Miss

Alexia Avouris
Preliminary Ancient History: Assessment Task 2
Case Study 1: Entombed Warriors of Xian
Part B: Research Essay
KBU – 5/6/2012
Part B: Essay – What do the Entombed Warriors of Xian reveal about ancient Chinese culture?

The Entombed Warriors of Xian have exposed an extensive wealth of information for historians reconstructing the intricate nature of ancient Chinese culture. Through the exploration and analysis of archaeological sources and written accounts, those studying the past are able to deliver conclusions on the ethos and practices of ancient China under the influence of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Recovered artefacts from the site, along with primary written sources recorded during the Qin Empire have exposed considerable characteristics such military organisation, discipline, knowledge and intelligence, beliefs in the afterlife and affected human lifestyle to enable a reconstruction of, and reflect on ancient Chinese culture. *
The crossbow, an extremely powerful weapon used by high order members of the Qin army, provides historians with an indication of the power and discipline involved during the time of the Qin Empire. Over time in history, it has been recognised as one of the most effective and strongest weapons to be used during battle. According to the grand historian Sima Quian, “If the mechanism [crossbow] was out of line by no more than the size of a rice grain it wouldn’t work”. This quote, provided by a primary account, indicates there was a particular method involved to confirm the device would deliver 100 percent accuracy, also communicating the difficulty and accuracy required for such a powerful weapon to fulfill its role appropriately. The complications involved with handling it, due to its strength, ensure that the Emperor Qin would only assign the performing crossbowmen to handle this mechanism. In fact, it is believed each individual in the army was trained so not one in 100 shots came close to failing. The crossbow is one of the many powerful unique weapons of the time used by the Qin army, indicating the highly controlled nature of the state as a whole. Aspects of this weapon present the attitudes and social ethos of society during this period, and the elevated level of respect and dedication demonstrated towards their leader. *
Excellence in organisation and strategies undertaken during warfare played a big role in the unification of China, and are modeled through the precise and faultless structure of the pits surrounding Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi’s mausoleum. The army as a whole contained a high sense of finite discipline that also mirrored how ancient Chinese civilization performed. Their phenomenal teamwork along with the intelligence of their leader assisted them in achieving the unification of a nation. It was the whole coordinated package that set them apart from all the other states. As displayed in the source, the pits were created to replicate the Emperor’s exact army and protect him in the afterlife, thus providing historians with an appreciation in regards to the skillful nature involved in structuring such a powerful army. This archaeological source also provides historians with conclusions based on the effective strategies used during warfare. Each of the three pits containing the 8000 warriors therefore offer historians with a clear image of the army that unified China and influenced the nation to make it what it is today. * * Through a close study of the individual warriors, it is evident to historians examining the culture of ancient China, that each individual was manufactured in ways that would astonish. The warriors were all unique, divulging the craftsmen’s creativity and perfectiveness. As depicted in the image from “Unlocking the Past” showing few of the artefacts, each of the warriors had different hairstyles and facial features, believed by archaeologists to be dependent on their social positioning. For example those wearing caps were apparent to be ranked above the ordinary soldiers. During this time, it must also be considered that the people were limited on technology and had to produce masses of unique warriors in a short period of time. The coiling method was used as a way of constructing the largest amounts in a limited time frame, (keeping in mind that they were still under high control and therefore had to sign their names under constructed warriors to make sure each were up to standards). By means of preservation, lacquer was used, which also suggests their advanced levels of thinking foresaw the future. Conclusions as such deliver a wide appreciation for the intelligence of the craftsmen; therefore exposing that overall the Chinese culture contained civilians with extravagant scientific understanding and an extremely advanced knowledge. *
Another essential aspect of the Qin period that allowed for an understanding of ancient Chinese culture is the beliefs in the afterlife. The most important archaeological source demonstrating these principles is the mausoleum, built upon demand for the Emperor to ensure the same security and control follows him into the afterlife. The obsession evident widely throughout this time period was one that feared the majority of the population. For instance, as outlined by Professor J. Wolff “Dying wasn’t his biggest fear, it was the revenge the spirits would have on him, hence the construction of his army”. Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi feared the spirits of his enemies might attack him after his death therefore his mausoleum acted to symbolise his egotistical nature and infinite power. Members under his authority were also exposed to this wayward method of thinking. They believed that life was meaningless and not worth living without their master. The emperor’s obsession with immortality shaped the people’s way of thinking, and therefore had an impact on customs and values as they had no choice but to follow the Emperor demands. * * One of the rarities that amazed historians upon its discovery, revealing a wealth of information about its design and the resources used during this time was the unearthing of the four-horse bronzed chariot. This chariot was founded upon the entrance of pit three and was believed to be used as protection for highly ranked contents of this pit. Upon its restoration, archaeologists noticed it was the only one coated in bronze, and thus depicted that this item was a recurrence of the glamour in all of the Emperor’s carriages. This statement represents that the expensive resources (such as bronze) were only used in the manufacturing of certain figures with significance to the Emperor. Consequently uncovering that the Emperor was practically a dictator figure and treated people based on their relationship or importance to him. The social divide evident by the appearance and resources used, may replicate what occurred amongst the people under the ruling of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi thus effecting ancient Chinese culture. *

Finally, the entombed warriors of Xian have provided historians with a variety of conclusions as to what life was like under the influence of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. By analysing both written and archaeological sources, life in ancient China revealed to be largely impacted simplistically by means of beliefs, customs and social status. The terracotta warriors thus produced deductions on military organization, ethos, creativity and intelligence of the population in order to reveal numerous aspects of ancient Chinese culture.

* BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Author Unknown/ TravelChinaGuide.com/2012/ Travel China Guide, Xian/ viewed 14th May 2012/ http://www.travelchinaguide.com/picture/shaanxi/xian/terra_cotta_warriors/bronze-chariots.htm /

Cultural-china.com/ Cultural China, 2007/ viewed 1st June 2012/http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/aboutus/index.html

Lawless, J. Cameron, K. Young, C./Unknown Date/ Unlocking the Past/Cengage Learning/Australia/pp 164-179

Man, J./ 2008/ The Terracotta Army – China’s First Emperor and the Birth of a Nation/ Da Capo Press/ pp 61-65

Margaret Kong 2007/ Imperial Tours, USA/ viewed 20th May 2012/ http://www.imperialtours.net/terracotta_warriors.html

Mazzatenta, O./ National Geographic Society, 2008/ National Geographic, USA/ 16 May, 2012/ http://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/ancient/enlarge/terra-cotta.html

Wolff, J./2007/ Emperor Qin in the Afterlife/ Writing 20: The Archaeology of Death/ Duke University/ Volume number unknown/ pp 10-16 *

Bibliography: Author Unknown/ TravelChinaGuide.com/2012/ Travel China Guide, Xian/ viewed 14th May 2012/ http://www.travelchinaguide.com/picture/shaanxi/xian/terra_cotta_warriors/bronze-chariots.htm / Cultural-china.com/ Cultural China, 2007/ viewed 1st June 2012/http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/aboutus/index.html Lawless, J. Cameron, K. Young, C./Unknown Date/ Unlocking the Past/Cengage Learning/Australia/pp 164-179 Man, J./ 2008/ The Terracotta Army – China’s First Emperor and the Birth of a Nation/ Da Capo Press/ pp 61-65 Margaret Kong 2007/ Imperial Tours, USA/ viewed 20th May 2012/ http://www.imperialtours.net/terracotta_warriors.html Mazzatenta, O./ National Geographic Society, 2008/ National Geographic, USA/ 16 May, 2012/ http://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/ancient/enlarge/terra-cotta.html Wolff, J./2007/ Emperor Qin in the Afterlife/ Writing 20: The Archaeology of Death/ Duke University/ Volume number unknown/ pp 10-16 *