The incredible history of China's terracotta warriors - Megan Campisi and Pen-Pen Chen

TED-Ed
30 Jun 201504:32
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script delves into the fascinating discovery of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi's underground army in China. It details his reign, achievements, and obsession with immortality, leading to the construction of a vast necropolis. The army, consisting of over 8,000 life-size clay soldiers, chariots, and horses, was meticulously crafted and stands as a testament to Qin's quest for eternal power. Unlike ancient practices of human sacrifice, Qin had servants and soldiers built for his afterlife, attracting global fascination and admiration.

Takeaways
  • 🪖 The Terracotta Army was discovered in 1974 by farmers near their village and consists of over 8,000 life-size clay soldiers.
  • 👑 Ying Zheng, who became Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of a unified China, started his reign at 13 and is associated with the Terracotta Army.
  • 🛠️ Qin Shi Huangdi's reign included significant accomplishments like a universal system of weights and measures and the beginning of the Great Wall.
  • 🧪 Obsessed with mortality, the emperor sought alchemists and elixirs for immortality and started his necropolis early in his reign.
  • 🏰 The underground necropolis was intended to accompany the emperor into the afterlife with an army, artifacts, and monuments.
  • 🏺 The Terracotta Army is divided into several pits, including one with 6,000 soldiers, another with 130 chariots and 600 horses, and a third for the high command.
  • 🎨 Each soldier figure was originally painted in bright colors, but the paint has faded over time, leaving the terracotta material visible.
  • 🛠️ The construction of the Terracotta Army involved multiple workshops and over 720,000 laborers, with artisans creating each part of the soldiers separately.
  • 🌏 The figures represent different ranks, weapons, uniforms, hairstyles, expressions, and even ears, showcasing the diversity of the real army.
  • 🚫 An unexcavated chamber near the Terracotta Army is believed to be the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, containing palaces, precious stones, and a rumored river of mercury.
  • 🌐 The Terracotta Army is a popular tourist attraction, and unlike some ancient burial practices, Qin Shi Huangdi chose to use terracotta figures instead of human sacrifices.
Q & A

  • What is the significance of the discovery made by farmers in 1974 near their village?

    -The discovery is significant because it revealed vast underground chambers containing more than 8,000 life-size clay soldiers, which are considered one of the most important finds in archaeological history.

  • Who was Ying Zheng and why is he historically significant?

    -Ying Zheng was the king of the Qin state who became Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China after uniting its seven warring kingdoms. His reign included many historic accomplishments such as a universal system of weights and measures, a standardized writing script, and the construction of the Great Wall.

  • Why did Qin Shi Huangdi start building an underground necropolis early in his reign?

    -Qin Shi Huangdi started building the necropolis because he was obsessed with his mortality and wanted to secure his legacy. He believed in the possibility of an afterlife and wanted to continue his rule in the next world with an army and other figures to accompany him.

  • What is unique about the terracotta army's formation and composition?

    -The terracotta army is unique because it is still standing in precise battle formation, split across several pits, including a main force of soldiers, war chariots, horses, and a high command. Each figure is individually sculpted, with distinct features, weapons, and uniforms.

  • Why has the actual tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi not been excavated?

    -The tomb has not been excavated because it is believed to contain delicate treasures such as palaces, precious stones, artifacts, and rivers of mercury. There is concern that exposing it to air could damage these artifacts, so it remains sealed until a safe method of excavation is found.

  • How were the terracotta figures constructed?

    -The figures were constructed using terracotta clay, with multiple workshops and over 720,000 laborers involved. Artisans molded each body part separately, and the figures were painted in bright colors, which have since faded due to exposure to air.

  • What does the presence of musicians, acrobats, workers, and government officials in the necropolis suggest about Emperor Qin's plans for the afterlife?

    -The presence of these figures suggests that Emperor Qin envisioned a comprehensive afterlife that included not just warfare, but also cultural and administrative aspects, indicating a desire for a well-rounded existence in the next world.

  • Why did Qin Shi Huangdi choose to use terracotta figures instead of sacrificing living beings?

    -Qin Shi Huangdi chose terracotta figures to avoid the practice of human sacrifice, which had been common in previous dynasties and other cultures. This decision reflects a shift towards a more humane approach to ensuring company in the afterlife.

  • How has the discovery of the terracotta army influenced modern tourism?

    -The discovery has made the site a popular tourist attraction, with people traveling from all over the world to see the stoic soldiers that have silently awaited their battle orders for centuries.

  • What parallels can be drawn between the terracotta army and the burial practices of other ancient cultures?

    -The terracotta army shares similarities with the burial practices of ancient Egyptians, who used clay models, and the Kofun period in Japan, where sculptures of horses and houses were buried. These practices reflect a common theme of providing for the dead in the afterlife across different cultures.

  • What is the significance of the empty fourth pit found in the necropolis?

    -The empty fourth pit suggests that the construction of the necropolis was an ambitious project that could not be completed before Emperor Qin's death, indicating the scale and complexity of the undertaking.

  • What were the key achievements of Qin Shi Huangdi's reign apart from the unification of China?

    -Apart from unifying China, Qin Shi Huangdi's reign saw the establishment of a universal system of weights and measures, a single standardized writing script for the entire country, and the construction of a defensive barrier, which later became known as the Great Wall of China.

Outlines
00:00
🏛️ The Emperor's Subterranean Army

This paragraph delves into the discovery of an extraordinary archaeological find near a small village in 1974, where farmers stumbled upon the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China. It narrates the ambitious and ruthless reign of Ying Zheng, who became Qin Shi Huangdi after unifying China's warring kingdoms. Obsessed with achieving immortality, Qin Shi Huangdi constructed a vast underground necropolis filled with over 8,000 life-size clay soldiers, along with war chariots, horses, and high command figures, standing in precise battle formation. Despite the emperor's death, the army remains a testament to his quest for eternal rule.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Qin Shi Huangdi
Qin Shi Huangdi was the first emperor of China, known for unifying the seven warring kingdoms. His reign marked significant accomplishments like the standardization of weights, measures, and writing script, as well as the construction of the Great Wall. In the context of the video, his quest for immortality and the creation of the Terracotta Army to accompany him in the afterlife is central to the narrative.
💡Terracotta Army
The Terracotta Army refers to the collection of more than 8,000 life-size terracotta soldiers discovered in pits near the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Each soldier is unique, with distinct features and ranks, and they were created to protect the emperor in the afterlife. The Terracotta Army is a key element in the video, showcasing the emperor's ambition and the artistic and logistical prowess of ancient China.
💡Underground Necropolis
An underground necropolis is a large, subterranean burial site. In the video, it refers to the massive tomb complex constructed for Qin Shi Huangdi, filled with monuments, artifacts, and the Terracotta Army. The necropolis symbolizes the emperor's desire to continue his rule in the afterlife and is a testament to the grandeur of his reign.
💡Alchemists
Alchemists are individuals who practice the historical philosophical and protoscientific tradition of alchemy, which aimed to transform base metals into noble ones, find an elixir of life, and achieve the philosopher's stone. In the video, Qin Shi Huangdi employs alchemists in his quest for immortality, reflecting his obsession with mortality and his attempts to defy death.
💡Elixir of Life
An elixir of life is a mythical potion or medicine that grants the drinker eternal life or longevity. In the context of the video, Qin Shi Huangdi's search for such an elixir exemplifies his fear of death and his attempts to secure his legacy by cheating mortality.
💡Great Wall
The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China to protect the Chinese states and empires against the raids and invasions of the various nomadic groups. In the video, the construction of the Great Wall is one of the many historic accomplishments during Qin Shi Huangdi's reign, symbolizing his efforts to secure and unify China.
💡Weights and Measures
Weights and measures refer to the systems of units and standards used in various fields for the quantitative comparison of physical quantities. In the video, the establishment of a universal system of weights and measures is mentioned as one of the historic accomplishments of Qin Shi Huangdi, highlighting his efforts to standardize and unify various aspects of Chinese society.
💡Standardized Writing Script
A standardized writing script is a system of writing that is uniformly accepted and used across a wide area or by a large population. In the video, the creation of a single standardized writing script for all of China is noted as a significant achievement of Qin Shi Huangdi, which helped to unify the diverse cultures and regions under his rule.
💡Terracotta
Terracotta is a type of earthenware that is fired at lower temperatures, resulting in a reddish-brown color. In the video, the Terracotta Army is sculpted from terracotta, which was molded into individual body parts and then assembled to create the life-size soldiers. The use of terracotta reflects the artistic techniques and materials available at the time.
💡Battle Formation
Battle formation refers to the arrangement of military forces in a specific pattern for combat. In the video, the Terracotta Army is described as still standing in precise battle formation, which suggests the military discipline and organization of the Qin army and the emperor's desire for order even in the afterlife.
💡Archaeological History
Archaeological history involves the study of human history through the excavation and analysis of artifacts and structures. The discovery of the Terracotta Army in 1974 is highlighted as one of the most important finds in archaeological history, as it provides invaluable insights into the culture, military, and burial practices of ancient China.
Highlights

In 1974, farmers discovered a vast underground chamber near their village, containing over 8,000 life-size clay soldiers.

The story of the clay army begins with Ying Zheng, who became the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi, after uniting seven warring kingdoms.

Qin Shi Huangdi's reign included significant accomplishments like a universal system of weights and measures and the Great Wall.

The emperor was obsessed with mortality and sought elixirs of life to achieve immortality.

Construction of a massive underground necropolis began early in his reign to accompany him into the next world.

The army is split across several pits, including a main force of 6,000 soldiers, 130 war chariots, and over 600 horses.

An empty fourth pit suggests the project could not be finished before the emperor's death.

Nearby chambers contain figures of musicians, acrobats, workers, officials, and exotic animals, indicating a more complex afterlife plan.

All figurines are sculpted from terracotta, a reddish brown clay, and constructed by multiple workshops and over 720,000 laborers.

Each warrior was molded separately, resulting in statues as individual as the real warriors in the emperor's army.

The warriors stand according to rank, with different weapons, uniforms, hairstyles, expressions, and unique ears.

Originally, each warrior was painted in bright colors, but the paint has since flaked off due to exposure to air.

The actual tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, with palaces, precious stones, artifacts, and rivers of mercury, remains unexcavated to protect its treasures.

Emperor Qin chose to have terracotta servants and soldiers built for his tomb, avoiding the practice of human sacrifice.

The terracotta army is a popular tourist attraction, with people traveling from around the world to see the stoic soldiers.

Transcripts

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