Travels in China - Xi'an and the Terracotta Warriors

Xi'an has many historical sites, with some of them being ongoing archaeological projects.  Probably the best known of these archaeological projects is the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the first Qin Emperor of China, and his Terracotta Army.  Today the army is housed in this building.

The Terracotta Army is a collection of figures, dating from the 3rd century BCE, depicting warriors - ranging in height according to their roles, with the tallest being generals, chariots and horses.

The figures were only discovered in 1974 by local farmers who were drilling a well in search of water.

The site is believed to contain the largest pottery figurine group ever found in China.  Estimates are that there are some 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses to pull them as well as another 150 cavalry horses in the complex.

Because most still need to be unearthed, these estimates may need to be revised as work proceeds.

The figures were manufactured government laborers and local craftsmen.  The heads, arms, legs and torsos were created separately and then assembled.

Apparently there were about eight different face molds used, but clay was then added to produce individual facial features,

including intricate facial expressions.

The terracotta figures are life-sized and constructed to be unique, with height, uniform and hairstyle dependent on stature in the military hierarchy.

Most originally held weapons such as spears, swords or crossbows and were originally painted with bright variously-colored pigments,

much of which has flaked off or faded away.