The Tomb of China’s First Emperor
A Look into the Legacy and Mystery of the Qin Dynasty
For thousands of years, China had existed not as a unified nation, but as opposing states competing for power.
It would take one man to unify them all into a sovereign nation; That man’s name was Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇), China’s first emperor.
While he no doubt lived a life of historical significance, much of his fame comes from after his death.
With the continued excavations of his tomb, his legacy lives on over 2,000 years after his death.
The Unifier of the Middle Kingdom
Born in 259 BCE as Ying Zheng (嬴政), the future emperor was born into royalty.
His father was the king of the Qin state, providing the young prince with powerful connections that he would rely on in the future.
After his father's death, Zheng became the new king; he used his newfound power to wage war against the other independent kingdoms.
Starting in 230 BCE, he had completed his goal of a unified China by 221. During his reign, the Emperor would construct the Great Wall of China, standardize much of society, and establish Legalism.
He would die 11 years later, being buried in his eternal tomb in 210 BCE.
His Tomb was Discovered by Accident
The Emperor’s resting place would go unknown until it was rediscovered in March 1974.
A group of farmers (including Yang Zhifa) had been attempting to construct a well when they stumbled upon several distinct pottery shards.
They had found the outer ranges of the mausoleum’s burial complex in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province.
The farmers immediately contacted the proper authorities who then excavated the whole area.
It was archaeologist Zhao Kangmin (赵康民) who was the first to identify the signifigance of the pottery and its relation to the Qin emperor.
The Terracotta Army
Most notable of the archaeological site is the terracotta army, consisting of thousands of life-sized soldiers.
While the statues had originally been painted, exposure to the outside air allowed any remaining paint to disintegrate.
A 2007 Harvard Press article estimated that
the three pits containing the Terracotta Army hold more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which remain in situ in the pits near Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum.
The army of clay soldiers were meant to accompany the emperor into the afterlife, according to archaeologists.
Notably, the project required the work of over 700,000 laborers; a series of uprisings in 209 BCE halted further construction, leaving the necropolis unfinished.
While Western scolars refer to the tomb complex as the Terracotta Army, its Chinese name is 兵马俑 (literal translation: Soldier and horse tomb-figurines).
Why Much of the Tomb is Still a Mystery
While the terracotta army is well known across the world, what is much less known is the unexcavated tomb of the great emperor.
An account from Chinese historian Sima Qian (司马迁) writes that the emperor’s tomb
was buried with palaces, towers, officials, valuable artifacts, and wondrous objects. 100 flowing rivers were simulated using mercury, and above them the ceiling was decorated with heavenly bodies, below which lay the features of the land.
Despite excavations in other parts of the necropolis, Emperor Qin’s tomb has yet to be excavated.
There are many reasons for this including concerns about damage from the outside air, the danger of potential booby traps, and fears of how any mercury residues might react with the rest of the necropolis.
While there are no plans for excavations of the tomb in the near future, archaeologists are hopeful that future technology will be able to properly preserve the tomb.
Legacy of the Eternal Army
Since its discovery, Qin Shi Huang’s Terracotta Army and tomb have become a cultural symbol of China’s enduring history.
Attracting tourists from all over the world, the archaeological site perfectly encapsulates the art and engineering of early Imperial China.
Hopefully, as technology in archaeology improves so will our knowledge of Emperor Qin’s tomb.
Whether any further discoveries are made or not, its influence remains a testament to the great Middle Kingdom.
Until next time…
Remembering a Humble Hero in Archaeology
