The ancient Chinese civilization gave the world many architectural masterpieces and outstanding works of art. Some of them are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of these greatest works of Chinese culture is the famous Terracotta Army, which amazes with its scale and unique technique of execution.
The Terracotta Army is a sculpture of warriors, horses and several chariots discovered in 1974 east of Mount Lishan in the area of the Chinese city of Xi'an. Local residents drilled an artesian well and accidentally made an amazing find. The sculptures of warriors are made in full growth, horses and other objects are also made in full size. The horses weigh more than 200 kg, and the warriors weigh about 135 kg. Researchers believe that these statues were buried together with the first emperor of the Qin dynasty named Qin Shi Huang in 210-209 BC. To date, more than 8,000 sculptures of soldiers have been discovered and, most likely, this is not the final figure. Despite the fact that instead of living warriors, as the ancient ritual prescribes, copies of his soldiers went to the afterlife together with the emperor, the remains of his subjects were still found here.
Clay sculptures rested in crypts from 4 to 8 meters deep. Each warrior has his own weapons and uniforms. Among them are privates, archers, infantry, officers, horsemen. All figures are handmade and have individual facial features. Among the 8,000 soldiers, no two are exactly alike. Details of clothing, weapons, ammunition for horses are made with amazing precision and skill. The found chariots amaze with their splendor.
Not only warriors were found in the burial, there are also musicians, acrobats and officials.
The material from which the sculptures are made is interesting. Chinese scientists have found that large sculptures, mainly chariots and horses, were made nearby, from the material of Mount Lishan. And the lighter statues of warriors, apparently, were brought from another area.
The terracotta army raises a lot of questions from its researchers. Perhaps the most important of these is the technology for making sculptures. In the course of the research, it was found that first the clay sculpture was given the desired shape, and then it was fired. After firing, the soldiers were glazed and painted. But no clay kilns were found nearby, and the production of such a huge number of statues would require not one kiln, but a whole production complex. This level of development does not correspond to the level of the Chinese civilization at that time.
Another question that haunts researchers is the bronze weapon that the warriors are equipped with. All metal objects are coated with a special anti-corrosion alloy containing chromium. But this method of metal processing was developed no more than 100 years ago. How did the ancient Chinese know such advanced technology? In addition, the very fact of the manufacture of weapons raises doubts. More than ten thousand pieces of weapons of the highest quality cannot be made in an artisanal way.
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The third point is the amazing splendor of the chariots. Their design and decoration were made by the highest level masters, whose existence also does not fit into those time frames. Richly adorned with precious metals, plant and animal motifs, and executed with the greatest precision, the chariots are outstanding works of Chinese art.
According to researchers, some time after the burial, the tomb of the emperor was plundered, having lost its rich decoration. Further, a fire broke out in the crypts, and the clay sculptures were covered with collapsed soil.
According to legend, the emperor's mausoleum is four times larger than the area on which research is being conducted today. But the project leaders are in no hurry with further excavations. A legend has also survived according to which the emperor in his afterlife must be accompanied by rivers of mercury. This will not be a very pleasant find, so the leaders of the excavation are in no hurry to continue work until the surrounding area has been thoroughly examined. Another reason why the work has been temporarily suspended is the preservation of the sculptures themselves. The fact is that once they are in the air, they begin to collapse. Therefore, before digging out the rest, the researchers decided to develop a technology for the preservation of those already found.
Most of the statues found are located in a museum complex, specially built near the place of discovery, so that numerous tourists can admire the Terracotta Army. Thousands of soldiers, along with their horses, seemed to be frozen in time. Warriors can be looked at for hours - each figure is magnificent and unique. Their faces are full of courage and determination. And it seems, if need be, they will move into battle, following their emperor.