A Cracked Terracotta Warrior in Shaanxi Reveals the Truth.
Many people may be familiar with the Terracotta Army in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, known for the unique features of each statue. This leads one to think about the burial ritual – a common practice in ancient times where people were buried alive with the dead. Archaeological documents indicate that the Shang Dynasty was the period when “burial with the dead” occurred most frequently. Folklore suggests that Qin Shi Huang wanted a powerful army in the afterlife, so he ordered living people to be baked into statues. This rumor persisted until a terracotta warrior statue cracked in Shaanxi, shedding light on the truth.
In the spring of 1974, Xi’an experienced a prolonged drought. In search of livelihood and a better future, local farmers attempted to dig a well near the Lintong area of Xi’an, Shaanxi. However, instead of water, they encountered a hard object. Previously, there had been some brick kilns in Xi’an, so the locals did not suspect anything unusual and thought it was merely the remains of a kiln. Subsequently, a plethora of artifacts, including terracotta statues and crossbows, were unearthed, astonishing everyone. This was how the mausoleum complex of Qin Shi Huang was discovered.
Thousands of terracotta statues guarding the resting place of Qin Shi Huang.
One of the most remarkable areas within this grand tomb complex is the Terracotta Army. The size occupied by the Terracotta Army is vast. However, the attraction lies not only in its immense size and quantity but also in the incredible detail and liveliness of the statues. Notably, every face on the statues is distinct, resembling real people.
This army has stood firm for a thousand years.
For many years, numerous chilling hypotheses have been raised, suggesting that the practice of “burial with the dead” was employed here. Each statue in the Terracotta Army was said to be created from actual people, which is why they are so varied.
However, this is not true and was debunked after an archaeologist discovered a cracked terracotta warrior statue. He immediately began researching the statue. This study completely dismissed the folklore hypothesis of living people being baked into statues. The reason is quite simple; inside this cracked terracotta warrior statue, there was no soil, not even any material filling. Inside the statue was completely hollow.
The statues were crafted with exquisite techniques, without using a common mold, resulting in their unique forms.
This discovery offers a new perspective on the craftsmanship skills of ancient artisans. Experts have determined that the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang was created using ceramic firing technology. The process of ceramic firing is quite complex. First, the artisans had to use a ceramic mold to create the initial form. Then, they applied a thin layer of clay to the surface. This clay layer is crucial for creating the expressions, faces, and colors of the figures.
