Terracotta Warriors
The Terracotta Army was created during the Qin dynasty to accompany the first emperor of unified China, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife. Thousands of life-sized figures representing soldiers, horses, and chariots were arranged in military formation within large underground burial pits. The scale of the complex reflects the administrative and artistic capabilities of early imperial China.
Each figure displays individualized facial features and variations in clothing and armor, demonstrating a high level of craftsmanship. Archaeological discoveries at the site have revealed details about military organization and artistic production during the third century BCE. The figures illustrate the importance of funerary practices within imperial belief systems.
The Terracotta Army provides insight into early imperial authority and the resources devoted to monumental construction projects. The preserved site illustrates the cultural and political significance of the Qin dynasty in shaping the foundations of imperial China.
Armored terracotta infantry stand in close formation at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Armored terracotta infantry stand in close formation at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Rank upon rank of terracotta infantry fill a narrow excavation trench at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, part of the vast third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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Rank upon rank of terracotta infantry fill a narrow excavation trench at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, part of the vast third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
From a high vantage point, dense ranks of Qin dynasty terracotta infantry with varied topknots and armor stand in formation at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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From a high vantage point, dense ranks of Qin dynasty terracotta infantry with varied topknots and armor stand in formation at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
An archaeological deposit of collapsed terracotta warriors and scattered fragments fills the excavation floor at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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An archaeological deposit of collapsed terracotta warriors and scattered fragments fills the excavation floor at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
A mixed infantry group of armored and robed terracotta warriors, each with distinct facial features and hairstyles, stands in formation at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, created for the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A mixed infantry group of armored and robed terracotta warriors, each with distinct facial features and hairstyles, stands in formation at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, created for the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
A close group of robed, unarmored terracotta infantry stand before armored figures at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A close group of robed, unarmored terracotta infantry stand before armored figures at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
A high-angle view over the Terracotta Army at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an reveals dense ranks of mixed armored and robed infantry figures, created in fired clay for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A high-angle view over the Terracotta Army at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an reveals dense ranks of mixed armored and robed infantry figures, created in fired clay for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Seen from above, a front rank of robed, unarmored terracotta infantry stands before darker armored soldiers at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, created for the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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Seen from above, a front rank of robed, unarmored terracotta infantry stands before darker armored soldiers at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, created for the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
A tight cluster of terracotta infantrymen, including heavily armored warriors picked out in raking light, stands in silent ranks at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A tight cluster of terracotta infantrymen, including heavily armored warriors picked out in raking light, stands in silent ranks at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
Close view of two front-rank terracotta armored warriors, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, part of the vast funerary army created for Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Close view of two front-rank terracotta armored warriors, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, part of the vast funerary army created for Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
A modern monumental sculpture of dark-metal galloping horses rises above rock-like forms at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary landscape of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A modern monumental sculpture of dark-metal galloping horses rises above rock-like forms at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary landscape of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
A visitor climbs the broad entrance stairway to the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, where the famed third-century BCE terracotta army was created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A visitor climbs the broad entrance stairway to the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, where the famed third-century BCE terracotta army was created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
A textured ceremonial pavement with repeating wave-like relief stretches beneath a bilingual warning sign at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A textured ceremonial pavement with repeating wave-like relief stretches beneath a bilingual warning sign at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Close view of cast bronze paving panels with archaizing, taotie-like scroll motifs, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Close view of cast bronze paving panels with archaizing, taotie-like scroll motifs, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Excavated terracotta horses stand in a row before nearby warrior figures at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary army created for Qin Shi Huang.
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Excavated terracotta horses stand in a row before nearby warrior figures at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary army created for Qin Shi Huang.
A wide view across Pit 1 at the Terracotta Army site shows ranks of Qin dynasty terracotta warriors in long earthen corridors beneath the soaring steel-framed roof of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor museum complex near Xi’an, created in the third century BCE for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A wide view across Pit 1 at the Terracotta Army site shows ranks of Qin dynasty terracotta warriors in long earthen corridors beneath the soaring steel-framed roof of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor museum complex near Xi’an, created in the third century BCE for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
Standing terracotta infantry form orderly ranks within an excavation pit at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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Standing terracotta infantry form orderly ranks within an excavation pit at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
From a museum walkway above the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, a visitor looks down into a deep earthen excavation shaft at the Terracotta Army complex, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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From a museum walkway above the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, a visitor looks down into a deep earthen excavation shaft at the Terracotta Army complex, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
A modern monumental sculpture of galloping horses encircles a rocky mass in the landscaped grounds of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi’an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A modern monumental sculpture of galloping horses encircles a rocky mass in the landscaped grounds of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi’an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
A red visitor-service kiosk overlooks a flock of white pigeons on the museum plaza at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army complex near Xi'an, where the ancient figures were created for the funerary realm of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A red visitor-service kiosk overlooks a flock of white pigeons on the museum plaza at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army complex near Xi'an, where the ancient figures were created for the funerary realm of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Chinese national flags and red lanterns line the brick facade of a commercial building at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Chinese national flags and red lanterns line the brick facade of a commercial building at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Interlocking scrolls and mask-like forms in an archaizing bronze pavement relief, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Interlocking scrolls and mask-like forms in an archaizing bronze pavement relief, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Bright red outdoor café tables emblazoned with Chinese and English Coca‑Cola logos stand at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, a contemporary pause point at the museum complex devoted to the third‑century BCE funerary army of Qin Shi Huang near Xi’an.
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Bright red outdoor café tables emblazoned with Chinese and English Coca‑Cola logos stand at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, a contemporary pause point at the museum complex devoted to the third‑century BCE funerary army of Qin Shi Huang near Xi’an.
A checkerboard walkway of pale stone slabs and green grass leads through the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, part of the Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary landscape of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A checkerboard walkway of pale stone slabs and green grass leads through the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, part of the Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary landscape of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
A checkerboard garden path of pale stone slabs set in manicured grass at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, part of the vast funerary complex where the Terracotta Army was created for Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A checkerboard garden path of pale stone slabs set in manicured grass at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, part of the vast funerary complex where the Terracotta Army was created for Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
The main exhibition hall of the Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi’an, its broad arched roof rising beyond formal lawns and flowerbeds, stands above the buried ranks of third-century BCE terracotta figures made for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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The main exhibition hall of the Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi’an, its broad arched roof rising beyond formal lawns and flowerbeds, stands above the buried ranks of third-century BCE terracotta figures made for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
A visitor in dark clothing pauses for a full-length portrait before the landscaped approach to the main exhibition hall at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A visitor in dark clothing pauses for a full-length portrait before the landscaped approach to the main exhibition hall at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
An overhead view of a dense rank of armored terracotta infantry at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an reveals individualized faces and topknots, part of the third-century BCE funerary army of Qin Shi Huang.
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An overhead view of a dense rank of armored terracotta infantry at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an reveals individualized faces and topknots, part of the third-century BCE funerary army of Qin Shi Huang.
Close view of an armored terracotta warrior, his individualized face and plated cuirass emerging from the earthen backdrop of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, where such figures were created in the third century BCE for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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Close view of an armored terracotta warrior, his individualized face and plated cuirass emerging from the earthen backdrop of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, where such figures were created in the third century BCE for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
A tight cluster of armored terracotta infantry, each with distinct facial features and topknots, stands in sharp sunlight at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, part of the third-century BCE funerary army of Qin Shi Huang.
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A tight cluster of armored terracotta infantry, each with distinct facial features and topknots, stands in sharp sunlight at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, part of the third-century BCE funerary army of Qin Shi Huang.
A wide overview of Pit 1 at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an reveals long earthen corridors densely lined with terracotta warriors, created in the third century BCE for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A wide overview of Pit 1 at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an reveals long earthen corridors densely lined with terracotta warriors, created in the third century BCE for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
A visitor leans on the railing above Pit 1 at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, overlooking the terracotta ranks created for Qin Shi Huang’s third-century BCE funerary complex.
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A visitor leans on the railing above Pit 1 at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, overlooking the terracotta ranks created for Qin Shi Huang’s third-century BCE funerary complex.
Dense ranks of terracotta infantry stand in ordered rows under raking light in the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Dense ranks of terracotta infantry stand in ordered rows under raking light in the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Two visitors pose at the railing of Pit 1 inside the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, with ranks of terracotta warriors—crafted for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE—stretching out beneath the vast hall roof behind them.
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Two visitors pose at the railing of Pit 1 inside the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, with ranks of terracotta warriors—crafted for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE—stretching out beneath the vast hall roof behind them.
Terracotta infantry stand in close formation, their varied plate armor still dusted with reddish soil, at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Terracotta infantry stand in close formation, their varied plate armor still dusted with reddish soil, at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
A visitor pauses for a close portrait inside Pit 1 hall at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, where the terracotta ranks were created in the third century BCE for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A visitor pauses for a close portrait inside Pit 1 hall at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, where the terracotta ranks were created in the third century BCE for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
Raking light grazes a clustered front row of terracotta infantry, revealing distinct faces, hands, robes, and armor at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Raking light grazes a clustered front row of terracotta infantry, revealing distinct faces, hands, robes, and armor at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
A sunlit terracotta warrior with a rounded topknot and armored torso stands beside a deeply shadowed companion at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A sunlit terracotta warrior with a rounded topknot and armored torso stands beside a deeply shadowed companion at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
A dense formation of terracotta infantry, their individualized faces and hairstyles emerging from the ranks, fills the frame at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A dense formation of terracotta infantry, their individualized faces and hairstyles emerging from the ranks, fills the frame at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
Side-on view of tightly aligned terracotta infantry ranks receding in long rows along an earthen wall at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary army created for Qin Shi Huang.
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Side-on view of tightly aligned terracotta infantry ranks receding in long rows along an earthen wall at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary army created for Qin Shi Huang.
A damaged terracotta warrior with a missing arm stands against the raw earth at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, one of the third-century BCE figures created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A damaged terracotta warrior with a missing arm stands against the raw earth at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, one of the third-century BCE figures created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
Lower-torso view of standing terracotta warrior figures, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where such soldiers were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Lower-torso view of standing terracotta warrior figures, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where such soldiers were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
A visitor in a white polo poses with folded arms before Pit 1 at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, where ranks of terracotta warriors crafted for Qin Shi Huang’s third-century BCE funerary complex stretch out behind him beneath the steel-roofed hall.
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A visitor in a white polo poses with folded arms before Pit 1 at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, where ranks of terracotta warriors crafted for Qin Shi Huang’s third-century BCE funerary complex stretch out behind him beneath the steel-roofed hall.
A smiling visitor in a white polo poses beside the blurred ranks of the Terracotta Army at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, where clay warriors were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A smiling visitor in a white polo poses beside the blurred ranks of the Terracotta Army at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, where clay warriors were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
An elevated view of terracotta infantry formations shows rows of Qin dynasty soldiers divided by earthen partitions in the excavation pits of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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An elevated view of terracotta infantry formations shows rows of Qin dynasty soldiers divided by earthen partitions in the excavation pits of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Three-quarter view of terracotta soldiers with distinct topknots and wrapped collars, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Three-quarter view of terracotta soldiers with distinct topknots and wrapped collars, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Partially buried terracotta warrior emerging from compacted earth at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Partially buried terracotta warrior emerging from compacted earth at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Rows of terracotta soldiers and horses recede along parallel earthen ridges in a wide excavation view at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where these fired-clay figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Rows of terracotta soldiers and horses recede along parallel earthen ridges in a wide excavation view at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where these fired-clay figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Warm light pours across deep corridors of terracotta infantry at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, revealing dense ranks of third-century BCE warriors created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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Warm light pours across deep corridors of terracotta infantry at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, revealing dense ranks of third-century BCE warriors created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
A diagonal row of terracotta horse heads, their mouths open and ears pricked, stands in ordered formation at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A diagonal row of terracotta horse heads, their mouths open and ears pricked, stands in ordered formation at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
Headless terracotta warrior figures stand in damaged ranks, their hollow necks and intact armor plates revealed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi’an, part of the third-century BCE funerary army made for Qin Shi Huang.
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Headless terracotta warrior figures stand in damaged ranks, their hollow necks and intact armor plates revealed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi’an, part of the third-century BCE funerary army made for Qin Shi Huang.
Layered earthen and brick structural remains lie exposed in the excavation trenches at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Layered earthen and brick structural remains lie exposed in the excavation trenches at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
A museum-displayed terracotta warrior head, its arched brows, moustache, and modeled lips crisply lit against a dark background, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where such figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A museum-displayed terracotta warrior head, its arched brows, moustache, and modeled lips crisply lit against a dark background, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where such figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
The lower torso and bent knee of a terracotta kneeling archer in detailed lamellar armor are seen behind glass at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary army created for Qin Shi Huang.
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The lower torso and bent knee of a terracotta kneeling archer in detailed lamellar armor are seen behind glass at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary army created for Qin Shi Huang.
Reflected in the glass of its museum case, the close-up of a terracotta warrior’s studded armor evokes the martial ranks created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an in the third century BCE.
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Reflected in the glass of its museum case, the close-up of a terracotta warrior’s studded armor evokes the martial ranks created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an in the third century BCE.
An armored terracotta warrior with moustache and tied hair stands behind glass under focused lighting at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary army made for Qin Shi Huang.
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An armored terracotta warrior with moustache and tied hair stands behind glass under focused lighting at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary army made for Qin Shi Huang.
In a narrow excavation corridor at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, collapsed terracotta warriors and horse fragments from the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang lie broken across a brick-paved trench.
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In a narrow excavation corridor at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi’an, collapsed terracotta warriors and horse fragments from the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang lie broken across a brick-paved trench.
Unarmored terracotta infantry in cross-collared robes stand in formation at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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Unarmored terracotta infantry in cross-collared robes stand in formation at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
A close formation of unarmored, broad-sleeved terracotta infantry stands before ranks of armored soldiers at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi’an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A close formation of unarmored, broad-sleeved terracotta infantry stands before ranks of armored soldiers at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi’an, created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Two individualized terracotta warrior heads, their moustached faces caught in raking light, are seen in close view at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary assemblage of Qin Shi Huang.
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Two individualized terracotta warrior heads, their moustached faces caught in raking light, are seen in close view at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary assemblage of Qin Shi Huang.
A close grouping of damaged and intact terracotta warrior heads, including a broken foreground figure and a sunlit, moustached soldier behind, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where these fired-clay figures were made for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A close grouping of damaged and intact terracotta warrior heads, including a broken foreground figure and a sunlit, moustached soldier behind, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where these fired-clay figures were made for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Rows of robed, unarmored terracotta infantry stand in close formation at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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Rows of robed, unarmored terracotta infantry stand in close formation at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
In this close archaeological detail, the muzzle and forelegs of a terracotta cavalry horse loom behind a robed warrior, part of the third-century BCE funerary army of Qin Shi Huang at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an.
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In this close archaeological detail, the muzzle and forelegs of a terracotta cavalry horse loom behind a robed warrior, part of the third-century BCE funerary army of Qin Shi Huang at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an.
Two male visitors walk toward the camera inside the bright entrance of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, a site whose ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Two male visitors walk toward the camera inside the bright entrance of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, a site whose ancient figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Terracotta horses with standing attendants or cavalry figures in an excavation trench at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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Terracotta horses with standing attendants or cavalry figures in an excavation trench at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor near Xi'an, part of the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
Close portrait of a robed terracotta warrior with a broken crown and faint moustache, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where such figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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Close portrait of a robed terracotta warrior with a broken crown and faint moustache, photographed at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where such figures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
A modern exhibition building stands behind a formal lawn at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where the ancient figures were made for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
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A modern exhibition building stands behind a formal lawn at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where the ancient figures were made for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang in the third century BCE.
Modern stone panels carved in a historical style form an outdoor relief passage in the landscaped grounds of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, evoking the ancient figures created for Qin Shi Huang’s third-century BCE funerary complex.
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Modern stone panels carved in a historical style form an outdoor relief passage in the landscaped grounds of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, evoking the ancient figures created for Qin Shi Huang’s third-century BCE funerary complex.
A visitor pauses for a portrait in front of an oversized terracotta-warrior figure and child mannequins at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi’an, where the original third-century BCE sculptures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A visitor pauses for a portrait in front of an oversized terracotta-warrior figure and child mannequins at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi’an, where the original third-century BCE sculptures were created for the funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
A life-sized elephant-shaped topiary, intricately patterned with red and yellow floral motifs, stands at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
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A life-sized elephant-shaped topiary, intricately patterned with red and yellow floral motifs, stands at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor / Terracotta Army museum complex near Xi'an, where ancient figures were created for the third-century BCE funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang.
