These are some of the other Terracotta Warriors from the burial site of China's First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. They were handmade by craftsmen, from thick coils of clay, with sculptural detailing added by hand. The life-sized figures were then fired in huge kilns, before being painted. (The paint pigment has mostly weathered away, only traces remain.) Each figure is unique in their facial features and styling. They represent different ranks: infantrymen, archers, generals, cavalrymen, charioteers. They were arranged in military formation in the tomb and originally held real bronze weapons.
The expressions are so vivid on these. You wonder what the people who made them would think of them drawing attention so many centuries later.
ReplyDeleteI never knew that they were originally painted.
ReplyDeleteAren't you lucky to have seen them in person. I never have. China is just too far away ever to rise to the top of my bucket list.
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