In the past, Chinese people believed that when they died, the things they took with them to the grave stayed with them in their next life.
The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BC), had this belief, and he ordered his people to build an army of soldiers that would protect him in the afterlife. These soldiers are also known as the Terracotta Army. They are named after terracotta, a type of clay used to make them.
More than 700,000 workers made the first emperor’s clay soldiers. The Terracotta Army was hidden underground for more than 2,200 years in Xian, a city in central China. It was accidentally discovered by a group of farmers in 1974 while they were digging a well.
What does the Terracotta Army look like?
More than 8,000 figures make up the army. Not only are they all life-size, but each one looks different. Some soldiers hold weapons, and some ride horses. They look like they are ready to fight (see graphic). There are also dancers and musicians to entertain the emperor.
The discovery of the Terracotta Army is important because it shows what armies were like in the past and helps us understand Chinese history better.
