How do the Terracotta Warriors bear witness to the various aspects of life?

they

Once upon a time,

But "living" in the underground world

Swallowed by darkness for more than 2,200 years

Until 1974's "A Beam of Light"

Light them up

Stunning

(Artistic conception of the Terracotta Warriors of Qin Shihuang, drawn by @王申雯/Planetary Research Institute)

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However

Brilliant colors

The trials of underground years

and accelerated aging after excavation

Disappeared

Only more than 8,000 life-size figurines remain.

The khaki army

Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Terracotta Warriors Pit 1, photographer @刘工)

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even so

These terracotta warriors still

Lifelike, as if alive

They are all different.

(Different images of the Terracotta Warriors, photographers @张天柱&柳叶氘&丁俊豪&杨虎&刘兆明, map @杨宁/星球研究院)

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even

Every strand of hair is visible

(Hairstyle of the kneeling archer, photographer @张天柱, map @杨宁/Planetary Research Institute)

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Over two thousand years

Although the loess buried them

Time has not forgotten them

now

Decades of efforts by archaeologists

Finally, we can see through the perspectives of three ordinary Qin people.

Reliving the distant past

01

Craftsman "Zang"

221 BC

Qin conquered the six states

Gong Sikong, the agency responsible for the construction of royal projects

Received an order

We need to select the most skilled craftsmen

Participate in the development of a new product

Potter Zang

Very likely to be selected to participate

He made bricks and tiles for the royal family

The work covers the roof of the Royal Palace

(Large tile with Kui pattern, photographer @柳叶氘, map @杨宁/Planetary Research Institute)

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also

Elite potters from all over the country were also recruited

Including people from Dali, Shaanxi and Xiaxian, Shanxi

Together we formed a top R&D team

(Qin Dynasty craftsmen would leave their names on their works, a system known as "marking the name of the craftsman on the object". The following figure lists the names of some of the potters who made the Terracotta Warriors. "Gong" is the abbreviation of Gong Sikong. Photographer: @张天柱, map by @杨宁/星球研究院)

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The reason why such a large number of skilled craftsmen were recruited

Because they are going to develop new products

Not serving petty officials

Not an ordinary noble

But just unified the world

Qin Shi Huang, who believed that his achievements surpassed those of the Three Sovereigns and his virtues surpassed those of the Five Emperor

This new product

Nor is it a mundane thing.

But to prepare after the death of Qin Shi Huang

Enter the underground world with him

"people"

(The statue of Qin Shi Huang in front of the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Museum, photographer @柒哥)

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Burying people alive

It's an old bad habit

It was quite common in the Shang Dynasty.

The rulers want to be in the underground world

Still have everything in life

That is, "treat death as life"

(The picture below is the Qin Tomb No. 1. The owner of the tomb was King Jing of Qin during the Spring and Autumn Period. There were 166 people buried in boxes or chests, and another 20 people were buried in the ground without burial objects, a total of 186 people were buried. Photographer: @李文博)

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But in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period

Dramatic social changes and a hundred schools of thought

Human sacrifices come under heavy criticism

then

The rich and powerful began to use materials such as wood or pottery

Sculpture of an adult

Replacement of human sacrifice

That is, "terracotta warriors"

(From Zheng Xuan's commentary on Tan Gong in the Book of Rites)

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A figurine is a puppet with a face and hair, similar to a living person.

But at this time, the size of the figurines was often much smaller than that of real people.

And it is simple to make

(Warring States wooden figurines, photographer @杨虎, map @杨宁/Planet Research Institute)

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But even so

The Terracotta Warriors in Confucius' Eyes

Still the remnant of human sacrifice

(From Mencius, it is intended to curse the inventor of the terracotta warriors, saying that he would have no descendants)

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The one who first created clay figures for burials will never have any descendants!

Qin Shi Huang, who lived 200 years later than Confucius,

Apparently he didn't care about Confucius' opinion.

And he also wants to make an unprecedented upgrade to the terracotta warriors.

According to the real image

Making large figurines

(The cavalry terracotta warriors before the Qin Dynasty unified the country were short and rough. Image source: @Xianyang Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, and drawn by @Yang Ning/Planet Research Institute)

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However, the difficulty of making large figurines is

Obviously much more difficult than the small figurines

The R&D team including Zang

I don't know how many trials I went through.

Finally found a way

They selected loess from the northern foot of Mount Li as the clay material.

A small amount of sand is added to enhance the hardness

Made into clay

Then, the clay strips are coiled, molded, and molded.

Making the first batch of pottery figurines from bottom to top

(Schematic diagram of the initial production of armored warrior figurines. Some legs are solid legs, and some foot pedals are made separately from the figurines. The following picture is only one of the production methods. Map by @杨宁/星球研究院)

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After the first pregnancy

Then use scraping, carving, piling and other methods to carve details

Trim hair, eyebrows, beard, eyes, clothing lines, etc.

(Details of the carving process of the armored warrior figurines, drawn by @杨宁/Planetary Research Institute)

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Even the details of the soles

Don't let go

(The details of the kneeling archer's sole and the stitches of the sewing thread are all realistically displayed. Photographer @杨虎, map @杨宁/Planetary Research Institute)

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Then put it into the kiln for firing

Experienced high temperature of about 1000℃

Clay figurines “grow” into pottery figures

The body is stronger

The image is close to the real person

(Schematic diagram of the firing of armored warrior figurines. After the firing is successful, the various parts will be combined with adhesives. Map by @杨宁/Planetary Research Institute)

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But Zang et al. felt

Just making the appearance is not enough

Something seems to be missing

then

They get their lacquer from the lacquer tree.

Get red, blue, green, yellow and other colors from various minerals

Purple was also synthesized through artificial smelting.

(Some mineral pigments are shown here. Photographer: Zhang Tianzhu. Image source: Visual China. Map by Yang Ning/Planetary Research Institute)

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Obtaining many colors

The image of the terracotta warriors has been comprehensively upgraded

Like a real person, "come alive"

A realistic figurine

Born

(Schematic diagram of the coloring process of the armored warrior figurines, drawn by @Han Qing & Yang Ning/Planetary Research Institute)

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It is not difficult for us to imagine

When people first saw them

What a shock, joy, and surprise!

(Green-faced terracotta warriors, still retaining a small amount of color, photographer @张天柱, map @杨宁/Planet Research Institute)

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The ambition of the first emperor

It is not just about creating a real-life figurine.

He wants to use this technology to replicate infinitely

Thus creating a

An underground army as large as his proud Qin Army

At this time

Soldiers are here

02

Soldier "Happy"

247 BC

Ying Zheng of the imperial family in the capital Xianyang turned 13

The happy birthday of an ordinary family in Anlu County, Hubei Province

This year is an important moment in their lives.

Ying Zheng ascended the throne

Happy to register for household registration and will serve in the military

The difference is

Ying Zheng has the ability to change everyone's fate

But Xi's fate is not entirely in his own hands.

(Side view of the kneeling archer, photographer @张彦铭)

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According to Qin law

Men must serve in the military when they turn 17

On the battlefield

Every time you kill an enemy, you will be promoted to a higher rank.

And reward good fields and houses

The more enemies you kill, the more rewards you will receive.

Even the lowly slaves

As long as the battlefield kills the enemy

You can also redeem yourself as a commoner

Even promoted to a higher position

This is the military nobility system

For Xi, who was born in an ordinary family

This is almost the only way for him to change his fate

(There is still debate about the starting age for military service in the Qin Dynasty. Photographer @赵有人)

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Xi met thousands of people like him in the army.

They were driven by the military merit system.

Love war, good at war

Can be called a "tiger and wolf division"

(From "Shangjunshu·Drawing Strategies")

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When the people see war, they see meat like hungry wolves.

In combat

They are all very brave

While holding the head he just captured (battle record)

Continue to chase the enemy

(From "Strategies of the Warring States: Han Strategy")

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With the head in his left hand and the captive in his right hand

A war like this

I don't know how many times Ying Zheng has launched this campaign since he ascended the throne.

And finally

Sweeping the Six Nations

Unify the world

(Terracotta Warriors in Pit No. 1, photographer @刘宏成)

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As the strongest support for Qin Shihuang

This army must also be after his death

Continue to protect his empire underground

then

The story of developing the terracotta figurines at the beginning of the article happened

final

Pottery craftsmen such as Zang made pottery according to the image and characteristics of real soldiers.

To a general

Down to ordinary soldiers

Including infantry, cavalry, chariots and many other arms

They were all shaped one by one

The number is as high as 8,000

(It has not been fully excavated yet, and the 8,000 pieces are estimated based on the per capita land area; please watch the picture below in horizontal mode, which lists the figurines of different identities. Most of the weapons in their hands no longer exist. Photographer @张天柱＆赵斌, map @杨宁/星球研究院)

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Qin Shihuang also built civil engineering structures for them.

Underground military camp

And according to the real world military formation

Including infantry square, multi-arms square and headquarters

(Please watch horizontally. This is a diagram of the construction process of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Pit 1 in the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum. For the convenience of display, the figurines are processed to appear to pass through the ceiling. In fact, they should have been transported from the tunnel and placed. Map by @王申雯/星球研究院)

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in

The No. 1 camp is an infantry square

It consists of nearly 6,000 soldiers.

(Please watch in horizontal mode, the restoration diagram of Pit 1 of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum, photographer @张天柱, map @王申雯/Planet Research Institute)

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The front of the square is the "suicide squad"

They don't wear armor and are agile.

The outermost columns of the wings and guards of the square

They all stand facing outwards

To guard against enemies coming from all directions

(The soldiers in Pit No. 1 who are not wearing armor are the vanguard troops on the battlefield, equivalent to the death squad. Photographer @Lu Wen)

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Inside the square is

The main force is armed with halberds, halberds, and swords

(Main force of Pit No. 1, photographer @张天柱)

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The second military camp is a multi-service joint force

Crossbowman long range shooting

Cavalry Swift Attack

The chariot soldiers rushed to break through

Three major arms cooperate in combat

Complement each other

(Please watch horizontally, the restoration diagram of Pit 2 of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum, photographers @张天柱&刘兆铭&赵斌, map @王申雯/Planet Research Institute)

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The Third Barracks is the headquarters

The generals planned their battle plans here.

(The soldiers were holding bronze clubs, which were ceremonial weapons, indicating that these soldiers were guards. Pit No. 3 should be the military tent of the garrison commander, that is, the headquarters. In addition, burned animal bones were found, which may be the remains of sacrificial prayers and wars. Map by @王申雯/星球研究院)

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that's all

Qin Shi Huang successfully built

A complete and magnificent underground army

8000 soldiers like Xi

Shaped into figurines

Always guarding beside Qin Shi Huang

As for their real names

We may never know

But their images have been forever fixed in this world.

(Terracotta Warriors in Pit No. 1, photographer @张天柱)

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The real world is happy

He was called up to war four times

And triumphed

Maybe because of military merit

After returning home, he was promoted to a minor official.

Responsible for the county's legal affairs

A lucky man blessed by God.

at the same time

Another ordinary person

Also appears in Qin Shi Huang's blueprint for his underground empire

And his fate

It will be a tragedy

03

Mausoleum repairman "teeth"

"tooth"

He was originally a minor official in Cangshan, Shandong.

In the Qin Dynasty's twenty-level military merit system

Ranked fourth

But he doesn't seem to be rich.

Because they cannot afford the fine for a violation

And was escorted to Mount Li in Guanzhong thousands of miles away

Acting as a humble tomb builder

Responsible for the construction of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum

(Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum, photographer @丁俊豪, tagged @杨宁/Planet Research Institute)

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As his

Naturally, you can't see the whole picture of the cemetery.

But the leopard is only a glimpse

He can still feel

This is an unprecedented large project

12 life-size civil servant figurines

Buried in separate pits

One of the central government offices representing the underground empire of Qin Shi Huang

The Tingwei, the official in charge of justice

The teeth of a minor official

I wonder if you will feel emotional when you see this scene.

He is also an official

How did it end up like this?

(A civil servant figurine with a knife and a whetstone on his waist. At that time, people mostly used bamboo slips for writing. The knife was a writing knife. When a wrong word was written on the bamboo slip, the knife was used to cross it out and rewrite it. The whetstone was a grindstone for grinding. Photographer: Zhang Tianzhu, map by Yang Ning/Planetary Research Institute)

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also

Two sets of bronze chariots and horses, each weighing more than 1 ton

He was also buried in another pit.

Symbolizes the central government office responsible for the emperor's travels

Taipu

Such a luxurious "car"

I can't help but think of how spectacular it would be for Qin Shi Huang to travel.

Liu Bang, who had seen this scene in real life

Made such an exclamation

(From "Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Emperor Gaozu")

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Alas, a real man should be like this!

(Bronze Chariot and Horses, Photographer @Zhang Tianzhu, Map @Yang Ning/Planetary Research Institute)

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The aforementioned 8,000 terracotta warriors

Terracotta Warriors Pit

and later discovered a cache of stone armor and other military equipment.

Stone Armor Pit

Horse burial pit

Together they formed a complete military system

Symbolizes the military power of the empire

(Terracotta Warriors in Pit No. 1, photographer @李文博)

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also

There are also entertainment services for the royal family

The Pit of Terracotta Warriors

(Baixi Terracotta Warriors, Photographer @Zhang Tianzhu, Map @Yang Ning/Planet Research Institute)

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and waterfowl performances for the royal family

Bronze Waterfowl Pit

At least 46 bronze waterfowl were found in the pit.

Restored a very shocking scene

Domesticated swans, cranes, and wild geese

Under the guidance of string music, bells and drums

Dancing on the water

Providing the emperor with a three-dimensional performance of water, poultry and music

(Bronze waterfowl, the images of tamed cranes and horses in the picture below are from the Han Dynasty stone reliefs in the Henan Museum. Photographer: @张天柱, map by @杨宁/Planetary Research Institute)

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that's all

In many government offices and military

And with the support of various service agencies

Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum was built in the center

The height of the earth above the ground is more than 50 meters

There is a nine-story platform inside the mound.

For the soul of Qin Shi Huang to travel

There is a 30-meter-deep underground palace

Using mercury as rivers to simulate the empire's territory

Using stars as astronomy to simulate the universe and time and space

(A schematic diagram of the structure of the underground palace of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, drawn by @杨宁/Planetary Research Institute)

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Tombs and various burial pits

Together they form a fully functional, real-world

Super Cemetery

This is the first emperor of the ages, Qin Shi Huang

Want to create

The Eternal Underground Empire

(Schematic diagram of the layout of the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum, photographer @张天柱&柳叶氘&赵斌&器, map @杨宁/Planetary Research Institute)

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Compared with the high and mighty Qin Shi Huang

Ya is just a humble tomb builder.

He worked day and night

In the end, it was just a dream for the emperor

Heavy work

In addition, hunger

The tooth eventually died of illness due to overwork.

People carved his identity information on the tiles

Buried him hastily

("Ya" Wazhi, photographer @柳叶氘, map @杨宁/Planetary Research Institute)

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There are many tomb builders

Due to some mistakes in work

Was brutally murdered

Beheaded

Historical records

There was an endless stream of corvée laborers from all over the country.

Being escorted to Mount Li to build a mausoleum

As many as 700,000 people

(From "Records of the Grand Historian: The First Emperor of Qin")

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When he unified the country, more than 700,000 people came to see him.

Around the time of Qin Shi Huang's death in 210 BC

A group of corvée laborers were being taken from Xuzhou, Jiangsu to Mount Li

But they didn't actually arrive

But to break free from the shackles that bound my hands and feet

Decided to fight against fate

Some people fled along the way.

Another group of people decided to follow the officials who were being escorted to seek another way out.

But no one could have expected it.

Thanks to this resistance

Soon after

They became the pioneers of another era.

This escort

Named Liu Bang

(Liu Bang released the corvée near Mangdang Mountain in Henan Province. Legend has it that he encountered a big snake blocking his way on his way, so he drew his sword and killed the snake. Below is a sculpture of Liu Bang killing a snake. The sculpture is located at the southern foot of the main peak of Mangdang Mountain in Yongcheng City, Henan Province. Photographer: @石耀臣)

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soon

Another group of people were sent to guard the border

The uprising was led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang

They issued

The cry of "Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers of different races?"

And soon attacked the foot of Mount Li

But Qin Shihuang's underground "legion"

But indifferent

With the covering of yellow earth

Disappeared in the world

This disappearance lasted for two thousand years.

No one knows

No one cares

Until an accidental discovery 2200 years later

04

2200 years later

1974

Farmers in Xiyang Village, Lintong County (now Lintong District), Xi'an, were digging a well.

The broken body of a pottery figure was discovered by chance

The villagers who didn't know what was going on thought it was a spirit appearing.

And worship it and pray for blessings

In fact,

This is the Terracotta Warriors of Qin Shi Huang

(Terracotta Warriors in Pit No. 1, photographer @刘艳晖)

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Soon after

Archaeologists' excavations

The curtain was officially raised on the Terracotta Warriors being brought back to light.

But there are difficulties

(Archaeological excavation site, photographer @张天柱)

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The Terracotta Warriors are gorgeous

But after more than 2,000 years of wasted time underground

"Skin" is mostly aging and falling off

The surviving colors

It's also "life hanging by a thread"

(Terracotta Warriors with better color preservation, photographer @张天柱)

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This is because

The "skin" of the Terracotta Warriors

It is composed of raw lacquer layer and color layer.

For thousands of years

The organic matter in them has already aged

I got used to the damp, dark and dark underground environment.

When it was discovered

Aged paint layer

Or being stained by the surface mud

Or exposed to dry air

Due to dehydration, oxidation, etc.

Soon it began to crack, warp, and fall off.

(The facial paint of the Terracotta Warriors has fallen off, photographer @刘兆铭)

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Archaeologists then discovered

Multiple protection methods

first

Throughout the cleaning process

Distilled water will be sprayed continuously on the surface of the figurines.

To maintain the right humidity

If the humidity is too low, the painted layer will lose water and fall off.

If the humidity is too high, it is easy to cause mildew

Then

When cleaning the dirt on the surface

Be extremely careful to avoid damaging the painted layer.

And use special solution to reinforce and protect the painting

(Staff are protecting and reinforcing the newly unearthed terracotta figurines, photographer @张天柱)

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to this end

Archaeologists also found precision medical equipment used by doctors

Cleverly applied to excavation

"Rescue the dying and heal the wounded" for the Terracotta Warriors

(Staff are cleaning and protecting the painted figurines indoors, photographer @张天柱)

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But the cruel thing is

Colors will fade one day.

So far, no technology

Can halt their aging process

Time has taken away their beauty.

The earth did not spare their "bodies"

For a long time

Due to the collapse of the covering soil layer,

The terracotta figurines are in pieces

(The scene when the Terracotta Warriors were first unearthed, photographer @赵斌)

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Restorers can only work like a jigsaw puzzle

Reassemble

This process often takes quite a long time

Only then can the thousands of fragments be restored to their true form.

(Terracotta Warriors under restoration, photographer @朱福升)

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Take the general terracotta warriors unearthed in 2011 as an example

After 5 years of restoration

Only then did he regain his true appearance

Thousands of Terracotta Warriors

If you want them all to be reborn

It may take hundreds of years.

(General Terracotta Warriors, Photographer @张天柱, Map @杨宁/Planetary Research Institute)

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Even the Terracotta Warriors have been reborn

Still fragile

Corrosive gases, atmospheric aerosols, dust

Bacteria, temperature, humidity, light, etc.

They may cause new damage to them.

(Staff members are doing environmental testing, photographer @张天柱)

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The above restrictions

It is also the place where the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum is still standing.

One of the reasons why many areas cannot be easily explored is that

now

The Terracotta Warriors and Horses site has attracted

More than 120 million visitors

(Data as of 2019. The picture below shows a kneeling archer in a display case. Image source: @Visual China)

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People or

Shocked by the huge lineup

(The audience in the stands and the Terracotta Warriors in Pit No. 1 stared at each other across a thousand years, photographer @刘艳晖)

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Or by their various expressions

Attracted

(The Terracotta Warrior in the first picture seems to be lying down with a look of disgust, while the Terracotta Warrior in the second picture seems to be asking for a hug. Photographer: @陈团结&刘艳晖)

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But beyond this

We should also see

Inventions of Craftsman Zang

Soldiers are happy to fight on the battlefield

The miserable situation of the mausoleum repairers

And the uprising army composed of ordinary people changed their fate against all odds

Behind them

It is thousands and thousands of Zang, Xi, and Ya

They are the common people under the Qin Empire.

They are the common people who exist in every era in the long river of human beings.

(Terracotta Warriors with different expressions, photographer @赵有人)

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This article was created by

Written by: Wang Changchun

Editor: Director

Image: Daytime sleep

Design: Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen

Reviewer: Tuantuan & Lushumao

Cover Photographer: Zhang Tianzhu

Expert review

Xu Weihong, researcher at Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology

Feng Kai, curator of the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Museum

References:

[1] Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, etc. Excavation Report of Pit 1 of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum (1974-1984). Cultural Relics Publishing House, October 1988.

[2] Qin Shi Huang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Excavation Report of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Pit No. 2 in the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum[M]. Science Press, 2009.

[3] Brief report on the cleaning of the third terracotta warrior pit on the east side of the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum [J]. Cultural Relics, 1979(12):1-12+98.

[4] Xi'an Archaeological Research Institute, et al. Archaeological Report on the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (1999) [M]. Science Press, 2000.

[5] Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, et al. Archaeological Report on the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (2000) [M]. Cultural Relics Publishing House, 2006.

[6] Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, et al. Archaeological Report on the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (2001-2003) [M]. Cultural Relics Publishing House, 2007.

[7] Qin Shi Huang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum et al. Report on the Excavation of the Bronze Chariots and Horses in the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang [M]. Cultural Relics Publishing House, 1998.

[8] Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, et al. Qin Mausoleum Corvée and Criminal Tombs[M]. Shaanxi Tourism Press, 1992.

[9] Yuan Zhongyi. Archaeological Discovery and Research on Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses[M]. Cultural Relics Publishing House, 2014.

[10] Duan Qingbo. Archaeological Research on the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor[M]. Peking University Press, 2011.

[11] Duan Qingbo. Qinling: The Dust-covered Empire[M]. China Democracy and Legal System Press, 2018.

[12] Lan Desheng. Practice of cleaning methods for painted Qin Terracotta Warriors[J]. Cultural Relics Science and Technology Research, 2004, 2(00):107-112.

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