Terra Cotta Warriors

After lunch, we drove out into the countryside to the pits holding the terra cotta warriors. On the way there, we passed the emperor’s tomb––a large mound with trees on it. I was on the wrong side of the bus to get a photo of it. The emperor’s tomb has not been excavated yet. Yesterday, late afternoon, on our way from the Xian airport, we also saw a number of other burial mounds along the highway, still waiting excavation.

On the Way to the Terra Cotta Warriors

Someone decided that China needed an Eqyptian pyramid––an entertainment center.

On the Way to the Terra Cotta Warriors

We have left the city and are in the countryside.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Where the terra cotta warriors are located, in a valley below the mountains.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Sign for a store at the site offering a little bit of many things. We were also approached by many hawkers.

Terra Cotta Warriors

A better photo of our very sweet Xian guide, Jenny.

Terra Cotta Warriors

The entrance to Pit 1 holding the terra cotta warriors. There are three pits here. Together, the three pits are estimated to contain over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, 520 regular horses, and 150 calvary horses. However, most of them have not been excavated yet.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Inside Pit 1, the largest pit with the greatest excavation. I have never seen a photo showing the covering over the warriors, so I had always thought they were exposed to the elements. This setup surprised me. It is estimated that there are over 6,000 figures in this pit, with only about 1,000 being unearthed. The warriors are about 6 feet to 6 1/2 feet tall. These were the regular army warriors.

Terra Cotta Warriors

To the left side. In 1974, some farmers were digging a well and discovered some clay fragments. Further digging exposed the terra cotta warriors. They were created by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, being completed in 246 B.C. Their purpose was to provide him with an army so he could establish a new empire in the afterlife.

Terra Cotta Warriors

To the right. Way in the back of the photo are another group of warriors and horses set above ground. Photos of them later.

Terra Cotta Warriors

The terra cotta warriors.

Terra Cotta Warriors

The terra cotta warriors.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Originally, the warriors were painted in bright colors.

Terra Cotta Warriors

No two warriors faces are exactly alike.

Terra Cotta Warriors

The terra cotta warriors.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Terra Cotta Warriors

The terra cotta warriors.

Terra Cotta Warriors

The terra cotta warriors.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Some of the horses.

Terra Cotta Warriors

More horses.

Terra Cotta Warriors

More horses and warriors.

Terra Cotta Warriors

A closer–up.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Another closer–up.

Terra Cotta Warriors

I really felt that these warriors and horses would soon wake up and start walking around.

Terra Cotta Warriors

This warrior still had some of the original paint on him.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Another close–up.

Terra Cotta Warriors

And another.

Terra Cotta Warriors

The warriors from another angle.

Terra Cotta Warriors

A warrior from the side. He would have been holding onto something.

Terra Cotta Warriors

The warrior hospital––parts of the figures awaiting matchups.

Terra Cotta Warriors

The warriors in the back of the pit.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Closer up.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Some are in a cleaned pit and others are at ground level.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Another view.

Terra Cotta Warriors

These are ready to begin marching.

Terra Cotta Warriors

You can see that some of these warriors have been “wounded.”

Terra Cotta Warriors

Closer–up.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Standing at attention, some without heads.

Terra Cotta Warriors

More warriors.

Terra Cotta Warriors

More warriors.

Terra Cotta Warriors

More warriors.

Terra Cotta Warriors

From the back.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Horses and a warrior.

Terra Cotta Warriors

More horses.

Terra Cotta Warriors

From the rear.

Terra Cotta Warriors

We left Pit 1 and entered a store where Mr. Yang Ximan was autographing books on the terra cotta warriors. The sign behind him says “The discoverer of terra–cotta warriors and horses––Yang Ximan.” He autographed the book I bought and I was thrilled. When I got home, I started being curious as to why my book just said that local farmers had discovered the warriors in 1974 while they were digging a well. No names of the farmers were mentioned. Doing some research, some of the farmers names are known and, previously, they, not Mr. Yang, were signing the books. One article even called Mr. Yang an imposter, not being one of the discoverers. It is said that all the book signers were illiterate, so they all had to be taught to sign their names, taking sometimes months to do so.

Terra Cotta Warriors

However, it was Mr. Yang Ximan, we were told, who was introduced to the Clintons as the farmer who discovered the warriors when the Clintons visited here in 1998 (they were allowed into the pit).

Terra Cotta Warriors

We then went to visit Pit 2, a smaller pit than Pit 1. Little has been excavated here. This where the cavalry and infantry are. It is estimated that there are over 1,000 warriors and 90 chariots here. .

Terra Cotta Warriors

Warriors and horses in Pit 2.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Close–up.

Terra Cotta Warriors

However, some of the warriors excavated from Pit 2 were on display behind glass. This is a standing archer.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Calvaryman with saddled warhorse.

Terra Cotta Warriors

From the side.

Terra Cotta Warriors

High–ranking officer.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Middle–ranking officer.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Kneeling archer.

Terra Cotta Warriors

A small store in Pit 2 was offering to put your portrait in this uniform. One of the professors, Bill, had his photo taken for it, but he never showed it to us (we asked to see it).

Terra Cotta Warriors

Or you could have your portrait placed here.

Terra Cotta Warriors

We are now in the museum. These are marionettes.

Terra Cotta Warriors

A restored chariot and horses found in the pits.

Terra Cotta Warriors

From the side.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Another restored chariot and horses.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Workers working on the warriors (photo in the museum).

Terra Cotta Warriors

Workers working on the warriors (photo in the museum).

Terra Cotta Warriors

Workers working on the warriors (photo in the museum). We left the terra cotta warriors to go to the Xian city wall––next album.