China's first real emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, died more than 2200 years ago in 210 BCE, but his remarkable legacy is still quite apparent. He was an energetic and visionary despot who made no small plans. Qin Shi Huangdi subjugated his many enemies, unified his empire militarily and politically, began work on the Great Wall, designed an extensive system of roads, standardized the currency and the system of weights and measurements, and laid the foundation for a comprehensive legal and administrative system that existed for centuries.He also assembled a workforce of some 700,000 men to work for 36 years building a vast necropolis near Xi'an. His mausoleum is still visible from the highway about a mile west of where his underground army was discovered. It is a huge burial mound that has still not been excavated. Ancient written sources say that it contains a miniature version of his realm, complete with rivers of liquid mercury and a sky studded with pearl stars. Two incredible bronze chariots, complete with horses and drivers, have been recovered from his tomb and are now on display. Archeologists have begun work on a large number of surrounding structures and tombs, unearthing many bronze artifacts and weapons, stone armor, pottery sculptures, rare birds and animals, and human bodies.
In 1974, peasants digging a well in a field about a mile of the mausoleum discovered pottery fragments that led to one of the most astonishing and significant finds in the history of archeology: Qin Shi Huangdi's underground army of terracotta warriors. To date, three huge pits covering about 22,000 square meters have been excavated, revealing the shattered fragments of about 8000 highly detailed life-sized warriors and horses. These silent guardians were meant to protect the emperor's tomb and allow him to continue his conquests in the afterlife.If only a single one of these remarkable sculptures had survived, it would be hailed as an unequalled work of art. To see rank after rank of them standing in battle formation just as they did 2200 years ago is simply breathtaking. The terracotta army has been called the Eighth Wonder of the World. Susie and I agree that this is no exaggeration.
Today (October 12), I read in the China Daily that a group of sculpted musicians has just been discovered near the imperial tombs. We know that Shaanxi province contains many more unexcavated ancient tombs. This area is the Chinese equivalent of Egypt's Valley of the Kings, and untold wonders still await discovery.
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