Eighth Wonder Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and its Terra-cotta Army

The intention of the noble to take better life after the death, caused that the well-known and colossal pyramids arose in old Egypt and, in China, the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. Excavated only partially, he is one of the greatest mysteries of the today world,

The tomb of Qin Shi Huang is to few tens from kilometers to the east of XI ’ an, capital of the province of Shaanxi, rises as a small hill in the middle of green fields of culture. It has the form of a pyramid. It is not a stony structure, but a mass of tamped layers of loess, where the rest of First Qin Emperor have been conserved by more than two thousand years.

In the history of China, Qin Shi Huang was a very special personage. It ascended to the throne, that inherited of its father to the 13 years of age, and took possession from the position to the 22. Later, by means of the war, it annexed to neighboring states and it finished in ten years his conquest of the other six rival powers. In 221 a. n. e., founded the first feudal empire on the history of China. Pleased by its feats, “ was also denominated First Emperor ". Present people call “ Emperor of the Millenium ".

After its enthronement the construction of the tomb in a geománticamente appropriate place began. This one in the mount leans and watches towards the water. 40 years took the works, with the participation of than 700 000 workers more recruited, one tenth part of young people and adults of that one then. One had not even concluded, when the Qin dynasty arrived at its term.

We do not know why in spite of the passed millenia, since a was buried the emperor in 210. n. e. this tomb never has been abierta. The inner details only are known by Annals of History: The excavation is deep until the underground water layer. It had to reinforce itself with copper materials. In the ground there was a mercury river, on which the gold coffin floated. The part superior of the bent ceiling of the firing chamber, where is the coffin, has painted stars, while the part inferior is decorated with a topographic map of China and paintings of landscapes of its amplest kingdom. The firing chamber, illuminated by one “ perpetual Lamp ", contains jewels and other objects of extraordinary value. The entrance is guarded by crossbows controlled by mechanical apparatuses, con possible profanadores.

Many archeologists feel the obsession to reveal the sooner this great enigma. Nevertheless, the protection of so rich cultural inheritance demands prudence to take the safest measures.

The Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang was originally a magnificent cemetery. The constructions in the surface no longer exist. The investigations reveal that the mausoleum was built according to the city-planning plan of Xianyang, capital of the Qin dynasty, also divided in two parts: interior and outside, the tomb and its peripheral area measure 66 km2s, extension ampler than present XI ’ an.

Soldiers and corceles of natural size were shortages in this zone, in March of 1974, when a group of farmers excavated wells. Thus, the eighth wonder of the world – the Terra-cotta Army of Qin Shi Huang- left to light.

To 1.5 km to the east of the mausoleum, near 8 000 figures of ceramics, 100 wood cars and 40 000 pieces of bronze arms they were arranged in three graves of 000 a total surface of 20 m2. The pit núm. 1 has a surface of 12 000 m2. He is greatest and it contains 6 000 sculptures of horses. In the pit núm. 2 – half of the extension of first, are thousand horses. The pit núm, only 3 occupies an area of 500 m2. It exhibits 68 soldiers. According to archaeological investigations, the pits symbolize the army that while still alive had Qin Shi Huang, protect the mausoleum, and the soldiers are prepared in military formation. Núm. 3 are the headquarters, that directs to the three armies.

From the tribune of magazine in the pit núm. 1, can be seen an underground injury without comparison in the world. Three rows of 210 soldiers constitute the vanguard. The crossbowmen, followed by 40 columns of infants, horsemen come soon and coachmen, battleships, all leave by tens of tunnels. To the sides left and right, the guard and, in the end, three rows rear. The imponenente formation of the ready army to enter battle, suggests to think at that time, in the effort and I throw of the First Emperor to unify its vast empire.

The soldiers and corceles of terra-cotta constitute a beautiful sculptural world. Each, with the closed mouth; some stay, calm standing up.

Heads and bodies of the soldiers have been molded, cooked later and painted separately, and united. Before they were painted. By the erosion of the time and the underground water, there are lost to a large extent the color.

The discovery of this terra-cotta army, pres-date the appearance of the sculpture in colors to the Qin dynasty and not to the Tang, as it assumed before. The authors of this numerous terra-cotta Qin army have been the pioneers in giving force, vivacity and realism to the Chinese sculpture.

The shortage until today is not but reduced part of the great Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. In nondistant future, innumerable cultural relics and valuable bronze cars will leave to light, when the main area of the gigantic mausoleum is explored.

He will be without a doubt a little while stirring in the history of the archaeological findings of China.