The mausoleum of the first Qin Shihuang

     Qin Shihuang was the first ever emperor of China and conqueror of many different regions in Asia. His longest lasting legacy however is the tomb he constructed to immortalize his achievements, create a long-lasting impact on China, and conquer death itself. His tomb consists of a great underground city, populated with statues of a his army which included infantry, cavalry, light vehicles, and their corresponding weaponry. The warriors are stationed outside the Emperor's burial chamber which contains a multitude of artifacts. The Qin dynasties early contributions to Chinese culture are located here, and through analyzing some of the artworks present within the mausoleum we may gain further insight into that culture. 

    During Shihuang's rule, The First Emperor was able to unify the region under one ruler, even if that rule was short lived. Despite his dynasties control only lasting 15 years (221- 206 B.C.E.), he built the framework for the centralized state that would dominate China until the early 20th century. His unification of seven warring states that all vied for power over one another (Terracotta Warriors...). His conquest of this region earned him the title of military genius, and relied on brutal tactics deemed necessary for the overall stability of China, viewing these as necessary to forming a strong state. Domestically, his reign is known for innovations to many major systems of China, such as standardizing currency, writing, and measurement systems. He also oversaw the creation of a complex network of roads and canals between cities as well as continuing construction on their border wall with Mongolia (Terracotta Warriors...). 


    When planning this tomb, Qin Shihuang focused on conquering death and pursued immortality itself. Though this was unachievable, he does leave behind a major cultural landmark that can teach us much about this quest. Guarded by an army of several thousand warrior sculptures the emperor's tomb mimics the design of the empires capitol, Xinyang, which is located in central China (Terracotta Warriors...). The First Emperor was also infatuated with the cosmos, and lined his burial context with gems to represent the celestial bodies. He sought guidance from the cosmos on his quest towards immortality and sought to connect his burial place with them. The site also contains high levels of mercury, which is thought to have been part of a representation of the Chinese landscape. 

"Terracotta Warriors From the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor of China,"  Kahn Academy, accessed Oct 22, 2020. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/south-east-se-asia/china-art/a/terracotta-warriors-from-the-mausoleum-of-the-first-qin-emperor-of-china 


Comments

  1. Luna VelarOctober 23, 2020 at 9:51 AM

    Hi Alex!

    It's very interesting how Qin Shi Huang was focused on conquering death, I wonder if he thought he would conquer the lands of the after life and that's why he buried himself with so many warriors? Great post!

    ReplyDelete

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