Terracotta Army
collection of ancient Chinese military statues
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The Terracotta Army is a collection of thousands of life-sized clay statues depicting soldiers, horses, and chariots that were buried with a Chinese emperor. It represents an extraordinary archaeological discovery that provides insight into ancient Chinese military organization, craftsmanship, and burial practices.
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The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE in his mausoleum with the purpose of protecting him in his afterlife.
The figures, dating from approximately the late 200s BCE, were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong County, outside Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. The figures vary in height according to their rank, the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Estimates from 2007 were 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. Other, non-military terracotta figures have since been found in other pits, including those of officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians.
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1974 archaeological discoveries1974 in China3rd-century BC sculpturesAAAAA-rated tourist attractionsArchaeological discoveries in ChinaArchaeological museums in ChinaFunerary artInfantry units and formationsMilitary and war museums in ChinaMilitary artMuseums in Xi'anNational first-grade museums of China