They were not meant to represent the Qin armies that would otherwise have been sacrificed when the Qin Emperor died. Instead, the elaborate tomb and the terracotta warriors were representations of the things that the Emperor wanted to take with him into death and the afterlife.
This desire for a pristine final resting place accompanied by his terracotta warriors stemmed from his obsession with immortality and the afterlife. Items reflecting wealth and stature such as precious stones were elements believed to contribute to the recreation of the emperor's afterlife and allowing him to achieve immortality as he continue the same life in the next world.
The Emperor's military conquest of China made his army and its war horses an essential part of the Qin Empire. The number of horses and chariots that have been found in the excavations represents the strength of the Qin's army. The almost life-like details of the terracotta warriors display a greater sense of reality, and resonate to us the ancient beliefs of immortality and afterlife once again.
Legacy of the Qin …show more content…
Legalism was a form of government with focus on greater efficiency and less adherence to tradition. Strict adherence to the letter of the law was made paramount. It was during this time that the great burning of books and massacre of many scholars were carried out as the Emperor believed that an uneducated population would be easier to control.
Standardisation swept across many aspects of life under the Qin Dynasty. These include standardised axle size of wheels for transport efficiencies, standardised units of measure and money and Chinese scripts across the empire.
The Emperor personally oversaw the construction of his own tomb and the intricate terracotta warriors that accompanied him in his afterlife and ensuring his legacy in the event of his death. The tomb is again a reflection of the Emperor's relentless desire to be immortal and his search for immortality. The skill of the Qin Dynasty's technology and craftsmanship in producing the terracotta warriors remains an insurmountable feat till