China’s Terracotta Army (3rd Century BCE)
Around the time the Roman skeleton began its eternal state of lounging, China’s newly crowned king of the Qin state, Qin Shi Huangdi directed his subjects start construction on his mausoleum. For two thousand years, his tomb lay protected by an army of terracotta warriors. Each of the seven thousand warriors is unique, with its own features, hairstyle, clothing, even their own facial expression. They stand in a military style formation, straight rows, some are standing, some kneeling, and others in positions according to their rank and role in the army.
Historians don’t believe these forms are based on actual people, just generalized portraits made to appear unique, reflecting the differences in populations. Archaeologists have found that the warriors aren’t the only figures in the tomb. There are images of officials, waterfowl, six hundred horses, even acrobats. It was a terracotta replica of Qin Shi Huangdi’s court and political system.
