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The construction of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum took 38 years with over 700,000 skilled workers and craftsmen to complete. This site still holds many enigmatic secrets awaiting decryption.
Exploring the Mysteries of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Tomb
Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the founder of the Qin Dynasty, the first unified dynasty in Chinese history, held strong beliefs in eternal life after death. Thus, he meticulously prepared for the afterlife, commencing the construction of his own mausoleum in 246 BC.
According to historical records, Emperor Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum took 38 years to construct with over 700,000 skilled workers and craftsmen. At the time of his demise, his son, Qin Er Shi, honored his father's wishes and interred him in this mausoleum as per the king's instructions.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum was discovered beneath a 76-meter-high burial mound resembling a pyramid, located north of Mount Lishan, in Lam Dong County, Tay An City, Thiem Tay Province in 1974. This discovery followed the excavation by local farmers, who uncovered the first terracotta warrior, sized similar to a real person.
The most significant discovery about this tomb is the army comprising more than 2,000 terracotta warriors along with horse-drawn chariots and bows. Four burial pits have been excavated, covering a total area of over 25,000 square meters. However, that's just the outer part of the tomb area. Archaeologists predict there could be up to 8,000 clay figures inside, where the eternal rest of the Qin Emperor lies.
Above the tomb is enveloped by a layer of soil piled 76 meters high, stretching 350 meters from south to north and 354 meters from west to east. Surrounding the tomb's surface are two layers of walls, the outer wall area is 2km² with gates. Between the two layers of walls are palaces, pavilions, temples, houses, and more.
The layout of the tomb mimics the capital city of Xianyang during the Qin Dynasty, divided into inner and outer cities. Recent surveys indicate that the underground tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang could be 260 meters long from east to west and 160 meters wide from north to south. The total area is 41,600 square meters, making it the largest tomb of the Qin and Han dynasties, equivalent to the size of 5 international football fields.
The central area of the tomb is believed to resemble a palace and is where the remains of the Qin Emperor and many treasures are located. This area occupies two-thirds of the total area, and the tomb also contains burial sites for the Emperor's concubines with 48 small tombs found. Additionally, archaeologists have discovered 98 chambers near the terracotta army area.
By the end of the 20th century, the international archaeological community supported the cessation of deep excavation into the tomb, fearing permanent damage to the monument. Furthermore, the mercury concentration inside the tomb is 280 times higher than normal levels, and concerns about tomb raiding traps also hinder excavation efforts.
Archaeologists estimate that the mercury concentration inside could reach up to 100 tons. This coincides with the records in the historical writings of Sima Qian in the Han Dynasty in the 2nd century BCE about the mysterious mercury river in the tomb of the First Emperor of Qin. After more than 2,000 years, the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang still holds many secrets that may take hundreds of years more to excavate and decipher.
The mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang has inspired numerous films due to its many unresolved mysteries. Each year, the excavated part of the tomb also attracts many tourists. The unearthed statues within the tomb area are also displayed in several museums worldwide. The mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987.
According to Mytour
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourApril 21, 2023
