The Terracotta Army

Qin Shi Huang and the Terracotta Army

More than two thousand years ago, China was divided into many small kingdoms. There was war between them for a long time. Finally, in 221 BCE, a powerful king named Ying Zheng from the state of Qin won the battles. He united the kingdoms and became the First Emperor of China. He called himself Qin Shi Huang.

Qin Shi Huang was a strong and strict ruler. He wanted to make his new empire safe. He ordered the building of roads and canals to connect the land. He also began building the Great Wall to protect China from enemies in the north. He made one system of money, one system of writing, and one set of laws for all people. These changes helped China stay united for many years.

But Qin Shi Huang was also afraid of death. He wanted to live forever. He asked doctors and magicians to make special drinks that could give him eternal life. Unfortunately, these medicines did not work. Some even made him sick. Still, he continued to search for a way to live forever.

Because he feared dying, Qin Shi Huang planned a great tomb for himself. He wanted to be safe and powerful even after death. To guard his tomb, he ordered the creation of a huge army—but not of real soldiers. Instead, his workers made thousands of life-sized statues out of clay, called terracotta. Each statue was different. Some had mustaches, some wore armor, and some carried weapons. There were generals, archers, and horsemen. They looked like a real army standing in formation.

The work took many years. It is said that more than 700,000 workers helped to build the emperor’s tomb and his Terracotta Army. The soldiers were placed underground, near the emperor’s burial place, to protect him in the afterlife. When Qin Shi Huang died in 210 BCE, he was buried inside the tomb with his clay army standing guard.

For many centuries, people forgot about the Terracotta Army. The tomb was hidden under the ground. In 1974, some farmers near Xi’an, in Shaanxi Province, were digging a well. Suddenly, they found pieces of clay soldiers. At first, they were surprised and confused. Later, archaeologists came to study the site. They discovered not just a few statues, but thousands of them. It became one of the greatest discoveries in world history.

Today, the Terracotta Army is considered a wonder. Visitors from all over the world come to see the soldiers. They stand silently, as if waiting for orders from their emperor. The details are amazing: the faces, the hair, the clothes, and the weapons all show the skill of ancient Chinese artists.

The Terracotta Army reminds us of the power and dreams of Qin Shi Huang. It also shows the creativity and hard work of the people who built it. Although the emperor never found eternal life, his army of clay has made him live forever in history.

Comprehension Questions

Answer these questions about the Terracotta Army.

1. Who united the kingdoms of China in 221 BCE, and what title did he take?
2. What changes did the emperor make to keep the empire united and safe?
3. Why did Qin Shi Huang create a tomb guarded by clay soldiers?
4. When and where was the Terracotta Army discovered, and by whom?
5. What does the Terracotta Army tell us about ancient Chinese people and their skills?