The Terracotta Warriors, often referred to as the 8th Wonder of the ancient world, are without a doubt the most significant archaeological find of the 20th Century. As part of their world tour a section of the Terracotta Warriors is currently on exhibit in Budapest.
The Discovery
It is remarkable that such a large site could remain buried and undetected for over 2000 years, despite many reports of terracotta figures and fragments found in the area over the years. In 1974 following another such report archeologists were prompted to investigate the area of Lintong District near Xi’an, in the Shaanxi province of China. Initial accounts of the exceptional find were greeted with some skepticism. Since then the area has become a premier tourist destination in China, and was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1987.
The Terracotta Army
The slightly larger than life size figures are between 1.66m and 2.02 m high and weigh from 120 to 200kg each. Individual heights vary according to rank and prestige. The army is made up of over 7000 soldiers, 130 horse drawn carriages and 520 horses, as well as 150 cavalry horses. Apparently, this is only a small portion of what still remains buried, including the tomb of Emperor Qin.
Solid clay legs and hollow torsos enable the warriors to be free standing. It was originally believed that the hollow body parts were made from coiled clay, although experts have now identified eight separate moulds from which the bulk of the warriors were made. Clothing, hairstyle, eyes, nose, facial expressions, and features on each figure are completely individual and distinctive. This is a testament to the unique talents and high standards of the Chinese sculptors.
The huge army was found in 3 massive pits, which resemble underground cities. The pits were numbered in order of their discovery. Pit 1 is the largest and comprises the main army of over 6000 warriors standing in battle formation. Pit two has over 80 war chariots, and approximately 1300 cavalry and infantry soldiers. Some of the most famous statues including the kneeling archer and the terracotta general were discovered in this pit. Pit 3 houses high ranking officers, and is believed to be the army’s command centre with 68 warriors, four horses and one chariot.
In 1975 a large steel framed arched hall was built over the whole site of 16 300m2. The building is burglar and fireproof, and has a temperature and humidity monitoring system.
Emperor Qin (259BC-210BC)
Qin Shi Huang took to the throne at the age of 13, and later became the first emperor of China. From an early age he was fascinated with the idea of everlasting life. In his quest for immortality one of his first projects was the construction of his own tomb, and a massive Terracotta Army to protect him in the afterlife. The tomb of Emperor Qin remains unopened in an effort to preserve this historical and structural masterpiece. It is believed that if unearthed, irreparable damage could be caused to this unique treasure. According to legend the tomb, which is part of a massive underground necropolis includes replicas of palaces, houses 100 rivers made with mercury, unimaginable treasures, and booby traps rigged to kill anyone who tries to break in. Probes inserted into the tomb have revealed high concentrations of mercury which suggests that parts of the legend may be true.
Emperor Qin was known as a brutal ruler who was responsible for the death of many thousands of Chinese workers, and anyone who dared to apposed him. Threatened by philosophies and beliefs that questioned his authority he ordered the burning of all books written before his reign, with the exception of those on medicine, astrology and agriculture. Despite his unpopularity Qin Shi Huang was an important figure in early Chinese history. During his rule he unified China, and introduced social, economic and cultural reforms. Qin standardised law, Chinese writing, weights and measures, and integrated the monetary system. He built a large network of roads and many canals. The emperor also constructed enormous fortified walls in northern China for defensive purposes, which formed the first section of the Great Wall of China.
Budapest Exhibit
The Budapest exhibit is open until the 29th September 2011. Tickets and tour times can be booked online, or on the premises of VAM Design Centre, 36 Király u. A short, informative video introduces the history and background of Emperor Qin and his Terracotta Army. Seventy warriors from Pit 1 are exhibited as well as various artifacts from the era. The inspirational tour takes approximately one hour, which leaves plenty of time afterwards for a leisurely cup of coffee, or lunch at the New York Café.
Sources;-
8/6/2011 Multi-age Historical Portal
8/6/2011 China ABC China Radio
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