The Mystery of Shi Huangdi's tomb
Emperor Qin Shihuangdi was a tough and cruel leader that wanted to live well beyond the time he was given on earth. He spent his time on the throne in search of a way to live eternally; a way to become immortal. “He drank elixirs of jade and mercury…” (Perhaps sending him to the grave sooner rather than later?) “…he climbed mountains (the legendary resting places of the gods), and he even sent hundreds of children out onto the sea to search for the rumoured islands inhabited by wise men who supposedly knew the secret to immortality.” (Jennifer Wolff, 2007) Yet none of this was quite enough to allow him to live and rule forever. When Qin died in 210 BC the people of his empire, no longer under the control of the cruel emperor, went into rage and rebelled against the tyranny. The Qin dynasty was overthrown in 206 BC, a short 4 years after the Emperors death. Though Qin did not leave without a reminder of his legacy… he left quite the opposite; a vast mausoleum containing the tomb where he lies and multiple pits full of life-like terracotta warriors resembling the army behind his cruel rule.
There is not currently sufficient technology to open his tomb as exposure to the air could potentially cause the deterioration of important archaeological artifacts within. The only idea that we have of what lies within is from the writings of Sima Qian, an historian of the Han Dynasty that dedicated a large portion of his life to writing the Records of the Grand Historian. These writings span more than two thousand years, from the time of the Yellow Emperor to his own time. Qian gives account for what lies inside the confines of Mount Li where the tomb resides:
As soon as the First Emperor became king of Qin, excavation and building had been started at Mount Li, while after he won the empire more than seven hundred thousand conscripts from all parts of the county worked there. They dug through three subterranean streams and poured molten copper for the outer coffin, and the tomb was filled with models of palaces, pavilions and offices, as well as fine vessels, precious stones and rarities. Artisans were ordered to fix up crossbows so that any thief breaking in would be shot. All the country’s streams, the Yellow River, and the Yangtze were reproduced in quicksilver and by some mechanical means made to flow into a miniature ocean. The heavenly constellations were shown above and the regions of the earth below. The candles were made of whale oil to ensure they burned for the longest possible time. The Second Emperor decreed “It is not right to send away all those of my father’s ladies who had no sons.” Accordingly all these were ordered to follow the First Emperor to the grave. After the interment someone pointed out that the artisans who had made the mechanical contrivances might disclose all the treasure that was in the tomb. Therefore after the burial and sealing up of the treasures, the middle gate was shut and the outer gate was closed to imprison all the artisans and labourers, so that no one can come out. Trees were planted over the mausoleum to make it seem like a hill.
-Sima Qian
At first there was much debate over whether Qian’s account was reliable, mostly due to the seemingly outrageous account of liquid mercury flowing inside the tomb, though his writings were given more credit when, in 1974, a farmer digging a well in the Shaanxi Province stumbled upon shards of what was later found to be the famous terracotta warrior army (Jennifer Wolff, 2007). Qian was given some credibility to his name after the discovery of the pits.
The Ancient Chinese held strong belief in the afterlife and were adamant believers that the po part of the soul had to be sustained through offerings and sacrifice. Did Qin believe that everything he took with him to the afterlife would sustain his soul and essentially give him eternal life in death?
There is not currently sufficient technology to open his tomb as exposure to the air could potentially cause the deterioration of important archaeological artifacts within. The only idea that we have of what lies within is from the writings of Sima Qian, an historian of the Han Dynasty that dedicated a large portion of his life to writing the Records of the Grand Historian. These writings span more than two thousand years, from the time of the Yellow Emperor to his own time. Qian gives account for what lies inside the confines of Mount Li where the tomb resides:
As soon as the First Emperor became king of Qin, excavation and building had been started at Mount Li, while after he won the empire more than seven hundred thousand conscripts from all parts of the county worked there. They dug through three subterranean streams and poured molten copper for the outer coffin, and the tomb was filled with models of palaces, pavilions and offices, as well as fine vessels, precious stones and rarities. Artisans were ordered to fix up crossbows so that any thief breaking in would be shot. All the country’s streams, the Yellow River, and the Yangtze were reproduced in quicksilver and by some mechanical means made to flow into a miniature ocean. The heavenly constellations were shown above and the regions of the earth below. The candles were made of whale oil to ensure they burned for the longest possible time. The Second Emperor decreed “It is not right to send away all those of my father’s ladies who had no sons.” Accordingly all these were ordered to follow the First Emperor to the grave. After the interment someone pointed out that the artisans who had made the mechanical contrivances might disclose all the treasure that was in the tomb. Therefore after the burial and sealing up of the treasures, the middle gate was shut and the outer gate was closed to imprison all the artisans and labourers, so that no one can come out. Trees were planted over the mausoleum to make it seem like a hill.
-Sima Qian
At first there was much debate over whether Qian’s account was reliable, mostly due to the seemingly outrageous account of liquid mercury flowing inside the tomb, though his writings were given more credit when, in 1974, a farmer digging a well in the Shaanxi Province stumbled upon shards of what was later found to be the famous terracotta warrior army (Jennifer Wolff, 2007). Qian was given some credibility to his name after the discovery of the pits.
The Ancient Chinese held strong belief in the afterlife and were adamant believers that the po part of the soul had to be sustained through offerings and sacrifice. Did Qin believe that everything he took with him to the afterlife would sustain his soul and essentially give him eternal life in death?