Qin Shihuangdi’s Tomb

Did You Know? Qin was convinced that he could find the elixir of life and become immortal. –Unfortunately he died at 50. Qin was obsessed by a fear of death. No ministers were allowed to mention the word “death” in his presence. In order to delay the news of Qin’s death, his ministers had his decomposing body driven around in his chariot as if he were still on an inspection tour.

Mausoleum and surrounding tombs and pits

Did You Know? The location of Qin’s Mausoleum was selected for it’s good FengShui. The ideal FengShui site: –Faces south –Has rising land to the east –Has softly undulating hills to the west –Has a stream in the front –Has mountains in the back –Is open to breezes in the front –Is dry –Has no white ants Good FengShui at a burial site is important, because ancestors must be appeased with the best of everything.

Burial mound of Qin’s mausoleum

Fast Facts Construction took 38 years from 247 to 208 B.C. A man named ShaoFu was in charge of construction. At the peak of construction there were 720,000 conscripted workers.

1.Burial mound 2.Inner wall burial mound 3.Outer wall burial mound 4.The resting hall 5.The side hall 6.Pits of rare birds and animals 7.Stable pits 8.Pit of two sets of bronze chariots and horses 9.Pit of stone armor and helmets 10.Pit of terra-cotta acrobats 11.Pit of terra-cotta civil officials Map of mausoleum and surrounding tombs and pits

Fast Facts Qin’s wives who did not have children were killed and buried with him. Many officials and tomb craftsmen were also buried with Qin to protect the secrets of the tomb. Qin believed that life after death was a continuation of life on earth.

Excavation site of the bronze chariot and horses

Fast Facts These chariots were deluxe sedans for the emperor when he went on inspection tours in the afterlife. The teeth engraved in the mouths of the horses indicate that the horses are all six years old. That is the best age for draught horses.

Restoring bronze chariot no. 1

No. 1 Bronze Chariot and Horses

No. 2 Bronze Chariot and Horses

Fast Facts These pottery figures were discovered in the recently uncovered pit of the acrobats. They are thought to be entertainment for the emperor’s afterlife. They are only wearing short skirts and their limbs are placed in ways suggesting movement. The bronze tripod was also found in this pit.

Restored pottery acrobats

A bronze tripod

Fast Facts Stone armor was not practical for use. Real armor was made out of iron or leather These might have been especially made for his tomb. A large number were found thrown in the pit and only one helmet and suit have been restored.

Excavation site of the pit of stone armor and helmets

A restored stone armor suitA restored stone armor helmet

Pit 1 Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses about 1.5 km from the mausoleum

The first discovery at the east end of pit 1 in 1974… note that there are NO standing figures… everything is in pieces

An interior panorama of the exhibition hall (pit 1 today)

Drawing of a cross-section of pit 1 showing the timber framework that was constructed over the corridors housing the terra-cotta figures. Side view of pit 1

Fast Facts An estimated 6,000 figures are in pit 1, mostly infantry, it has not all been uncovered. Pit 1 is 230 meters long (two football fields), 62 meters wide, and 5 meters deep (two stories).

Remnants of a chariot in Pit 1

Did You Know? There are actually three pits of warriors uncovered so far. They cover approximately 22,000 square meters and house an estimated 8,000 figures. Pit1 houses the main force of the army Pit 2 houses a complex battle formation used for supporting the main force Pit 3 contains the army headquarters

Did You Know? The practical battle formation of the main army in pit 1 –Front (eastern end) 3 rows of vanguards, 68 per row, originally equipped with bows and crossbows –Immediately behind, 30 chariots each drawn by four horses and armored/unarmored soldiers, originally held weapons (spears and halberds) –Around outer edge one row of soldiers facing out (south, north, and rear) to guard sides and rear, origianlly armed with cross bows Army facing east where the traditional enemies of Qin live

Side View Vanguards in Pit 1

Bronze halbeard and spear with inscriptions, cross bow and bronze arrows

Did You Know? The hardness of the terra-cotta figures indicates that they were fired at temperatures at around 1,000 deg centigrade. The bodies, heads, and arms are hollow, while the legs are solid to support the weight of the figure. After each statue was made the craftsmen were ordered to put their names on the figure as a method of quality control. So far 80 individual craftsmen have been identified. No two figures so far have the same features or expression. The average figure is 1.8 meters high and weighs 110 to 300 kilograms.

Individualized facial characteristics of the terra-cotta warriors

Hair styles of terra-cotta warriors

Did You Know? There are seven main categories of rank identified –High ranking officer and officer – distinguished by larger size, more ornate armor/headgear, small tabs or sashes on uniform –Armored and unarmored soldier –Charioteer – distinguished by fully armored sleeves –Cavalryman – distinguished by tight fitting helmet with chin strap, tight fitting uniform –Kneeling archer –Standing archer All the figures were originally brightly painted with details that floods fire and time have erased.

A terra-cotta general A standing archer

A kneeling archer The situation of kneeling archer when excavated.

Charioteer Full armor along arms Warriors originally painted

Cavalryman Tight fitting hat with strap under chin

Mass graves found in village southwest of mausoleum

Excavation site of builders’ tombs. They are believed to workers buried during or after the construction.