Terracotta Army History

Written by Sally Guo Updated Apr. 20, 2021

The ancient China Terracotta Army has a history of 2,200 years, which dates back to the Qin dynasty. Emperor Qin Shi Huang ascended the throne when he was 13, he gave orders for its construction in 247 BC.

The construction of the terracotta Army was aimed at protecting his power after death. It was finished in 208 BC. Let’s take a quick through the history timeline.

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Construction Timeline

246 BC: Construction began beside Emperor Qin’s tomb
210 BC: Emperor Qin died
208 BC: Construction finished, taking nearly 40 years
Around 206 BC: Natural flood. Deliberate destruction by Xiang Yu
1974: First discovered pit 1
1976: Pits 2 and 3 were discovered
1979: Pit 1 was opened to the public
1987: Pit 3 was opened to the public. The Terracotta Army and Tomb of Emperor Qin were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage, as well as labeled the “Eighth Wonder of the World”.
1994: Pit 2 was opened to the public
2009: The third excavation of pit 1 began
2011: Three auxiliary museums were opened to the public

terracotta army history Timeline — Terracotta Army History Timeline

Terracotta Army was Built from 247 BC to 208 BC

According to the Records of the Grand Historian, Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered to building his mausoleum when he ascended the throne in 247 BC. His prime minister Li Si was responsible for planning and design, while the senior general Zhang Han supervised the construction.

Emperor Qin became China's first emperor when he was 38 after the Qin had conquered all of the other Warring States and unified China in 221 BC. It took 39 years to complete in 208 BC, 2 years after he died.

In the historical record, the total population of the Qin Dynasty was about 20 million. However, more than 700, 000 laborers were served in building this grand underground terracotta army. What a massive project!

In 206 BC, Burned and Destroyed by Xiang Yu

In the first year of Qin Ziying (206 BC), the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang suffered the largest man-made damage. According to historical records, Xiang Yu (a noble of the Chu state), rebelled against the Qin dynasty and became a prominent warlord.

He invaded Guanzhong (Central Shanxi Plain), the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang was been destroyed on a massive scale, the buildings were razed to the ground, the underground mausoleum was been excavated, and the terracotta warriors and horses were also seriously damaged, partly burned with fire.

Archaeologists found there some black charcoal ash scattered over Pit 1 and Pit 2, which indicated that the collapse was caused by fire.

In 1974, Pit 1 Terracotta Army Was Discovered

The Terracotta Army was first discovered in March 1974 by five local farmers in Xian. They came across pieces of a clay figure while digging a well in the field. Then inform local authorities who notify archaeologists in this region.

Zhao Kangmin, the local archaeologist, the real person of first recognized the Terracotta Warriors, identified it as a cultural relic and initially restored it to protect this great cultural heritage.

In 1976, Pit 2 and Pit 3 Was Excavated

After discovering Pit 1, archaeologists began to research and protect the site, as well as find other relics. In 1976, pit 2 was excavated with 1,000 warriors in the chariot cavalry corps and unveiled to the public in 1994. Pit 3 was discovered in 1976 and opened to visitors in 1987. In December 1987, the site was listed as a world cultural site.

Terracotta Warrior Found in Pit 2 — General Warrior Found in Pit 2

In 1979, The Pit 1 of the Terracotta Army Was Open to the Public

After 5 years of excavation and investigation, The Museum of the Terracotta Army was built on the site where the Terracotta Army was found. Pit 1 was first opened to the public on Chinese National Day in 1979.

In 1996, The Mysterious Pit 4 Was Found

On February 22, 1996, archaeology confirmed that there was also a mysterious pit 4 in the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

"Pit 4" was suited between pits 2 and 3, with an area of 4,600 square meters. Surprisingly, it was an empty pit, they couldn’t find any pottery figures at all. Archaeologists conjectured that the pit was a proposed military array, which may not have been completed due to the outbreak of peasant uprising in the late Qin Dynasty. Another conjecture was that "pit 4" was an earth trench, they used the soil for building terracotta pits.

Protection of Terracotta Army at Present

Over the years, the Terracotta Army suffered natural disasters, corrosion, weathering, and man-made damage, until it was accidentally discovered. Since the year 2000, Archaeological teams have cooperated with well-known international biological companies, to establish a multi-functional laboratory for pottery status protection, material analysis, and environment preservation. They will be continued to excavate and research its cultural significance.

Popular the Terracotta Army Trips

Want to get to know the history of China? Go to Xi'an. Want to get to know about Xi'an? Not miss Terracotta Army! Please see our more popular trips to explore this ancient wonder:

4 Days Xi'an Highlights with Mt. Hua Experience Trip -- cycling around the Ancient City Wall get views of the sunset, taste local snacks at the Muslim Quater, and Walk along the cliffside on the Mt. Huashan
2-Day Xi'an Highlights Trip -- cycling around the Ancient City Wall, Seeing the Terracotta Warriors and horses face-to-face, visiting a cave-dwelling that used to be a residence for local farmers
China Essence Experiences (Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai) — Visit China's classic sights in this 8-day tour — our BEST-SELLER.

We have developed some special activities in Xi'an, including discovering a mysterious place to have a close experience with a Terracotta Warrior. Contact us if you want to add these activities to your itinerary.