Terra-Cotta Army: Organizational Power of Qin Dynasty Research Paper

Introduction

The history of art and architecture proves their great role as they enjoy in the present times. One of the indisputable master arts of the world can be located in China a nation blessed with the tradition of excellent architecture and world-recognized monuments. “Jacques Chirac, president of France, once said: “One can’t claim to have visited China unless one has seen these Terra-cotta Warriors,” Shiraz predicted that the life-size warriors would become a major tourist attraction for visitors from around the world. Indeed, since its excavation in 1974, millions of foreign visitors have toured the Terra-cotta Warriors Museum in Xi’an and marveled at the underground wonders”.

The claim of Shiraz seems to be very true as one watches the astonishing piece of art. The most significant archeological excavations of the last century might be considered as this marvelous museum that covers a region of 14,000 square meters and holds 6,000 life-size terra-cotta warriors and horses. The figurines lined in neat formation make a remarkable sight of splendor and radiance that attracts the spectators and captures their admiration. Now to mention the other characteristics of this great architectural beauty, the following may be considered. “The 2,200-year-old wonder was part of the Tomb of Qinshihuang, the first emperor of China. It is located in the suburb of Xi’an and was discovered when local farmers were digging a well nearby. Three exhibition halls house the continuing excavation of an army of 7,000 terra-cotta soldiers and horses that guard the tomb of Qinshihuang”.

The organizational power of the Qin Dynasty

The Terracotta Army can be well regarded as the best confirmation of the organizational power of the Qin Dynasty. It may be noted that this dynasty is the one that unified China in 221 BC. It has now proved to be one of the symbols of China’s long and sound cultural history. The rapid growth of China in every sector makes us feel that the architectural beauty will get recognition all the more as it reminds the world of China’s future potential. To give some facts about the history of the piece, it may be noted that Qin Shi Huang, who became the first Emperor of united China started the work of catacomb at his 13 which took him almost eleven years to finish. At his death, he was buried at the northern foot of Lishan Hill. The fact that the tomb has been reduced to half its size after 2,000 years of water and soil erosion has not made any decline in its splendor and it is still impressive the tomb now is 76 meters high and a fundamental space of 120,000 square meters. The excavations of 1974 unearthed this architectural grandeur. The long march of the terracotta warriors towards the state of the architectural beauty of the day may be summarized as follows.

The precautionary measures against the climate damage and physical harmful conditions proved to be very effective and it was a significant excavation that provided the world with one of the greatest works of beautiful construction. At the finding of the work, the State Council made necessary steps to build a museum on site in 1974. After the museum, it seemed to be one of the marvelous art museums of the world. “Life-size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations are the star features at the museum. They are replicas of what the imperial guard should look like in those days of pomp and vigor.”

Covering an area of more than sixteen thousand square meters to make a beautiful setting, the museum is divided into three different sections based on the order of their discoveries. Thus, we can find three sections in the museum.

Listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world’s cultural heritages, the museum now has become the prestigious symbol of a Chinese art gallery. “There are four main categories of figures: chariot warriors, infantrymen, cavalrymen, and horses. There are generals, middle-ranking officers, lower-ranking officers, ordinary soldiers, and armored warriors. The latter can be further divided according to their headgear into warriors with a square scarf, a cylindrical bun, or a flat bun. There are kneeling warriors as well.”

The site of the museum

The site of the museum itself is astonishing and there are many beautiful pieces of the most incredible architectural pieces are available in the museum. The Terracotta Army is a stunning piece of extraordinary quality and the various excavations that have made possible this magnificent view needs to be specially remarked. Large numbers of the Terracotta Army’s men and horses, displayed in military formation, make the museum a great view of architectural quality. Their construction can be considered nothing but a masterful work of the highest architectural quality. The enthralling unearthing of pieces like terracotta bureaucrats, entertainers, and strong men, life-size bronze birds, hundreds of suits of stone armor and terracotta warriors, and many such pieces catch the particular attention of the visitors. The abundance of beauty and grandeur of the museum makes it impossible to compare to any other pieces of this kind. Popularly regarded as the eighth wonder of the world, the Chinese terra-cotta warriors display the masterful nature of Chinese traditional architecture. The Museum of the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses that attracts international tourists to China is especially remarkable for its combination of art and culture with computer technology conveying world legacy in cyberspace. The general observation one can make about the great work of architectural beauty can be well established in the following comment. “Qin terracotta warriors and horses, inspired by the success, as evidenced as early as 2,000 years ago, the Qin Dynasty, and pottery technology has reached a very high water”.

Conclusion

Thus in the history of art in the world, Chinese terra-cotta warriors possess an incredible position and they stand as a superb example of architectural excellence. This analysis of the historic architectural piece of Chinese terra-cotta warriors proves that the work is historically as well as artistically great to modern art lovers without any regional barriers. That is the same reason why the work is considered the example of not national pride alone but a universal pride. What makes the greatness of the Chinese terra-cotta warriors is their historical context. It is “the fact that Qin Shi Huang had 7,000 of them built to protect him in the afterlife, and that thousands of conscripts died toiling for one man’s zany megalomania” that makes the historical context of the warriors and they will be worthless “if you view them as isolated aesthetic objects sealed within a historical vacuum, but what a sterile way to treat archeology. Surely context is what gives such items meaning, and emotion.” Thus, we may conclude that the work is a superb example of artistic merit viewed in a historical context.

References

1. Terracotta Warriors (Terra-cotta Army)
2. Terracotta army conquers British Museum, A platoon of China’s terracotta warriors has landed in the British Museum, 2007)
3. Terracotta Army. Web.
4. Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses Pits (Qin dynasty, 221-206 B.C.) Sights & Attractions — Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses Pits) Web.
5. Terracotta Warriors Pit 2. Web.
6. Terra-Introduction. Web.
7. Fighting for the terracotta warriors. Web.