangdi was weak-willed and weak. The indignant rebels plundered and then burned the immobile army. It should be said that these actions were not so much an act of vandalism as a practical decision of the rioters. The fact is that before his death, the first ruler ordered the destruction of all existing weapons, except for the one that the soldiers of the terracotta army were supposed to have. As a result, there were no weapons in the state, but 8,000 excellent sets of new bows, arrows, swords, spears, and shields were buried underground. As a result, the rebels, having seized weapons from the army of the first emperor, defeated the government troops. The mediocre young heir to the throne was killed by his courtiers.
Conclusion
For many centuries, various attempts were made to find treasures in the burial complex, a great many expeditions were undertaken. Moreover, both archaeologists and ordinary robbers participated in them. It should be said that many paid for these attempts with their lives. According to eyewitnesses, human skeletons are found every now and then among the excavations. Today, many values have changed. For example, the clay from which the walls are made can be comparable in value to gold. One brick from that ancient era is worth several tens of thousands of dollars.
To the east of Xi'an, in the province of Shaanxi, there is a military garrison of many thousands, this is a wonder of the world, known as the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Underground burials include at least 8,099 terracotta statues of Chinese warriors and their horses. They were honored to be buried together with the first emperor of Qin - Qin Shi Huang in 210-209. BC
In the district of Xian, Chinese farmers have long found clay shards, but they were afraid to touch them, and even more so to pick them up, because they believed that strange shards were magical amulets and a source of various troubles. But already in 1974 everything was explained.
Once a farmer Yan Ji Wang began to dig a well on his plot of land. He did not find water, but he found something else. Yan Ji Wang stumbled upon a figure ancient warrior at a depth of 5 meters. The find of the farmer shocked archaeologists. and subsequent excavations have shown that she is not alone. Several thousand warriors have been discovered by scientists. Terracotta soldiers have been buried in the ground for over 2,000 years since the death of the famous unifier of China, Qin Shi Huang.
Mount Lishan is a man-made Chinese necropolis. Material for terracotta warriors was taken here.
The construction of the terracotta army began in 247 BC. e., more than 700,000 artisans and workers took part in their construction, and it took place, as art historians suggest, for 38 years. Qin Shi Huang was interred in 201 BC. e. According to the Chinese historian Sima Qianyu, jewelry and handicrafts were also buried with him.
The horses and warriors of the Terracotta Army in China were created in different areas. Scientists have found that the horses were made near Mount Lishan, most likely to facilitate their transportation (the weight of a horse is approximately 200 kg), the figures of warriors are much lighter, about 135 kg, but the place of their creation is still unknown.
Later, on the site of a grand find, a city arose. Three pavilions protect the terracotta funeral army from bad weather and vandalism. Excavations of the terracotta hordes have been going on for about 40 years, but their end is not expected.
Terracotta is yellow or red clay that has been fired at a constant temperature of at least 1000 degrees for several days.
Yang Ji Wang found Qin Shi Huang's first, main battle row, which contains approximately 6,000 terracotta figures. In 1980, archaeologists unearthed a second column of 2,000 statues. Later, in 1994, the General Staff was discovered - a cluster of top military commanders.
About 700,000 craftsmen were involved in the creation of the imperial army. But why did the ancient Chinese need to spend effort and money to create this grandiose composition? And what other secrets does the land of this area keep?
The protracted bloody period of the seven rival kingdoms ended with the unconditional victory of the Qin dynasty. The young and ambitious ruler Yin Ren subjugated all the kingdoms one by one. Their capitals Zhao, Han, Wei, Yin, Chun and Qi were razed to the ground. For the first time in history, China has achieved unity. Qin Shi Huang appointed himself emperor and immediately moved to reform and strengthen power. He took up the matter with the sophistication and scope inherent in a tyrant.
He set himself the goal of destroying any possibility of China's fragmentation and civil strife in the future. The Chinese Empire was divided into 36 districts, each district was assigned two governors (civilian and military). The emperor tightened all standards: this concerned money, measures of length and weight, writing, construction, and even the width of the axle for carts. The standard set in the Qin kingdom served as a model.
The previous history of China was declared of little relevance. In 213 BC the books and ancient chronicles of the conquered dynasties were set on fire. More than 460 scientists were subject to execution, who were suspected of disloyalty to the new imperial regime.
Sometimes it may seem that there is nothing mysterious and unknown left on our planet - progress has managed to get to everything. However, it is not. And let incredulous skeptics prove otherwise, the world is full of mysteries. One of them - the terracotta army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang or, as it is also called, the eighth wonder of the world.
As often happens, the discovery of this mysterious place humanity is indebted to chance. If in 1974 the peasants from Shaanxi province had not begun to build a new well and had not found the first material evidence of the existence of the army, we would not know to this day that a man-made terracotta army is under the layers of soil. The surprise of the locals, who stumbled upon a lot of clay shards instead of an aquifer, aroused the genuine interest of archaeologists, and excavations soon began. Working with colossal perseverance and no less caution, scientists soon managed to extract the first artifacts to the surface - full-sized ancient statues of Chinese warriors and horses, made of baked clay.
The first wave of excavations took place in 1978-1984, followed a year later by the second - from 1985 to 1986, and finally, in 2009, the research was resumed and continues to this day. As a result, scientists were able to discover thousands of masterfully executed statues - each with its own characteristic facial expression, worked out to the smallest detail.
Mysterious army of clay
Terracotta is fired clay that has a red color. Brown color.
After discovering the first traces of artifacts, scientists soon figured out the origin of the statues. All of them were made by order of Qin Shi Huang, the great unifier of the land of China, which was fragmented at that time, during whose government continued. Qin Shi Huang remained in the annals of history as a formidable and cruel, but at the same time, a wise ruler. And it is he who is considered the first ruler of the empire.
Shihuandi decided to build his tomb a year after he ascended the throne, and it happened early - already at the age of twelve. The construction of the future mausoleum began in 245 BC, took 38 years, and as a result turned into the largest and grandest tomb in the world - the underworld.
As a commander, Qin Shi Huang believed that the army would be useful to him even after death. For this, long before his future death, he began training his escorts. As evidenced by excavations that took place in different parts of the world, burial after the death of the rulers of their retinue was found almost everywhere. However, the Chinese emperor decided to take a step further. He did not take the lives of the soldiers of his own army (since such large-scale victims could threaten an uprising of his subjects), but he ordered to make a terracotta army - an analogue of the military - and bury them instead of living people.
Creation features
The fine craftsmanship that marks each of the figures leaves no doubt: the best sculptors and artists of the country were engaged in the production of statues. In addition, it can be stated with absolute certainty that the sculptors created clay soldiers, referring to nature. This is proved by the fact that the clay army warriors of China have different features and facial expressions. Eight thousand figures, completely copying real people, were executed with only one artistic license - they are taller than the average Chinese, averaging just under two meters. Most likely, the creators of the sculptures took this step to make their creations look more severe and intimidating.
The statues of the terracotta army were made of clay, after which they were fired at a temperature equal to a thousand degrees Celsius. The result was stone-hard figures with a characteristic terracotta hue.
After the sculptures were ready, they were painted with mineral dyes in bright colors. It is a pity, but time has deprived us of the opportunity to see the colorful outfits of warriors, since fragments of colors over the centuries have been preserved only on some figures. This difficulty is being corrected by the restorers, who are now engaged in the restoration of the clay army - as a result, visitors to the museum complex can see the statues painted in bright colors.
On the example of the clay army, one can judge the military hierarchy of that time. So, in the retinue of the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, we see foot soldiers, archers, horsemen and their horses. All warriors and horses are lined up in strict columns, as befits a battle formation, and face east. Some of the soldiers stand with their own weapons, while some of them were found unarmed. According to historians, a certain percentage of bows, swords and spears were stolen during one of the uprisings, but most of the weapons still survived. The exception is wooden details weapons, while some metal ones even retained their sharpness. 
As we have already noted, all the sculptures of the terracotta army were made by hand, but this was done both in the vicinity of the mausoleum under construction and in other regions of the country. The exception was the figures of horses - they were made in the immediate vicinity of the tomb, since the weight of each of them is two hundred kilograms. In addition to soldiers and cavalry, chariots were also found - a hundred of these military carts, which have metal in their composition, have been preserved, while wooden chariots have completely decayed.
See the man-made army with your own eyes
The army of Qin Shi Huang faithfully carried out its silent service for many centuries. Now, in the place where it once rested, a huge museum has grown, which is under the protection of UNESCO and is considered one of the most famous sights that clearly demonstrate the ancient story of China.
The mystery of the Terracotta Army attracts hundreds of tourists from different countries. Along with the Great Wall of China, another creation of the first Chinese emperor, this place is amazing, and strings of visitors are drawn here every day. To get to the museum complex, you need to get to the village of Qinling, which is thirty kilometers from Xi'an. You can do this either on your own car or on a bus that starts from the station square of Xi'an.
As you might guess, there are a lot of people who want to see the clay warriors. Therefore, if there is no desire to spend half a day in line, it is recommended to go on an excursion on a weekday, and it is better to open. There are three covered hangars on the territory of the museum complex., in which visitors can see excavated buildings, sculptures of warriors and horses - you need to look at them from a height. Also on the territory there is a museum, which houses the exhibits of the exhibition. After getting acquainted with the terracotta army, you can relax a bit in the park located on the territory or go to the cinema - it shows a film about the terracotta army and its emperor.
The people of China still remember and revere the venerable Qin Shi Huangdi (259-210 B.C.). This is the first emperor of China and a contemporary of Hannibal. It was under him that the Great Wall of China was erected. But the formidable lord became famous not only for this great building. His imagination, will and energy knew no bounds. Therefore, it was on the orders of this amazing person that roads were built throughout the country and a terracotta army was created.
All these works were the result of the unity of the Middle Kingdom. The lord had inexhaustible human resources under his control. He officially ascended the throne in 221 BC. e, and already in 210 BC. e. left the mortal world. That is, a person was in power for only 11 years, but he did so much that would be enough for a whole century. The remains of the emperor were buried in a luxurious tomb, and a huge necropolis was erected around it. It is located in the modern province of Liaoning. This is the eastern part of China in the south of Manchuria (historical region). The province itself borders North Korea.
Terracotta army consists of 8 thousand clay sculptures
Mysteries of the Terracotta Army
The first clay warriors were discovered within the boundaries of the necropolis in 1974. Large-scale excavations were carried out intermittently from 1978 to 1986. At present, archaeological work is ongoing, but the clay army, amazing to the human imagination, is in full force anyone can watch. The figures stand in crypts at a distance of 1.5 km from the tomb of the formidable emperor.
Each clay figure is 2 meters tall and weighs 300 kg.. In total there are 8 thousand such figures. It is noteworthy that all the statues have completely different faces. No face is the same. This was checked using a special computer program, but it did not find any similarities. human traits reflected on clay are different. As if they were living people, not faceless figures.
Now let's imagine how much labor and people had to be expended to create such a large number of huge clay sculptures. It also raises the question of the fact that in that distant time covered with a romantic haze, it was generally not customary to bury the rulers with sculptures. Together with the deceased leader, the corpses of his subjects were placed in the grave. Moreover, the process of killing was very humane.
The faces of the sculptures are completely different
People were not slaughtered like pigs, and the doomed did not rush in horror around the closed room, filling the air with terrible screams. On the contrary, it was considered a great honor to die with the lord. ancient man believed in the afterlife, and therefore dreamed of getting into the realm of shadows along with his leader, whom he faithfully served during his lifetime.
Each of the associates drank a cup of wine, in which there was a large dose of arsenic. After that, he died with a smile on his lips and happiness in his eyes. This method of killing has already been proven in our time. In numerous human remains found in the tombs, experts found a huge concentration of arsenic. So now it is clear how the courtiers and numerous wives of the formidable rulers died.
According to the logic of things, Qin Shi Huangdi was supposed to take living people to the next world, but for some reason he limited himself to clay sculptures. It is explained simply. Numerous wars exhausted the country, and the population decreased significantly. There were few people, and the emperor did not practice mass killing. After all, he thought not only about his ambitions, but also about the future of the country. Therefore, such an original solution was found. It was believed that clay figures would gain souls and represent formidable army in those regions in which the emperor will be after his death.
The height of each sculpture reaches 2 meters,
weight equals 300 kg
How were the terracotta warriors made?
Naturally, looking at 8,000 clay figures, experts wondered how they were made? Try to mold a 2-meter statue weighing 300 kg out of clay. First of all, you need the right material. Any clay will not work, as it simply cannot withstand such a weight, and the sculpture will fall apart. Therefore, for the manufacture of warriors used special red clay. In terms of its chemical and physical parameters, it fully corresponded to the technical tasks.
How ancient masters sculpted sculptures? It is most reasonable to assume that special standard forms were made, and warriors were already created according to them. This would greatly speed up the process. But experts have found that sculptures were made by winding clay. That is, a strip was molded, fit into place, and another strip lay on it. This explains the fact that each clay warrior has strictly individual forms, and even the clothes are depicted differently. Only arms, legs, and ears were made in standard matrices.
Each craftsman who participated in the manufacturing process had his own individual stamp, which he put on the product. They found 87 of them. So, 87 professional craftsmen worked. Each of them had at least 10 apprentices. Consequently, approximately 1000 people were involved in the work.
And one more nuance - temperature regime. If there are large temperature differences, then the clay will not be able to dry, and the product will fall apart. Nowadays, heaters are placed in the premises. They maintain the right temperature. But at that time there was nothing like that, and the temperature was unstable. In summer, the heat was plus 30 degrees Celsius, and in winter the ground was frozen to minus 10 degrees Celsius.
The ancient masters found a way out here too. The entire army was molded in caves, where the temperature regime was constant and amounted to 20-25 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the clay dries evenly, and the product acquires the desired hardness.
This is what the warriors of the terracotta army looked like 2200 years ago
The next step was varnishing the sculptures.. Nowadays, all warriors are gray, so they look unpresentable. The point here is that when a huge burial was opened, the varnish almost immediately gave up moisture, dried up and crumbled. It would be possible, of course, to protect the sculptures with plastic, but they simply did not have time to think of it before. Therefore, people are not allowed to see the magnificence and beauty that their distant ancestors admired.
Lacquer in this case is a hard resin, which initially has a brown color. It turns black as it dries. For its manufacture, ancient masters used the juice of a lacquer tree. But not anyone, but only the one who is more than 6 years old. The sap of 25 trees was needed to varnish one warrior. In this case, the harmfulness of production should be taken into account. Workers inhaled fumes, which, of course, subsequently affected their health.
Thus, the clay sculptures were covered with black lacquer on top. But that's not all. On top of the varnish, the warriors were painted with multi-colored paint. This is indicated by small flakes of paint found near the sculptures. Moreover, it was the rarest paint - Chinese purple. It is on a par with the Egyptian blue. But in my own way chemical composition these 2 unique paints are different. Egyptian blue is based on calcium, while Chinese violet is based on barium.
The entire terracotta army was made in 11 years. This is just the time of the reign of the formidable emperor. He rested with peace of mind and went to another world at the head of a strong numerous army. It can be assumed that in the world of shadows, the lord, relying on military strength, did many glorious deeds, but we will learn about this only after we ourselves leave the sublunar world.
Sometimes some archaeological discoveries seriously change the course. That is why historians are so reverent about this kind of discoveries. Today we will tell you about the Terracotta Army.
Terracotta Army of China
In the 70s of the 20th century, during archaeological sites in China, the clay terracotta army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang was found. This find immediately became a worldwide sensation, so it was not in vain that some dubbed it.
Today, the Terracotta Army is one of the main attractions of China, along with.
We bring to your attention Interesting Facts about this extraordinary ancient burial.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang's army
In 1974, near the city of Xi'an, a Terracotta Army made of clay was discovered. It was located next to the tomb of the emperor, and according to the beliefs of the ancient Chinese, it was supposed to protect him in the afterlife.
Interestingly, the Terracotta Army consisted of about 8,100 life-sized clay warriors and horses. In addition to terracotta sculptures, tens of thousands of bronze weapons were also found.
Formation of terracotta foot soldiers
The Clay Army was buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang in 210 BC. e. In addition to these figures, archaeologists have found the remains of 70 thousand workers with their families, as well as the bodies of 48 concubines of the emperor.
The examination showed that all these people were buried alive in the grave. Most likely, this was done in order to hide the secret of the production of this army.
Creation
Terracotta statues were buried together with the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty - Qin Shi Huang (united China and connected all the links of the Great Wall) in 210-209 BC. e.
Sima Qian (hereditary historiographer of the Han Dynasty) reports that a year after ascending the throne in 246 BC. e. 13-year-old Ying Zheng (the future Qin Shi Huang) began to build his own tomb.
According to his plan, the statues were supposed to accompany him after death, and, probably, provide him with the opportunity to satisfy his power ambitions in the other world in the same way as he did in life.
The construction of the mausoleum required the efforts of more than 700 thousand workers and artisans and lasted 38 years. The perimeter of the outer wall of the burial is 6 km.
Although instead of living warriors, contrary to tradition, their clay copies were buried with the emperor, according to various estimates, up to 70 thousand workers were also buried along with their families.
Basic information
The statues were discovered in March 1974 by local farmers while drilling an artesian well east of Mount Lishan.
Mount Lishan is a man-made necropolis of the first Emperor Qin. The material for some of the statues was taken from this one.
The first stage of excavations took place from 1978 to 1984. The second - from 1985 to 1986.
Figures recovered from the excavation and collected in parts On June 13, 2009, the third stage of the excavations began. The army of clay warriors rests in battle formation in parallel crypts 1.5 km east of the emperor's tomb.
All these crypts were found at a depth of 4 to 8 m. It is also striking that all the statues are unique, that is, each figure has its own shape, equipment and face. Among these warriors there are privates, archers, cavalrymen and commanders-in-chief.
In relative proximity to the burial site, archaeologists have discovered statues of musicians, acrobats and statesmen.
Experts from China found that some of the figures, as well as horses and chariots, were made of clay. But with the rest of the warriors, the situation is much more complicated. It is still not known for certain where they were brought from. Each human statue weighs about 130 kg.
Scientists today are puzzled over how these statues were made. It is definitely clear that initially the figures were given one form or another, and then they were fired. But how?
The fact is that nearby archaeologists did not find a single kiln for firing. And this is not surprising, because at that time people did not yet have such highly developed technologies necessary for the manufacture of such sculptures. In addition, each statue is covered with a special glaze and painted with paint.
Unbelievable but true
There is one more, no less interesting riddle: why for more than 2000 years the weapon not only did not fade, but did not even become dull? The examination showed that the composition of all metal objects contains chromium.
Notice how the faces of these two soldiers differ from each other. Each statue is unique. But how could he be there if they learned how to make it only at the beginning of the 20th century? Did the ancient Chinese have such high technology? But all units of military weapons made at the highest level.
One of the most striking finds associated with the terracotta army is found near the mausoleum 2 bronze chariots.
They are drawn by four beautiful horses, which were obviously intended for the emperor's horse rides in the other world.
Each of these wagons is made from over 3,000 elements, which individually are true works of art. On the chariots you can see drawings of the Phoenix bird, dragon and.
In addition to bronze, some details are made of silver and gold. Among all the discovered artifacts found in China throughout history, these wagons are the most magnificent.
Soon, after the death of the emperor, a fire broke out in the tomb, as a result of which it was plundered. According to ancient chronicles, it contained a large number of jewelry, coins and other valuables.
A number of historians believe that this tomb was only a fiction, and the true burial place of Qin Shi Huang has not yet been found. The Terracotta Army itself was subsequently covered with soil.
In general, the Terracotta Army can be considered the 8th wonder of the world. What is the number of artifacts found worth, not to mention how accurately they are made with jewelry.
Pay attention to these photos:
Terracotta Warriors once painted. Today, only a few statues contain small amounts of paint. Also pay attention to the details of the sole of the warrior. 
Terracotta soldier with horse Popularity and importance
In 1987, at the 11th session of UNESCO, the Terracotta Army was included in the World Heritage List as part of the complex "Tomb of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty."
The tomb complex of Qin Shi Huang was the first of the Chinese sites included in this list. A visit to the Terracotta Army is often included in the program of visiting foreign heads of state in China.
In 1984, the exposition was visited by President Ronald Reagan and his wife. He regarded this historical monument as "the great miracle that belongs to mankind."
In 1986, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain visited with Prince Philip. In 1998, the monument was visited by US President Bill Clinton and his family, and in 2004 by the President.
Terracotta Army today
The excavations of the Terracotta Army have not been completely stopped until now, as the Chinese authorities are doing everything possible to identify and preserve the legacy of their ancestors. However, at the official level, excavations are not currently carried out.
The reason for the suspension of archaeological research is that, according to legend, in afterlife rivers of mercury must accompany the emperor.
Just in case, scientists decided to check this version, so as not to run into trouble. It may very well be that many more interesting and amazing artifacts are hidden underground. Therefore, even more new and amazing discoveries can await us ahead.
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