Here is a monument that is undoubtedly unique in the world. The Qin Emperor’s Mausoleum, world famous for its Clay Army with its thousands of statues, represents a significant piece of Chinese history, but also demonstrates the incredible artistic talent of man two centuries BC. Discover the fabulous Mausoleum of the Qin Emperor inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Qin Emperor’s Mausoleum is located near the city of Xi’an (central-eastern China ), the former capital of the Chinese Empire under the Qin Dynasty. The mausoleum was therefore erected in honor of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, the unifier of China, becoming its first emperor. Qin Shi Huangdi is also known for building the Great Wall of China.
The mausoleum was only discovered in 1974, when peasants were digging a hole to establish a well. Not far from the mausoleum, the emperor’s tomb has also been discovered, but not yet excavated. The mausoleum is made up of thousands (8000 found) of statues of soldiers with horses, weapons and chariots which are all different from each other! The construction of the monument began in 246 BC. AD and ended 30 years later, in -210, mobilizing thousands of workers from all over the empire. The mausoleum is covered with a tumulus (eminence covering a tomb) 50 m high and contains nearly 200 wells where all the soldiers of the “buried army” are placed. The soldiers and horses are made of terracotta and the accessories (weapons and chariots) are made of bronze,
The tomb of the first emperor of the Chinese also has a strong symbolism, because it represents the birth of a power in the 3rd century BC. J.-C., directed and carried out by Qin Shi Huang which announces unprecedented progress with the social, cultural, artistic and military level of the empire. The gigantic multitude of statues, the precision and detail that have been brought to each of them demonstrate an incredible artistic talent and form important works before the advent of future dynasties. “The buried army” also provides important information on the military organization of the Chinese Empire in the 3rd BC. J.-C.: the finding of weapons on the spot, the artisanal techniques used, the detail brought to the sculpture of armours, weapons, uniforms and horse harnesses provide very important historical information to understand the history of China. The mausoleum is the best preserved and the largest in all of China.
The site is protected by many Chinese laws and conservation organizations. Excavations continue to unearth any new statues and analyze them further to reconstruct more precisely the history of China. The Emperor’s tomb has yet to be excavated, which means the site still has many secrets to keep! The Qin Emperor’s Mausoleum is a unique monument in the world that will guarantee you many sensations. Centuries of history can be read on the eyes of each of the statues which bear witness to the greatness of a country, but also to the immeasurable artistic talent for works made by man with little material and advanced techniques, there is of that 2 millennia.