The Terra Cotta Warriors from China

When Qin, the first Emporor of China began his reign, he had thousands of people begin to make these Warriors, entertainers, and animals.  The purpose of all this was to guard his tomb and to protect him in the after-life. However, three years after his death his enemies discovered them and smashed them and burned them.  The Warriors were buried and forgotten until 1974 when a farmer was digging for a well and uncovered one of the heads.  Seven thousand have been unearthed and there are many more.  It has been a painstaking process to reconstruct the figures after being smashed. The tomb has not yet been excavated.  

Oh, what man will do to satisfy his own ego.  Qin was very cruel and slaughtered many thousands of lives in the process.

Qin did standardize the weights and measures of China and he did standardize the written language of China. 

This exhibit is being shown at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA just a 15 minute ride from Carol's house. Only twelve of the Warriors, several horses, and some cranes were on display.