There is a lot written about this 8th wonder of the world. And I actually don't know that much. I know that all the faces on the soldiers are different, representing really people. They are part of the king's gravesite. It is fascinating.
Although I am by no means an expert, I can help you a little here. Emperor Qin Shi Huang was the first to unite China (he considered himself the first emperor of China for that reason)and started the building of the Great Wall. He was also one of the cruelest tyrants ever. Anyway, he wanted to create a new imperial family and be a ruler in the afterlife, so he had his many, many wives and concubines buried alive in his tomb. He also had all of the architects, engineers,etc. who worked on the tomb buried alive in it so that nobody could tell where the secret tomb was (not sure about the people who took care of killing all of these people -- maybe they were executed later). I have heard that as many as 3000 people were buried alive, but I don't know whether that figure is accurate. I also understand that some of his favorite concubines were poisioned in advance so that they didn't have to die alive.
The emperor also needed an army with him, but instead of burying all of his soldiers alive, he had the terra cotta army made. I think that there were about 8000 of them. Not sure why he had take real women to the afterlife if terra cotta replicas could come alive there, but that is what he did. I believe that the face on every warrior is unique because they actually represent the real army that the emperor commanded when he was alive.
The tomb was well hidden and only found relatively recently -- I think in 1974. I'm not sure, but I think that the part where the emperor and those who were buried with him are has not been excavated because the Chinese don't want to upset the spirits.
Emperor, yes, sorry. I don't remember hearing about burying wives and concubines. But they did tell us the army represents the real individuals in the army and that's why the faces are all different. It's true that they have not excavated the emperor. Possibly an issue with the spirits. Offhand I can't remember what we were told.
Although I am by no means an expert, I can help you a little here. Emperor Qin Shi Huang was the first to unite China (he considered himself the first emperor of China for that reason)and started the building of the Great Wall. He was also one of the cruelest tyrants ever. Anyway, he wanted to create a new imperial family and be a ruler in the afterlife, so he had his many, many wives and concubines buried alive in his tomb. He also had all of the architects, engineers,etc. who worked on the tomb buried alive in it so that nobody could tell where the secret tomb was (not sure about the people who took care of killing all of these people -- maybe they were executed later). I have heard that as many as 3000 people were buried alive, but I don't know whether that figure is accurate. I also understand that some of his favorite concubines were poisioned in advance so that they didn't have to die alive.
ReplyDeleteThe emperor also needed an army with him, but instead of burying all of his soldiers alive, he had the terra cotta army made. I think that there were about 8000 of them. Not sure why he had take real women to the afterlife if terra cotta replicas could come alive there, but that is what he did. I believe that the face on every warrior is unique because they actually represent the real army that the emperor commanded when he was alive.
The tomb was well hidden and only found relatively recently -- I think in 1974. I'm not sure, but I think that the part where the emperor and those who were buried with him are has not been excavated because the Chinese don't want to upset the spirits.
Emperor, yes, sorry. I don't remember hearing about burying wives and concubines. But they did tell us the army represents the real individuals in the army and that's why the faces are all different. It's true that they have not excavated the emperor. Possibly an issue with the spirits. Offhand I can't remember what we were told.
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