The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, rests in a grand tomb that has yet to be uncovered by Chinese archaeologists.
According to Ancient Origins, 2,200 years ago, Emperor Qin Shi Huang was the first to unify China after the tumultuous Warring States period. He relentlessly sought the elixir of immortality while also busily constructing his own tomb.
Modern China has yet to dare to disturb the tomb of Qin Shi Huang.
A 2017 study by Chinese archaeologists, based on ancient texts, shows that the first emperor of China always desired to live forever. Ancient documents state that local officials reported the failure to find the elixir of immortality, but they would continue searching. In another place, there was a mysterious herb that might be effective.
In fact, the construction of Qin Shi Huang’s tomb began before he ascended the throne. When he came to power at the age of 13, he immediately ordered the establishment of his eternal resting place. However, it was only after Qin Shi Huang became emperor that the construction was accelerated and expanded.
An estimated 700,000 people participated in building the tomb in Shaanxi province, taking 38 years to complete. Notably, the tomb was only truly finished after Qin Shi Huang’s death.
Qin Shi Huang – the first emperor of China.
Today, information about the tomb of the Chinese emperor is found in the records of the Han dynasty historian, Sima Qian. It is a burial chamber filled with rare treasures collected from across the land.
Inside the resting place of Qin Shi Huang, there are models of rivers, both large and small, that appear lifelike due to mercury. Sima Qian also mentioned a starry night sky illuminated by glowing pearls used to decorate the dome of the tomb.
To protect the tomb and ensure the emperor’s eternal rest, the ancients constructed a series of traps, including crossbows and automatic arrow-shooting devices. These weapons were designed to kill anyone daring to intrude.
Qin Shi Huang’s son even ordered the live burial of concubines who had no children with him, so they could accompany him in the afterlife. After the burial ceremony concluded, the entrance to the tomb was sealed. Those involved in the construction were also imprisoned inside to prevent anyone from revealing the secrets outside. Finally, vegetation was planted over the tomb to create an artificial hill.
The Terracotta Army in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang.
It wasn’t until 2,000 years later that a group of Chinese farmers accidentally unearthed a terracotta warrior. A large-scale excavation revealed a terracotta army of 2,000 figures. However, that was only the outer part of the tomb complex.
Archaeologists estimate that there may be up to 8,000 terracotta figures inside the emperor’s eternal resting place, which have never been excavated.
Currently, China has no plans to excavate the tomb of Qin Shi Huang. Over 2,200 years have passed, but it is highly likely that many traps are still operational. Another concern is the extremely high mercury content in the tomb. Mercury is a highly toxic substance that threatens human life even in very small amounts.
Moreover, current technology is unable to help uncover the vast ancient ancient tomb area. Just exposing artifacts to sunlight and air can completely destroy them.
Experts believe that the reckless excavation of Qin Shi Huang’s resting place could disrupt the balance of the underground structure, causing unpredictable losses. This is why China has not yet dared to break the seal of the tomb.
