Terra Cotta Museum

Terra-cotta Officer

 

 Our Guide Jenny educated us about the soldiers.

The first emperor of China, Qin (pronounced Chin) ShiHuang Tin, around 220 BC, terrified by his own mortality, believed he needed to be protected and accompanied in his afterlife.  Some required their servants to be buried with them, or even their wife. That practice was eventually outlawed in 383 BC.  Emperor Qin  decided instead to have an army of soldiers - infantry, charioteers, horsemen, and generals -created to protect him in the afterlife so he had  7000 terra cotta soldiers created over a span of 4 decades who were then buried in his underground tomb located in a secret place to prevent tomb robbers (a common profession at that time) from robbing the grave.  It was the largest mausoleum in the world.

Pit 1 - The largest # of soldiers found

The Museum and Grounds

During a subsequent uprising there was a fire on the roof of the first pit and the wooden beams in the ceiling burned and collapsed.  The structure collapsed, breaking the soldiers into pieces.

An accidental discovery of some of these terra cotta soldiers occurred  on March 29, 1974 by 5 farmers who were drilling a series of wells.  On July 17th of the same year archeologists arrived onsite. The museum opened in October of 1979. 

Pit 1 contained pieces of Infantry, Calvary and Charioteers, Pit 2 had weapons and pieces of  archers: 172 standing  and 150 kneeling.  One of these archers was intact.5 meters below the surface.  Pit number 3 had few statutes and appeared to be the headquarters of the operation.

The Archer

The soldiers and horses were made with local clay.  The weight varies from 110 to 300 kilos, average height is 1.8 meters. No two solders have exactly the same expression leading some experts to think that real soldiers served as models. So far 80 craftsmen have been identified.  After they were made the statues were put in kilns to be fired. Round holes in horses allowed gases and vapors to escape preventing deformed or exploded horses.

President Clinton visited the museum n 1998. Guide Jenny meet the president and remarked to Eric, Hilary’s  bodyguard, that the president was very handsome. Eric responded “Come on Jenny. He’s already having a lot of trouble.”

Mr. Yung, one of the original farmers was on hand to meet the President. He was taught a few English phrases to use when he was presented to him.  He was to ask the president “How are you?” with an expected response of “Fine” to which he would answer “me too”.  Instead he asked him “Who are you?” with a response from the President that he was the husband of Hilary. Mr. Yung responded as taught with “me too’.  He has been known as Mr. Me Too ever since.  Mr. Me Too was on hand to autograph the book that we bought. If you would like to see it, let me know!   

Soldiers in the Process of Reconstruction

TerraCotta Ponies Reconstructed

Terra-Cotta Terry