Day 7, May 14, Terracotta Warriors

The Terracotta Warriors is a collection of sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang  who became the first Emperor of China.  He was the ruthless leader of the state of Chin who conquered all the neighbouring states to the east to unify the country in 221 BCE.  This Terracotta Army was buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE to protect him in his afterlife.

The figures were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Xian while looking for water. They vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. There are three pits that hold more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots and 670 horses.

Pit one contains the main army of more than 6,000 figures. The terracotta figures are life-sized and vary in height, uniform, and hairstyle in accordance with rank

Pit two has cavalry and infantry units and is thought to represent a military guard.

Pit three is the command post, with high-ranking officers and a war chariot. This figure is one of 7 generals. They are recognized by the 2 part man bun on his head. 

This war chariot is made of bronze.

Although he was extremely brutal, Qin Shi Huang unified China economically by standardizing the Chinese units of weights and measures and the Chinese currency.  He also built an extensive road system but  perhaps most importantly, he standardized Chinese script.  

This Emperor died in 210 BC.  Unfortunately his son, Qin Er Shi,  was not as capable as his father. Revolts quickly erupted and his  reign was a time of extreme civil unrest. Everything  built by the First Emperor crumbled away within a short period. 

Seeing the Terracotta Warriors was on our bucket list and now we have fulfilled that goal.  

To remind us  we are having 2 of them sent home.  Watch for a General  and a Kneeling  Archer  to appear in my garden. However they will not arrive for 2 months. 

Garry became one with his "warrior self" ......but he may have to take off his hat and get a new hairstyle.