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Terracotta Army- This is a burial, 8099 full-size terracotta statues of Chinese warriors and their horses, discovered in 1974 near the tomb of the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang near the city of Xi'an.

The mausoleum of the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (III century BC) is located at the foot of Mount Lishan near the city of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, almost in the very center of China. This is the largest mausoleum in the world, it covers an area of ​​more than 2 million square meters. meters. The records indicate that the perimeter of the mound was 2.5 kilometers, and its height reached 166 meters (now the preserved earthen hill, resembling a pyramid, is 560 meters long, 528 meters wide and 34 meters high).

Mount Lishan is a man-made necropolis of the first Emperor Qin. The construction of the mausoleum began in 247 BC. e., required the efforts of more than 700 thousand workers and artisans and lasted 38 years. Initially, the Mausoleum included several halls, both underground and above ground. Emperor Qin Shi Huang was buried in the largest of these underground "palaces" in 210 BC. e. with its Terracotta Army, more than 8 thousand sculptures.

The figures of terracotta warriors themselves are made in full size. All of them are lined up in straight lines, creating the effect of being ready for battle. The material for the figures was taken directly from the mountain in which the mausoleum was built.

However, according to research, it was concluded that the warriors and horses of the Terracotta Army were fashioned in other areas of China.

The researchers found that the horses were made right next to the necropolis, probably to facilitate their transportation (the weight of the horse sculpture is about 200 kilograms), the statues of warriors are lighter, their weight is about 135 kilograms, and the place of their manufacture is still unknown.

For a long time, Chinese landowners from the vicinity of Xi'an found clay shards of a very strange shape. In 1974, a simple Chinese peasant Yan Jivan decided to dig a well. He never got to the water, but he discovered something more. At a depth of 5 meters, he came across a crypt with life-sized terracotta figures of warriors in full combat gear.

Scientists began excavations and found a whole army. Several thousand clay figures have lain in the ground for over 2 thousand years. That is how much time has passed since the death of the first emperor of the Celestial Empire, Qin Shi Huang, the legendary unifier of China.

The young ruler subjugated all the provinces one by one. The capitals of the kingdoms of Zhao, Wei, Han, Chun, Yin and Qi were razed to the ground. For the first time in history, China was unified. Qin Shi Huang declared himself emperor and immediately set about state reforms and strengthening the vertical of power. The new overlord set to work with the scope and sophistication inherent in a tyrant. Qin Shi Huang tried to destroy the very possibility of fragmentation and civil strife in the future. The empire was divided into 36 districts, in each of which two governors were appointed - military and civil. Qin Shi Huang introduced strict standards for everything: money, measures of weight and length, writing, construction, even the width of the axle for carts, so that wagons could easily get from one end of the mighty empire to the other. Naturally, the standards of the Qin kingdom were taken as a model. All previous history has been declared irrelevant. In 213 BC the ancient chronicles and books of all conquered kingdoms were burned. More than 460 scientists suspected of disloyalty to the new regime were executed.

First chinese emperor was convinced that the Qin dynasty would rule forever, so he decided to surround the kingdom with attributes befitting eternity. First of all, this is the Great Wall of China. Then, surrounded by the city of the dead, the tomb of the monarch, which archaeologists still do not dare to excavate. And finally, the Terracotta Army as part of this grandiose complex.

According to ancient Chinese tradition, Qin Shi Huang planned to bury 4,000 of his own warriors with him. However, in order to avoid a possible rebellion, the emperor's advisers managed to convince the monarch to get by with clay statues, the retinue of which was doubled - up to 8 thousand figures.

The figures of warriors are real works of art, as they were made individually, manually and using various techniques. First, the body was molded. The lower part of the statue was monolithic and, accordingly, massive. It is on it that the center of gravity falls. The top is hollow. The head and arms were attached to the body after it had been fired in the kiln. At the end, the sculptor covered the head with an additional layer of clay and sculpted the face, giving it an individual expression. That is why each warrior is distinguished by his individual appearance, the authenticity of the details of clothing and ammunition. The sculptor accurately conveyed the hairstyle of each warrior, which was the subject of special attention at that time. The firing of the figures lasted several days, at a constant temperature not lower than 1,000 degrees Celsius. As a result, the clay from which the warriors were fashioned became as strong as granite.

Among the warriors there are not only Chinese, but also Mongols, Uighurs, Tibetans and many others. All details of clothing or hairstyle strictly correspond to the fashion of that time. Shoes, armor are reproduced with amazing accuracy. After giving the required shape, the statues were baked and covered with a special organic glaze, over which paint was applied. The presented warriors differ in rank (officers, ordinary soldiers), as well as in the type of weapon (spear, crossbow or sword). In addition to clay statues, in 1980, two bronze chariots were discovered 20 meters from the tomb of the emperor, each of which consists of more than 300 parts. The chariots are harnessed by four horses, the harness of which contains gold and silver elements.

Shortly after the death of the emperor, his tomb was plundered, and the fire caused by the robbers led to the collapse of the ceiling, burying the clay army of many thousands in wet ground for more than two thousand years. Although the plundered tomb could actually be just one of the “dummies” created to divert eyes, the real tomb still needs to be looked for.

According to scientists, the Terracotta Army was made from nature: after death, the soul of a warrior had to move into a clay body.

The Terracotta Army is a clear illustration of past greatness imperial army: 210 archers are in front, behind them are warriors with halberds and spears, as well as 35 horse-drawn war chariots.

All of them are facing east, where the kingdoms that were defeated by the emperor were located. Perhaps the only unreliability of the statues is associated with their unreasonably high growth (1.9-1.95 m). It is possible that this is an attempt to emphasize the greatness of the monarch buried nearby.

The emperor ordered the construction of the tomb to begin in 246 BC. e., shortly after his accession to the throne of the kingdom of Qin; At the same time, work began on the creation of the Terracotta Army.

The army of clay warriors rests in battle formation in parallel crypts 1.5 kilometers east of the tomb of the emperor himself. The latter, in turn, is located 33 km east of Xian, the modern administrative center of Shaanxi Province, one of the central provinces of China.

The terracotta army, buried with its ruler, was supposed to provide him with the opportunity to satisfy his imperious habits in the other world, just as he did in life. And although instead of living warriors, contrary to the usual tradition, their clay copies were buried with the emperor, we should not forget that in addition to the statues of warriors, according to various estimates, up to 70 thousand workers along with their families, as well as about three thousand concubines were buried with Qin. And these people, unlike the soldiers, were quite real.

Today, historical excavations are safely sheltered from vandals and bad weather by three large pavilions. A whole city arose on the site of a historical find. The excavations have been going on for more than 25 years, and there is no end in sight. Yang Jivan stumbled upon Qin Shi Huang's first and, apparently, the main battle formation - about 6,000 pieces. In 1980, scientists unearthed a second column - about 2,000 statues. In 1994, an underground general staff was discovered - a meeting of top military leaders.

Eleven passages of the main excavation are separated by thick walls. From above, the ancient masters put solid tree trunks, mats on them, then 30 cm of cement and 3 m of earth. All this was supposed to reliably protect the dead emperor in the realm of the living. Alas, the calculation was not justified. Within a few years, such a mighty army suffered a crushing defeat. After the death of Qin Shi Huang Ding, his son, the weak and weak-willed Er Shi Huang Ding, ascended the throne. His inept actions on the throne caused a storm of popular indignation.

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In March 1974, Chinese peasants digging a well accidentally discovered the now legendary Terracotta Army - from 7 to 9 thousand clay warriors weighing 135 kilograms each, made of baked clay and painted. The creation of such a unique army is connected with the belief of the Chinese in the afterlife and the tradition that existed even before our era of burial, together with the ruler of the country, of all his palace and subjects.

According to various estimates, the Terracotta Army "consists" from 7 to 9 thousand clay warriors.

An army of terracotta warriors was buried with Qin Shi Huang, their ruler and the first emperor of China in 210-209 BC. e., and should probably testify to the progressiveness and humanism of the ruler, since his predecessors preferred to bury a living army with them to settle in the other world.

However, it should be mentioned that in addition to the terracotta army with the emperor, up to 70 thousand workers were buried with their families and about three thousand concubines of the emperor were still alive.

Today, the entire clay army is stored in crypts 1.5 kilometers from the burial place of its ruler.

It is believed that the facial features of each of the warriors were copied from real living people.

All this army is only a part of the grandiose project of the majestic tomb of the Chinese emperor, over the construction of which about 700 thousand people worked. Here, on the ground, a whole miniature China was built with its rivers, mountains and palaces. Thus, the emperor seemed to continue to rule his country even after death.

Terracotta Army Museum

Whichever hotel you stay in, you will probably be offered an excursion program to visit the Terracotta Army Museum and the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

The museum itself, which also serves as a springboard for archaeological sites, represents 4 huge pits in which the statues are located. The warriors of the Terracotta Army differ even in rank - among them there are generals, officers and ordinary soldiers, in the presence of weapons and even in nationality. It is worth looking closely at these faces, as it becomes clear that among the warriors there are representatives of various nations.

In the shop at the museum for 2500 USD you can buy a full-size copy of any warrior you like, a small figurine, of course, is much cheaper.

Do not miss the opportunity to visit the 360-degree panoramic cinema located right in the museum, which shows a 20-minute film about the creation of the army.

Here you will meet the same peasant who unearthed the first warrior. Today, he gladly signs autographs and even allows you to take pictures with him for a small fee. However, experienced travelers claim that the "pioneer" of the Terracotta Army changes periodically. Such is the mysterious East.

Prices on the page are for April 2019.

Terracotta Army, built over 2000 years ago, is called the eighth wonder of the world. A huge army of almost 8,000 life-size warriors, relatively well preserved thanks to terracotta (baked clay). It serves as a magnificent example of the artistic skill of ancient sculptors.

What is the Terracotta Army?

Here are represented not only the infantry, but also the cavalry.

But also chariots.

excavation area

The Terracotta Army is not the whole find. This is only a small part of the vast mausoleum with an area of ​​about 100 square meters. km. Hundreds of underground chambers are filled with sculptures of warriors, birds, animals, acrobats, officials and musicians.

There are also graves where people and horses were buried alive. Warriors, created 2200 years ago, are surrounded by mysterious burial mounds. The excavations of this gigantic underground complex have changed the perception of ancient China.

The value of the terracotta army

Before the discovery of the Terracotta Army, we knew little about the Qin Empire, and only now have we got a complete picture of how the warriors dressed and what weapons they used. There was no knowledge, because almost all the writing of that time was destroyed. The oldest surviving description of the Qin Empire is dated almost 100 years after the Terracotta Army was made. It tells about a despotic empire where scientists are buried alive. However, no ancient source mentions terracotta warriors. They spent over 2000 years in darkness and oblivion. The very fact of their existence was forgotten.

How was the terracotta army discovered?

In 1974, in the Chinese province of Shaanxi, a local resident Yan and his neighbors decided to dig a well. While digging in the ground, they came across something that at first they thought was the rim of a pot.

And then they found bronze objects.
Then they began to come across fragments of some clay products.

After they stumbled upon a statue - they opened top part armor and hand. At first they thought it was an ancient temple or tomb. In China, finding a grave is a bad omen. As it turned out, they made the main archaeological discovery in the last 100 years, since the find belonged to the era of the first emperor.

After some time, other fragments of terracotta were discovered - parts of the legs, bodies without a head, and even figures of horses. For so long, they were simply crushed by the earth. All this once rested in three gigantic rooms.

From discovery to museum

This was followed by a long process of restoration, accompanied by numerous discoveries.

After that, the warriors were installed in the main hall. To date, there are over 1100 sculptures. But this is only a part of those 6,000 soldiers who were buried here. More than 1000 warriors stood in the second and third halls.

The director of the museum claims that new discoveries are constantly being made. Excavations are underway at five sites. In 2009, new excavations began in the main hall. Hundreds of terracotta actors and acrobats have been discovered.

In addition to broken statues, swords, spearheads and arrowheads were found.

What do we know about the creation of the Terracotta Army?

All this was done in 37 years, exactly as many rules of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor and founder of the Qin dynasty. He became ruler in 246 BC. e. Most likely, it was then that work began on this mausoleum. And this is surprising - after all, for 200 years, the Qin kingdom waged continuous wars with six neighboring states.

The first emperor defeated them and became the ruler of the state, where millions of inhabitants lived. In size, this power was comparable to the Roman Empire. He introduced a single judicial system and currency throughout China and connected the cities with a network of roads, completed the construction of the first (not to be confused with the wall built less than 500 years ago). The state that we today call China owes its appearance to the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

The Chinese naturally find it hard to come to terms with the idea that he was a cruel tyrant under whose rule hundreds of thousands of people died. Sima Qian, a writer and historian of the time, describes some of these atrocities - the massacre of prisoners of war, the burning of books, and the death penalty for criticism. On the other hand, he united China - various states with different languages were bound together by force.

The construction of a tomb of unprecedented size was to be greatest achievement emperor. Studies show that the territory of the mausoleum is larger than originally thought. Since the opening of the main hall, the excavation area has grown greatly. Today they are carried out on an area of ​​more than 50 square meters. km.

In the very center of this territory, the emperor ordered the erection of a tomb for himself.
Judging by the chronicles (due to the high concentration of mercury, excavations were not carried out in the tomb), it was located under a mound, the height of which reached 115 m.

Below him, in the center of a huge tomb, stood a bronze coffin with the body of the emperor, who supposedly died from mercury, which he took to gain immortality.

On the floor is a map of rivers and seas, where mercury played the role of water.

The ceiling is decorated with images of celestial bodies.

There is also a model of the relief of China.

The emperor believed that he could take all this with him to the afterlife. Death is just a rebirth - says a well-known proverb. All these people, animals and objects were supposed to serve the emperor after death.

The emperor rests in the very center of the vast complex, in the same luxury to which he was accustomed in life.

Hundreds of horse graves have also been discovered. Scientists have counted about 600 of them. There are also statues of musicians, acrobats, weightlifters, as well as scientists and scribes. This is not an easy burial place - this is the pleasure palace of the emperor. His spirit could even travel in two chariots. Each was harnessed by four bronze horses, richly decorated with harness. To protect his own person, he ordered the terracotta army to be placed on the eastern side, as a barrier between the tomb and the conquered states.

In ancient times, it was believed that the spirits of the emperor's countless victims would seek retribution in the afterlife. The security of the emperor's spirit was to be ensured by the terracotta warriors buried with their master.

How was the terracotta army created?

Looking at the damaged statues sheds some light on their creation. Each of them was sculpted by craftsmen by hand. From their fragments and fragments, one can see how torso sculptors applied clay layer by layer.

In this photo, the marks are visible - the master spread his fingers and began to level the clay. On average, each warrior weighs about 200 kg.

Arms, hands and legs were cast. For the legs, molds intended for the production of pipes were used. It turned out many different legs and arms, which were combined to achieve diversity. The empty mold was filled with clay, covered and left to dry before firing.

Careful examination convinced scientists that all the faces of the statues are different. Some warriors have fair skin, others darker.

The vegetation on the faces is different.

They also differ in the shape of the eyes.

Hairstyles are also infinitely different.

There is no doubt that all this is strictly individual. But are there repetitions? The shape of the human ear is as inimitable and unique as fingerprints.

Studies have shown that the shape of the ears of terracotta warriors is different, so the warriors differ from each other in the same way as other people. Apparently, the emperor wished that a real army guarded his peace. However, only the most skillful sculptors could give individuality to so many warriors.

Approximately so patiently, manually, warriors were sculpted over 2000 years ago. It took about 3 days to make one warrior.

Over the years of careful restoration, museumification and study, scientists have come to the conclusion that at the time of creation, the terracotta army did not look like it does today. Faded traces of dyes were found on the clay bodies, hands and heads. This indicates that the warriors were once brightly painted.

This is what they looked like 2200 years ago. Glittering rows of war chariots and painted statues, fully armed.

Even today, terracotta warriors look intimidating, but once they were terrifying. How were they armed - with real weapons or fake ones (dummy)? The wooden elements are rotten. Only the metal remnants of the warriors' weapons remained.

How are they produced and used?

Scientists conducted an examination, which showed that the weapon was sharpened. Even now it looks quite sharp. This means that the mass sharpening of weapons by machine methods was carried out in the era of the Qin Dynasty.

Terracotta army weapons

The blade of the weapon of the terracotta warriors in an enlarged view.

Only one tool could leave such smooth traces - a grindstone, on which metal blades are sharpened. There are no notches or large scratches on the blades, which means that these weapons, most likely, have never been used, that is, they were created specifically for the terracotta army.

Terracotta warriors stand in strict order of battle.

In the center is infantry armed with massive halberds. In ancient China, this weapon was almost indispensable in combat and was successfully used even against cavalry.

Along with the pike and halberd, the ancient Chinese troops used a wide range of weapons, including spears and long swords. But there was one type of weapon in the use of which the Chinese had no equal - bows. Written sources testify that they invented the crossbow long before the establishment of the Qin Empire. He became the perfect weapon of his era.

The original crossbows have not been preserved, only bronze parts found on the floor have remained of them. This is a working copy. They took a place in the center of the infantry for their protection.

Arrowheads are of great importance - more than 40 thousand of them were found in excavations. Scientists have found that they consist of bronze - an artificial alloy of copper and tin. It would be more logical to assume that the tips are made from a single piece of bronze. But there is more tin in the tip than in the handle, so that it does not break on impact. The higher the tin content, the stronger the tip. The presence of a combination of two alloys shows the high level of professionalism of the ancient masters.

Who created the terracotta army?

The terrible secret of the construction of the tomb was discovered by a find at the far western border of the underground complex. Many graves of workers who died from overwork were found here. Next to each skeleton lay a clay tablet with the name of the deceased.

Here is an example of a typical worker's plate. He borrowed money from the state and could not repay the debt on time, and then he came to the construction site to work, and as a result found his death.
Forced labor created the Qin empire itself.

Scientists were able to understand the conditions of labor organization and control of workers:

1. Different teams of workers worked on the production of weapons.

2. There was quality control, i.e. the product was labeled with the workers who made the product. If it turned out to be of poor quality, then the workers were punished.
Over 450 inscriptions on the figures of soldiers confirm that the workers were divided into brigades. The names of more than 90 foremen have been preserved, each of whom led 10 foremen. They were recruited in palace and private workshops.

About control

In the Qin Empire, not only theft and murder were considered a crime, but also unprofessional work. Failure to meet high quality requirements was punished instantly and mercilessly: the perpetrators were tortured and maimed, and some were executed. This system was called "legism" and it was terrible. Historiographer Sima Qian described a society where fear reigned, and it was divided into small cells, where everyone followed everyone, and responsibility was collective. Every 5-10 houses formed their own cell. For failure to report, all residents were punished without exception. This system came from the army and was applied on a state scale, i.e. artisans and blacksmiths in the empire were subject to its laws.

Criticism

There is a version that the terracotta army is not real. That is, allegedly the Chinese forged this army to attract tourists. But this version is implausible, because:

1. Back in 1987, the army was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This list just doesn't fit.

2. The find was made in 1974, during the regime of Mao Zedong. At that time there was no market economy, tourism and other benefits of modern civilization. Accordingly, there was no point in forging something.

3. Terracotta warriors are constantly being researched by various scientists and archaeologists from various countries. The fake would have been discovered sooner or later.

Museum

The Terracotta Army Museum was built from 1979 to 1994. this moment there are three exhibition halls with a total area of ​​about 190,000 sq.m.
Museum visitors are of two types. Some see beauty in details - they can approach one warrior and admire the expression of his face for a long time, as if alive or with a hairstyle. Others are struck by the scale of the structure and its secrets. Therefore, if there is an opportunity, we recommend visiting this place.

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 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, in contrast to the clay human and horse figures, the chariots 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.

Having died, this ruler literally took with him to the grave the greatness and prosperity of the empire he created...

“If you die, you won’t take anything with you,” says folk wisdom. But the first Chinese emperor did not think so, he intended to take everything that was possible to the next world. Even the army. The mystery of the Terracotta Army still haunts the minds of scientists today.

In March 1974, in Shaanxi province, one and a half kilometers from the majestic burial mound of the ancient Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang, local peasants were digging a well. They searched for water, but found a life-sized clay head and torso.

Later, archaeologists removed from the ground and reassembled hundreds of statues of terracotta warriors and horses.

The clay army, over 2200 years old, was known as a new wonder of the world, after which its soldiers "traveled" half the world, attracting a record number of visitors to the museums where they exhibited.

Ruled in the III century BC. e. the first unifier of China (the name Qin Shi Huang, which he adopted as a result of his conquests, is translated as “the first heavenly ruler from the house of Qin”) desperately did not want to die. The ancient Chinese historian Sima Qian wrote that the emperor repeatedly instructed his subjects to find a drug that would give eternal life and couldn't stand talking about death. However, the ruler also took care not to need anything if he still had to go to the afterlife.

Qin Shi Huang took with him to the grave "models" of his empire and palace, statues of officials, artists, servants. And an army of thousands of terracotta soldiers and officers.

Ideal State

The burial of the First Emperor is located according to feng shui: according to this teaching, you need to bury, as well as settle, where the qi energy lingers, that is, between mountains and water

Terracotta Army

Castle. The ruins on the upper level of the Inner City are the remains of a palace used not for ceremonies, but for feasts and recreation. Such palaces were often built in ancient Chinese burial complexes.

Remains of caretakers' houses. Officials lived here, whose duty it was to maintain order in the burial complex.

Chariots. Two bronze chariots with four horses were found in a square pit - an open combat chariot (in battle such were in the vanguard of the Qin army) and equipped with a closed cabin (probably for inspection trips around the country). The chariots and horses are half their natural size.

"Pond". Clay figures of servants, musicians, as well as bronze statues of birds that live near the water were found here: cranes (an ancient Chinese symbol of longevity), geese and swans.

Mound. Below it are the tomb of Qin Shi Huang and the underground palace. What is in them remains a mystery: the authorities do not give permission for large-scale excavations, fearing to damage the treasures.

Cemetery builders. More than a hundred graves, from one to 14 bodies each. Ancient Chinese historians reported that more than 700 thousand people were sent to the construction. Mostly state slaves who fell into bondage for debts or misconduct, or prisoners of war, worked here. When they were buried, pieces of tiles were placed over the remains with information about the deceased: name, place of residence, rank and the crime committed.

"Palace Menagerie". Statues of servants, bowls and collars, skeletons of wild animals and birds have been found here. This is probably an imitation of a menagerie where rare animals were kept for hunting.

Pit officials. Terracotta figures of officials 1.8–1.9 m high and charioteers, the remains of a wooden chariot and bones of horses were found here.

"Stable"- pits in which the skeletons of imperial horses, ceramic vessels for food and statues of grooms were found.

Graves of the nobility. According to researchers, possible rivals of Qin Shi Huang's son, who were executed by him after coming to power, are buried here: high dignitaries and half-brothers and sisters.

Pits with acrobats. They found 11 terracotta figures of acrobats and equipment for performances: tripods, spears, bronze vessels.

Structural solution

Qin Shi Huang wanted something strange from his subjects: clay figurines were placed in graves before him, but never before. Ancient China did not make realistic life-size sculptures of people. I had to develop the technology of a new "mass production"

Each warrior has individual facial features, and the shape of the ears is also different.

Initially, the figures were brightly colored, the colors corresponded to ranks and divisions.

Terracotta army pits

They are located on the approaches to the mound: clay warriors, as it were, are put up to protect it. The earthen walls of the pits were reinforced with wooden beams, the floor was paved with gray bricks.

The ceilings above the premises were made of logs, mats were laid on them, a layer of clay to protect against water, and several layers of rammed earth.

More than 8,000 terracotta figures have been found in three pits, and this is not the limit.

In 1980, precious bronze two-wheeled chariots driven by four horses were found in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang.

These statues are half life size and each weigh almost a full ton, and the ammunition is inlaid with gold and silver.

All details are made with precision to the smallest detail.

There are foot soldiers, archers, crossbowmen and charioteers. Together they form a replica of the Chinese imperial army of the 2nd century BC.

The warriors were buried along with the weapons, which became a valuable evidence of the military technologies of that time. Finely crafted chrome-plated bronze swords are still sharp, but they are over 2,000 years old.

The richness of the army of terracotta warriors is also emphasized by the fact that, judging by the traces of paint, each statue was once painted.

Pit layout

(1) Pit #1. The largest one is its area of ​​13,029 sq.m. About 6,000 warriors in battle order, horses and chariots.

(2) Pit #2- Military camp. Remains of chariots, figures of horses and soldiers.

(3) Pit #3- "Command Headquarters". It has only one chariot with four horses, statues of officers and soldiers of the "guard".

(4) Pit #4 empty - perhaps they simply did not have time to fill it.

However, the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang has not yet revealed all its secrets. The mystery of the terracotta army has not yet been fully disclosed, since, according to scientists, thousands more statues are hidden underground, and the emperor’s tomb itself has not yet been excavated.

Opening the tomb itself is simply not safe - soil analysis revealed an increased content of mercury.

And Sima Qian wrote that by order of Qin Shi Huang, a map of the empire was depicted on the floor of the tomb, and the “rivers” and “seas” were filled with mercury on it.

After the death of Qin Shi Huang in 210 B.C. e. uprisings broke out all over the country. As a result, four years later, the dynasty, which, according to his plan, was supposed to rule for 10,000 years, was overthrown.

It turned out that, having died, this ruler literally took with him to the grave the greatness and prosperity of the empire he created ...