The latest addition to Netflix’s non-fiction library, Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors, is a comparatively short but intriguing documentary film about the puzzling army of terracotta warriors discovered in China’s Shaanxi province. The film follows the ongoing excavation of the mausoleum, where the statues of numerous soldiers have been found, in a continuous effort to learn more about the mausoleum as well as the creators of it. What makes the terracotta warriors and the tombs surrounding them all the more interesting is the fact that they have been providing clues about the first united Chinese empire and have so far served as a key piece in figuring out the history of the time. Overall, Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors makes for a brilliant watch and is a must-watch for all fans of historical documentaries.
What are the terracotta warriors?
China’s terracotta warriors, also officially known as the terracotta army, are a group of more than 8,000 soldier figures, all made of terracotta, that were unearthed together at a mausoleum complex in Shaanxi Province in the north-west part of the country. Netflix’s Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors begins from the very point of discovery, back in 1974, when a group of farmers digging a well in the area suddenly stumbled across a terracotta face buried deep in the ground. An archaeologist, Yuan Zhongyi, was called to examine the strange finding, and together with a number of other archaeologists, he began an excavation at the place. What was found shocked the professionals and caused a stir throughout the world, as evidence of extreme creativity and adept pottery lay hidden underground at the spot for centuries. Given the vastness of the underground chamber and the historical significance of it, the terracotta army was soon considered as the eighth wonder of the world by many.
According to archaeologists and experts, there are more than 8000 soldier statues in the mausoleum, along with 130 chariots and more than 600 horses, all carved out of terracotta and left in various different poses. The soldiers, or warriors, are also categorized by their heights, which also probably signify the difference in their ranks and positions. The entire chamber and mausoleum, including its contents, can be dated back to 200 BCE, during the time of the first unified empire in China, founded by Qin Shi Huang. However, along with the discovery of the statues came a series of questions, quite naturally, as the fact that such a physically large chamber, containing so many objects, remained hidden for almost two thousand years was in itself quite astonishing.
The very reason for the existence of the warriors was confusing for a number of years, as they clearly did not serve only an artistic purpose. Although it was known that the Qin dynasty had created it, the once-powerful empire did not last very long, making it rather confusing as to how such an opulent kingdom could fall so quickly. The biggest mystery, however, was the fact that all of the terracotta warrior figures were actually found in a completely destroyed state, with each figure broken into many pieces. There was also enough evidence to suggest that a fire might have caused this massive destruction to the underground chamber, which raised the question about how such a disaster could take place. Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors looks into answering all these questions and more, as it also features the restoration and study of a recently found well-preserved tomb, quite close to the emperor’s mausoleum.
Why was the terracotta army built?
Based on the artifacts found in the underground mausoleum, it was clear that they had been made during the Qin dynasty, meaning that the powerful empire was the ones to build the entire place. The Qin dynasty was founded by Qin Shi Huang around the 220 BCE era with the main aim of building a united nation. At the time, the landmass that is now known as China was divided into six different and rival kingdoms, with the concept of a union never existing before. Shi Huang named himself the emperor of the lands and then brought together the kingdoms, giving birth to the nation of China. It was under his leadership, as part of a large-scale defense strategy, that the construction of the Great Wall of China was started. Most of the information from this time is based on a 2000-year-old historical record called the Shiji, and this collection mentions how Shi Huang bravely established the Qin kingdom, from which even the name of China was derived. It was in fact Qin Shi Huang himself, the very first emperor of China, who ordered the construction of the terracotta warriors and the compound in which they were kept.
The warriors and the entire mausoleum were meant to be the burial place of the royal emperor, and Shi Huang had essentially started preparing for his own afterlife. Much like the Egyptians many years earlier, Shi Huang and the civilization at the time were also extremely invested in the ideas of the afterlife, and the emperor was obviously expected to receive special treatment even after his death. The terracotta warriors were basically made as symbols of the royal army. They were the emperor’s protectors who protected him in the afterlife. The statues were made to look lifelike, with clear expressions carved on their faces, and according to many studies, these faces resembled those of the common Chinese men at the time. They were also adorned with various pieces of armor and weapons, ranging from minute to large, and detailing was something that was given extra attention.
An insight is provided into the construction work as well, since a few clues found at the excavation site reveal who the workers building these statues were. The construction of the terracotta warriors was a large-scale affair, with people from many villages coming together for the work. Artisans and craftsmen from various parts of the kingdom were hired to design the statues and give them exquisite details. The mausoleum and the compound also had to be built, and the prisoners and criminals were used for this purpose. The Qin empire had very strict laws that were extremely harsh on anyone flouting the rules, and those who got themselves associated with criminals were also considered wrongdoers. All of these prisoners were forced into manual labor, and they were appointed for the construction of the compound and the gathering of supplies required for the statues. A number of shackles found at the excavation site prove that prisoners, with the shackles on their feet, were used in the construction work.
Some of the burial sites have been found to contain dismembered bones and skulls of human bodies, suggesting that the victims were actually executed and their limbs were torn apart in an act of extreme torture. Some of these bodies have been found with pearls and other precious stones, which suggest that they were close to the emperor, and based on historical records, it seems most likely that these bodies belonged to women who were courtesans in the emperor’s harem. They were executed after the political situation completely changed within a few years of the Qin dynasty’s rule, but the fact that they were buried near the mausoleum in the same compound suggests that an entire society was being built for the afterlife of Qin Shi Huang.
How did the Qin dynasty fall?
The history behind the fall of the Qin dynasty is almost as remarkable and interesting as the tale of the terracotta warriors, as it included ploys, betrayals, and outright rebellion. It all began with Qin Shi Huang refusing to officially name his successor during his life, consolidating all the power of the kingdom with himself. During a tour in the eastern part of the Qin kingdom, Shi Huang fell sick and eventually died from the illness, although his passing was kept a secret from everyone. It was only the chief eunuch of the kingdom, Zhao Gao, and the Qin chief minister, Li Si, who knew about the death of Shi Huang, and they intentionally kept it a secret, for the emperor had left behind a hurried letter to his eldest son, officially announcing him as the royal successor to the throne. However, Zhao Gao wanted to take control of the kingdom himself and had plotted an indirect but effective plan to enforce his wish. Prince Hu Hai, the youngest of Shi Huang’s sons, was also the closest to the emperor and to the royal court, since he would often accompany his father on official tours.
The only reason for Shi Huang to have named his eldest son as his successor, despite the latter not being active in the running of the kingdom at all, is probably respect for his seniority in age. Hu Hai had no intention to disobey his father’s death wish either, but it was Zhao Gao who convinced him otherwise. Together with Li Si, Gao forged the dead emperor’s final letter and mentioned Hu Hai as the next official successor. This was a move to take over control themselves, as Hu Hai could be easily molded by the two corrupt officials, and it would mean that they were essentially the rulers of the kingdom. As long as the news of Hu Hai becoming the second emperor of the dynasty was not spread and accepted, Gao and Si kept Shi Huang’s dead body hidden inside a cart, even though it had started to decompose and smell in the terrible heat of the summer months. Eventually, Qin Shi Huang was buried in the mausoleum built for him, and although his body has not been found, it is almost certain that it is not in any intact shape after all these years, especially since the body had already started to decompose before the burial.
The rule of Hu Hai marked the beginning of the downfall of the Qin dynasty. Rebel forces in the nearby provinces also wanted to make use of the weak kingdom, and leaders started to wage wars against them. Many of the prisoners, who were earlier forced into constructing the mausoleum, were now forced to fight for the new empire. It is only because of their comparatively advanced weaponry that Hu Hai managed to save his kingdom the first few times, but it was steadily crumbling down internally. Ultimately, a rebel leader forced his way into the capital city together with his men, and the sudden attack caught the Qin warriors off-guard. The attack turned into an absolute bloodbath, and every member of the Qin dynasty was killed off, marking an end to the very first empire of China.
How did the statues get destroyed?
As the terracotta statues were all found in an extremely rundown state, with evidence of a devastating fire as well, the researchers have spent a considerable amount of time finding the cause behind this destruction. Based on all the historical and archaeological evidence, it is most likely that the statues and the mausoleum compound were intentionally attacked and destroyed by opposing forces, and therefore the easiest theory is that this attack took place at the same time when the Qin dynasty capital was attacked by the rebellious raiders. Many of the foot soldiers among these raiders were also possibly men who had been prisoners forced into constructing the mausoleum, which meant that they knew about the location of statues. Therefore, out of vengeance against the Qin dynasty, which had mistreated them fiercely, the raiders set fire to the entire city, including the underground mausoleum, and it is believed that this deadly fire continued for months at a stretch. Thus, the statues and artifacts in the underground chambers were obviously destroyed, and this was also possibly why such immense architecture was never found until very recently in 1974.
Who did the unearthed tomb belong to?
Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors also presents the exciting discovery of a new, completely untouched tomb that was found near the mausoleum compound. The tomb had all its original contents, as nothing had been stolen by thieves in the following two thousand or so years, like in the case of other such structures. Because the place was facing extreme threat due to rainwater, the Chinese government decided to move the whole structure, without detaching it, into a covered area through a marvelous engineering plan. Researchers have been determined to find out who the tomb belonged to, since evidence suggests that someone close to the royal family must have been buried in it. It has also been proven that it was built after the death of the first emperor, Shi Huang, and so many thought that it could have been that of the second emperor.
Within a few years after Hu Hai’s coronation, Zhao Gao wanted to replace him too, and he got the emperor killed mercilessly. But Hu Hai was not given the respect of being buried like an emperor, and so it is perhaps not possible that the newly discovered tomb belonged to the second Qin emperor. After the coronation, Hu Hai’s siblings and cousins were also targeted, and they were all killed. One of them, Prince Gao, had supposedly offered his own life without any struggle, only asking to be buried close to Emperor Shi Huang in return. Therefore, it is also believed that the tomb might actually be that of Prince Gao. Although the owner of the tomb has still not been found out, the Terracotta Warriors and the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang continue to be explored by archaeologists, with the hope that more will be uncovered about the first empire of unified China.
