The Terracotta Army
The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. The figures were discovered on 29 March 1974. This discovery prompted Chinese archaeologists to investigate, revealing the largest pottery figurine group ever found in China. The Terracotta army has more than 8,000 soldiers, 180 chariots and with 520 horses and 150 Calvary horses. The terracotta figures are life-sized. They vary in height, uniform, and hairstyle in accordance with rank, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots, and horses. Their faces appear to be different for each individual figure, scholars, however, have identified 10 basic face shapes. Originally, the figures
were painted with bright-varied pigments, coloured pink, red, green, blue, black, brown, white and lilac. The coloured lacquer finish and individual facial features would have given the figures a realistic feel. However, much of the colour coating had flaked off or become greatly faded. Most of the figures originally held real weapons such as spears, swords, or crossbows, and the use of actual weapons would have increased the figures' realism. Most of the original weapons, however, were looted shortly after the creation of the army, or have rotted away. Over 40,000 bronze items of weaponry have been recovered from the pits.
were painted with bright-varied pigments, coloured pink, red, green, blue, black, brown, white and lilac. The coloured lacquer finish and individual facial features would have given the figures a realistic feel. However, much of the colour coating had flaked off or become greatly faded. Most of the figures originally held real weapons such as spears, swords, or crossbows, and the use of actual weapons would have increased the figures' realism. Most of the original weapons, however, were looted shortly after the creation of the army, or have rotted away. Over 40,000 bronze items of weaponry have been recovered from the pits.