Table of Contents
World of Antiquity travels toward Xi’an and treats forbidden Chinese pyramids as an open question, not as a lost technology already proved. Many structures around the city are called pyramids. Some rises are ordinary hills. Others look built, and the host asks whether true pyramids wait inside them. Most of the visit then stays with what excavators have cleared. Farmers who struck pottery while digging a well had found the pits of the terracotta army, life sized figures meant to guard the emperor after death. One pit mixes soldiers, horses, and wooden chariots, and in 1980 two grand bronze chariot teams came from a nearby pit. The project may have run for decades after the ruler died in 210, or begun only once China was unified in 221, and it stopped in the revolt of 208. The host notes the huge labor, the turn from killed attendants to clay substitutes, and later Han tombs with armor, stables, and a builders’ graveyard. Museum cases add inscribed bronze, coin molds, and a single way to write.
Key points
- Many mounds near Xi’an are called pyramids, yet some may be natural hills and most are still unopened.
- Villagers uncovered the terracotta army when they hit pottery while digging a well.
- The figures were made to guard the emperor after death, in pits of soldiers, horses, and chariots.
- Two large bronze chariot teams were taken from a nearby pit in 1980.
- Work may have lasted decades after unification in 221 and stopped when revolt came in 208.
- Clay figures came to replace human victims, and one standard was imposed on Chinese writing.
Short quotes
even if they have vegetation growing on them are clearly artificial the question is are there really pyramids under there
World of Antiquity, Chinese mounds and the terracotta army
He is asking whether mounds that still carry plants actually conceal pyramids. Watch at 4:04
afterlife well that's what these terracotta warriors also did they were warriors that were going to protect the
World of Antiquity, Chinese mounds and the terracotta army
He explains the clay army as guards for the imperial tomb in the next life. Watch at 7:40
life-sized Terracotta Warriors and horses along with 90 wooden chariots pit number two was renowned for its variety
World of Antiquity, Chinese mounds and the terracotta army
He is describing the second pit, with its soldiers, horses, and wooden chariots. Watch at 10:05
take in 1980 two elaborate bronze chariots with horses were excavated from a nearby pit these are the largest and
World of Antiquity, Chinese mounds and the terracotta army
He notes the two bronze chariot teams recovered from a nearby pit in 1980. Watch at 20:11
sacrifices although the custom was falling out of favor and figurines largely replaced human sacrifices the
World of Antiquity, Chinese mounds and the terracotta army
He says clay figures came to stand in for people who would once have been killed. Watch at 28:36
things he abolished other writing systems there's only one way to write a Chinese script now and that's one of his
World of Antiquity, Chinese mounds and the terracotta army
He recalls the rule that Chinese writing would follow a single system. Watch at 52:23
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