The tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi is filled with terracotta soldiers because the emperor wanted to be accompanied by an army in the afterlife according to the beliefs of the time.
During the time of Qin Shi Huangdi, people believed that death was merely a step towards another world. However, a powerful emperor does not enter the afterlife without precautions! To ensure a tranquil eternity and intact authority, Qin Shi Huangdi had an entire life-sized army made of terracotta constructed. These soldiers, archers, horses, and chariots were meant to accompany him after his death to ensure his protection and perpetuate his power in the other world. It provided him with a personal guard, even after leaving the Earth. It was not just symbolic: at that time, people truly imagined that these terracotta warriors would come to life in the afterlife to defend him.
The thousands of terracotta soldiers of Qin Shi Huangdi are not placed there by chance: they directly represent his military power. This life-sized army, lined up in precise formation and equipped with various weapons, clearly shows that the emperor commanded a formidable force. It also illustrates the idea of unification of the country under his authority, after having defeated numerous rival kingdoms. These statues of warriors with unique faces symbolize each conquered region, united under a single banner. Through these representations, Qin Shi Huangdi left a strong mark on his reign: he asserted both his role as an indispensable military leader and his success in imposing for the first time a truly unified China.
In ancient China, it was believed that the afterlife resembled life on Earth. People continued their activities, maintaining their social status: there was no question for the emperor to lead a simple existence after his death. Thus, Qin Shi Huangdi wanted to rule there as he did here, with his court, his servants, and especially his army. These thousands of terracotta warriors were meant to help him maintain his authority and also to fend off potential threats in the beyond. Each soldier, with his individualized and realistic features, represented a kind of spiritual "life insurance" to guarantee the sovereign an eternity of power and prestige.
The tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi was not just decorative; it was also designed to fend off curious onlookers or thieves tempted to get too close. The thousands of terracotta soldiers were lined up like a defensive army ready to spring into action, with real, very sharp weapons placed in their hands (swords, spears, crossbows…). And as if that wasn’t enough, the site was also riddled with deadly traps, including sharp spikes or hidden mechanisms intended to kill or injure any intruder. Everything was therefore carefully planned to sustainably protect the eternal peace of the emperor from potential looters.
Having these thousands of terracotta soldiers built was no small feat! The workshops of Qin Shi Huangdi were already using an ultra-sophisticated method of mass production, with molds for the bodies that they then combined with intricately hand-carved details for each face. The artisans fully mastered the complex techniques of firing terracotta, with enormous kilns and very precise temperature control. Not to mention that they were also skilled in painting with colored pigments, because yes, originally, these statues had vibrant and ultra-realistic colors. This stunning result in both technical and aesthetic terms clearly reflects how advanced the era of Qin Shi Huangdi was in its technical mastery, as well as in its artistic ambitions.
Recent analyses suggest that some weapons buried with soldiers, such as swords and arrowheads, were coated with a thin layer of chrome to protect them from corrosion, a surprisingly advanced technique for the time.
To date, approximately 8,000 terracotta soldiers have been discovered, but many more are likely still buried in unexcavated pits around the tomb.
The soldiers were originally painted with bright colors made from natural pigments; however, these colors faded within minutes of exposure to air after excavation.
In addition to the warriors, the burial complex also contains life-sized bronze chariots and horses, reflecting the importance of transportation and cavalry in the army of Qin Shi Huangdi.
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