How was art depicted through the famous Terracotta Warriors of the Qin dynasty in China?
...s to be buried with them to assure that their needs in the afterlife be satisfied (Cooper 22) The construction of this tomb also symbolizes immortality, which Qin Shi Huang Di has ever aspired of. The tomb can be found once you enter the Xi’an City Wall (see fig.1a&b). This wall was constructed later on in the Tang dynasty (618-907) by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. This wall has been restored or reconstructed for three times. The first restoration was in 1568 by Zhang Zhi, a government official during that period who was assigned to rebuild it. The second restoration was in 1781 by another officer named Bi Yuan. He repaired the city wall and the gate towers. The third and recent restoration was in 1983 by the Shaanxi Provincial Government. A circular park has also been added together with trees and flowers to decorate the classical Chinese architecture of the wall. The tomb contains more than 8,000 life-sized clay figures- warriors and horses alike. These figures were said to be based on the real imperial guards and other men serving the emperor. According to La Plante, “the tomb mound was enclosed by two walls laid out in a rectangular plan with the long axis running north and south” (107). (see fig. 3 & 4) The outer wall was said to be more than 3,000 feet from the east to west. The inner wall, on the other hand, was said to be 1,900 feet from north to south and about 2,000 feet long from east to west ( La Plante 107). The tomb consists of three pits that group these figures in accordance to their ranks. Amazingly, the tomb can be compared to the pyramids of Egypt since it is also pyramidal in form ( La Plante 107). The figures in the tomb consisted of the infantrymen (with their weapons), members of the rank and file, charioteers and their horses (with remains of the chariots), cavalry horses and their pottery riders. The archers are in kneeling position or lunging forward. (see figure 6) The figures in the tomb were made of fired earthenware (except for their weapons which were made of real metal). Also, “this means that they required long, gradual heating before reaching maximum kiln temperature, and that this temperature must have been fairly low. Otherwise, the great variation in clay thicknesses would have caused them to crack” (La Plante, 108-109). Most original paint of the figures have already shed off but it is astounding to know and see that most of these figures still stand and can still be distinguished. They have hollow bodies with walls about 7.5 cm (3 inches) thick. They stand on massive legs that support the figures’ upper bodies, which were life size or even larger. (see fig. 8) The basic shapes of the figures are archaic. They are linear, axial, and sometimes unproportioned (because of the large legs of the warriors that serve as support for their upper body). There is also “lively variety and stylistic consistency” (Becker 74). Their faces depict their differences in regional origin that is why no two figures are alike. Each were individually made and modeled. It can also be seen that these figures are strikingly true to life. With looking at these figures, one can surmise that they have different positions or ranks that show thru their clothing (includes their hairstyles, caps, and armors) and stature. (see fig. 5) The horse figures (see fig. 7a & 7b) like the human figures were very much life-like. Whoever could have made these horse figures must have imagined how life-like his/their work could be since the figures seem to be breathing (with air coming out of the horses’ nostrils). The Terracotta Warriors served more than a world wonder. It is a manifestation of Chinese sculpture that brings about its artistic qualities. The figures’ ...