In the spring of 1974, in Xiyang Village, Lintong County (now Lintong District, Xi’an City), Shaanxi Province, local farmers discovered fragments of terracotta figures while digging a well.
“These terracotta fragments were scattered haphazardly around the well site. Some speculated they belonged to a brick kiln; others thought they were statues from an ancient temple,” recalled Yuan Zhongyi, who was the team leader of the archaeological excavation of the Terracotta Army at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.
Although what was initially unearthed were merely broken pieces, the few statues reconstructed from those fragments were enough to shock the archaeological community of the time. From the hairstyles and costumes, to the facial expressions and stances of the figures—alongside the simultaneously discovered bronze arrowheads and crossbow triggers—it became clear: these were Qin dynasty warrior statues.
Xu Weihong, who later led the third excavation phase of Pit One of the Terracotta Army, still vividly remembers the moment a painted terracotta figure was unearthed. She carefully scraped a basketball-sized lump of earth with a scalpel, and as the loose soil fell away, a colorful terracotta figure with pink cheeks and crimson lips gradually emerged into view.
“The moment I locked eyes with ‘him’, it felt as if I was facing a real Qin dynasty warrior,” Xu recalled.
In 2023, the results of the third excavation of Pit One were announced: over 200 new terracotta figures and horses had been discovered, the military formation was preliminarily clarified, and the production process of the Qin terracotta warriors was further confirmed.
Over the past half-century, the excavation, protection, and study of the Terracotta Army has continually yielded significant results, gradually revealing to the world a magnificent historical scroll dating back more than two thousand years.Staggering in scale: Pits One, Two, and Three of the Terracotta Army were discovered in succession, covering over 20,000 square meters. They contain approximately 8,000 terracotta warriors and horses, along with tens of thousands of bronze weapons like arrowheads and crossbows.Systematic in layout: The military formation of the pits is highly organized, with clearly defined zones such as barracks and command tents. The arrangement reflects not only military discipline but also tactical preparedness, with both offensive and defensive capabilities.Exquisite craftsmanship: The warriors are not only varied in posture and attire, but their facial features differ markedly as well. Scholars have identified face shapes resembling Chinese characters like , combined with different expressions, beards, and hairstyles, creating a vivid showcase of “a thousand faces, a thousand personalities.”
“The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and its Terracotta Army is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century,” said Jiao Nanfeng, a researcher at the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology. “The excavation of the Terracotta Army marked the starting point of modern archaeological research into the Qin Dynasty and its culture, sparking decades of progress.”
In 1987, UNESCO included the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, including the Terracotta Army pits, in its World Heritage List.
“The Terracotta Army possesses immense artistic, historical, and scientific value,” said Xu Weimin, a professor at Northwest University who specializes in Qin and Han history and archaeology. “It is not only a precious cultural heritage for exploring Chinese civilization, but also an important medium for showcasing the splendor of Chinese culture to the world.”
One astonishing fact is that when first buried underground, the Terracotta Warriors did not appear in the dull gray tones we see today. Archaeological data shows that the figures were originally painted in over a dozen vivid colors—such as bright red, light green, and ochre.
“After being buried for over two thousand years, the pigments that remained would begin to alter within just 15 seconds of exposure to air. Within 4 minutes, they would completely dehydrate, curl up, and flake off—sometimes leaving only faint traces on the surrounding soil.”
The discovery of the Terracotta Army transformed this once-quiet rural area into a world-renowned tourist destination. To date, over 160 million domestic and international visitors have come to witness the grandeur of the Qin Empire. In 2023 alone, the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor Museum welcomed over 11 million visitors—a record high since the museum’s founding.
Today, the Terracotta Army stands as a golden emblem of Chinese civilization presented to the world, embodying both the artistic brilliance and historical depth of ancient China. From silent warriors buried for millennia to cultural icons seen by millions, these statues continue to breathe life into history, bridging time and space with their enduring presence.
