The Terracotta Warriors

Emperor Qin Shihuang, founder of China’s first Qin dynasty, built himself a massive tomb with 8,000 terracotta clay soldiers and 800 horses and chariots guarding his resting place. The soldiers were adroitly carved—each with unique facial characteristics and expressions. The scale of production still baffles archaeologists.

The Terracotta Army was created before Emperor Qin’s death in 210 B.C. but, amazingly, the tomb was not unearthed until 1974. After over 2,000 years of burial, local farmers discovered it just outside Chang’an in central China. Today, the army’s grandeur sheds light on the glorious, short-lived Qin dynasty, the first to unite China.

Shen Yun’s dance Recalling the Great Qin brings this story, and the Terracotta Warriors, to life.