Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang


One of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the last century occurred in March 1974,
near the city of Xian in the north-central province of Shaanxi. Farmers digging for water
unearthed a fragment of a warrior figure, part of the Terra Cotta Army of Qin Shi Huangdi,
who ruled between 246 and 210 BC.

The construction of the Qin Mausoleum began as soon as Qin Shihuangdi ascended the
throne in 246 BC. The work intensified after the conquest of the rival states employing
720,00 workers for a period of 39 years. Li Si - minister of Qin also supervised the project
which was halted in 208 BC., when the capital was besieged by the rebel troops.

The site chosen was south of the Weihe River beside the slopes of Black Horse
Mountain in what is now Lintong county, 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Xian. Screened by
the five peaks of Lishan Mountain, the site coincides with traditional Chinese geomantic
omens as an ideal burial place for emperors who held the belief that they would spend
their afterlife in another world.

Records state that the mausoleum, which covers 56.25 square kilometers, was a microcosmic replica of the Qin capital. Originally, double
rectangular walls surrounded the mound with gates on the four cardinal points resembling the imperial city. The inner wall measured 1,355
meters from north to south and 580 meters from east to west, with a perimeter of 3,870 meters. The length of the outer wall was 2,165 meters from
north to south and 940 meters from east to west.

Recently discovered in 1974 by Chinese peasants who were drilling a well, the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi proved to be one of the greatest
archaeological finds in both historical importance and in sheer physical bulk.

The underground palace of the mausoleum is the core of the whole buildings. Some survey indicates that the ceiling is studded with jewels
depicting the sky, and mercury was pumped in mechanically to create images of flowing river. Trial digs have revealed high contents of mercury in
the soil. Candles made from the fat of the walrus were said to bum for a very long time .This indicates that the interior of the mausoleum is grand
and gorgeous palace and treasure house. It is said that the underground palace was brightly lit by whale oil lamps for eternity. The coffin of
Emperor Qin Shihuang was cast in bronze. The palaces and other buildings within the walls of the mausoleum were destroyed. Only the huge
pyramid of the mound survived the devastation, In 1987 the mausoleum was by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.