The Immortalized Army of Qin Shi Huang – Xi’an
By Irene Butler
 Our
senses were juddered with the stunning magnitude of this memorial to one man
- 6,000 life-size soldiers in battle formation facing the entrance of the
enormous earthen vault. The terracotta warriors, created to guard the
tomb of Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BC), have been proclaimed the 8th wonder of
the world and the most important archaeological find of the 20th century.
Intrigued by the rare artistry in a
documentary seen several years previous, my husband Rick and I are now
enraptured by the display before us. This ancient army fills three
consecutive vaults (unromantically called Pit #1, 2 and 3) covering an area
of 16,300 square meters, located 35 km east of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province.
Excavating this national treasure began in 1974 after pieces of terra cotta
were fortuitously discovered by peasants digging a well, and the site was
opened to the public in 1979.
The power wielded by Qin, albeit
mostly by oppression and brutality, was of titanic proportions. Born Ying
Zhen, after uniting the six warring states for the first time in history, he
proclaimed himself, Qin Shi Huang, the “First Emperor of China.” The
building of the original Great Wall was another major feat attributed to his
dictate. But his passion was executing plans for his splendid necropolis,
which he started soon after succeeding his father at the age of 13. An
estimated 720,000 labourers and artisans toiled during his 38-year rule,
many of them dying during the construction.
 Proceeding slowly past the
six-thousand-strong warriors in the first and largest pit,
we marvelled at the unique countenance of each warrior. Some are proud or
fierce; others are contemplative or have a sliver of a smile. They are also
different ages, are a variety of girths; some have beards, and many have locks
swept up into ornate top-knots. The speculation is that they were modelled after Qin Shi Huang’s own fighting men. Bulky belted knee-high tunics over short
trousers, puttees winding from ankle to knee, and creases worn across the toes
of curved shoes complete the clay-carved uniforms. The once flesh coloured skin,
and brightly coloured garb have succumbed to the ravishment of time.
 Moving on to Pit #2, we note the
specialization of the 1,000 soldiers. Three hundred and thirty-four are archers.
The front half are in a kneeling position and clad with heavy armour, the
remainder stand behind poised to shoot over their heads. I became captivated by
the numerous horses that followed, some beside charioteers primed to drive the
64 clay chariots or beside cavalrymen standing to the left of their bridles. The
bulging muscular flanks of these steeds strained forward; their flaring nostrils
belched streams of vapour that evaporated as I blinked away the trickery of the
sculptor’s genius.
In the last pit, along with a lone
chariot drawn by another four equine beauties, sixty-eight special commanders
were interestingly positioned randomly, rather than in military formation.
Many of the warriors originally held
weapons of the day. Placards describe the crossbows, long bows, spears, and
dagger axes that were among the 10,000 pieces removed and sorted to date.
Arrowheads contained the lethal metal-alloy lead. Bronze swords were found in
the hands of generals and senior officers. Surface treatment made these swords
resistant to rust and corrosion and are said to be still sharp today.
The lengths of the pits are partitioned
with thick brick walls; corridors were left between upon which the soldiers
stand. Cresting the support walls, wooden roofs of stout timbers and crossbeams
were topped with woven matting and clay to prevent water seepage, and hidden
from sight by a deep covering of earth. Though plundering rebel troops, grave
robbers and collapsed roof sections took their toll, it was this skilful
construction that kept the clay pieces fairly intact so this venerable league
could be reassembled to stand once again on the 2,000-year-old floor of black
brick.
 The
Emperor’s army is believed to comprise only one-fifth of the subterranean
mortuary complex. In 1980 a pair of bronze chariots and horses in one-half real
size was unearthed 20metres east of the mausoleum. Eager archaeologists are hankering for
the green light to be given by the Chinese government to excavate the 47metre
grass covered mound 1.5 km from where Rick and I were standing. Theorized from
preliminary exploration, historical records and conjecture, a replica of the
imperial palace with rivers of mercury to create the image of flowing water,
pits of inhumed horses, satellite tombs for princes and princesses and the
Emperor’s own burial chamber still remains entombed.
 The day dwindles; the tour groups leave.
We have time before the last public bus arrives.
In solitude we linger at the entrance; the figures becoming draped in an eerie
twilight. Eventually in response to a waving attendant signalling closing time,
we bid farewell to the warriors, yearning to know the story behind each pair of
silent eyes.
For more information, incl. bus routes
and entry fees see:
www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/shaanxi/xian/terra_cotta_army/index.htm
The Terracotta Warriors were listed by
UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world cultural heritages.
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