The tomb of Shihuangdi is a historical monument found in China. This magnificent monument was discovered by archaeologists in 1974 (Anon, 2009). The mausoleum is situated in Shensi Province of China. Apparently, it was constructed during the reign of the first Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi and since then, the tomb became a prominent archaeological site.
Archaeologists have continually excavated the site in quest of historical evidence. However, it has remained to be a historical mystery why the Emperor decided to bury live slaves and prison workers who constructed the tomb. So far, the mystery of the site is yet to be unraveled.
To start with, it is well understood that the first Emperor of China ordered the mausoleum to be put in place while he was still young at the age of 13 years (Malcolm, 2009). The mausoleum came into completion after 36 years after which the young ruler died and buried there. Since the time the monument was discovered, remarkable work of art has been identified. For this reason, archaeologists have always been in operation to unfold the mystery behind the scenario.
Additionally, the strategic site of the mausoleum still puzzles the world since it was constructed in form of a city. It is believed that probably, the Emperor desired luxurious and comfortable life after death. Moreover, the tomb is guarded by warriors who are distinctly different from each other.
Needless to say, other treasures such as sculptures of horses, weapons and different species of aquatic birds have been identified in the tomb. It is believed that many people including slaves and prisoners were killed and buried in the mausoleum so that they could not reveal secrets of the tomb.
Consequently, there are several theories that have been put forward to explain the mystery of the tomb. For instance, the mythical theory has been prominent among local natives (Anon, 2009). According to belief system of Chinese people, there is existence of supernatural powers. In fact, they believe that the sculptured warriors in the tomb are real men and that they are there for a short time. Additionally, they believe in life after death hence the emperor was preparing for a luxurious life after death (Malcom, 2009).
In line with this, scientific theories have been applied to explain mystery behind the mausoleum (Duiker & Spielvogel, 2009). For instance, archaeologists have for a long time, excavated the monument in order to unfold the mystery. As a result, much has been discovered from excavated site although different archaeological theorists have varying assumptions on the mystery.
Moreover, world philosophers have also been largely involved in exploring the tomb although they are yet to come up with conclusive findings. Most probably, application of scientific theories may be the best way to go in understanding mystery of the tomb.
Certainly, use of scientific theories is reliable in the sense that they are based on observable facts. For instance, through archaeology, it is possible to excavate the monument and derive evidence from observable artifacts (Duiker & Spielvogel, 2009). Additionally, philosophers are able to infer the implication of the mysterious tomb.
Philosophy as a scientific discipline relies on shrewd reasoning and rationality in judgments. Similarly, philosophical theories apply logic argument unlike myths that rely on unproven doctrines. This implies that scientific theories are reliable since evidence not biased (Duiker & Spielvogel, 2009). Contrastingly, myths rely on common assumptions and hence can be misleading. Needless to say, myths are not scientifically testable since they are partly based on common sense knowledge and assumptions.
References
Anon. (2009). World Geography: the Mystery of Qin Shi Huangdi’s Mausoleum. Retrieved from http://www.theworldgeography.com/2011/03/mystery-of-qin-shi-huangdis-mausoleum.html
Duiker, W. & Spielvogel, J. (2009).World History, Volume 1.Boston: Cengage Learning, Inc.
Malcom, J. (2009).What’s Inside Qin Shi Huang’s Tomb? Web.