Research Terracotta Army Of Qin Shi Huang Emperor (Research Paper Sample)

OUTLINE: TERRACOTTA ARMY OF QIN SHI HUANG EMPEROR
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* Thesis:
* Topic statement: The terracotta army represents the most momentous events in Chinese history; therefore, this paper aim is to explore all details surrounding the discovery of Terracotta army. The paper explores difference publication that gives attention to the emperor and the artifacts and its significance to the Chinese history and culture
Thesis statement: Although terracotta army is important in description Chinese history and its culture, it is critical to understand the art at a more extensive level; thus a holistic approach is needed when analyzing its significance.
* Historical or cultural context
The Terracotta Warriors is a collection of more than 8000 life-size figures of warriors located near the Mausoleum of the first Chinese Emperor known as Qin Shihuang Ling. It has been recognized that the figures dated during Qin dynasty and have been found to be extremely valuable and important to the Chinese culture.[Ancient History Encyclopedia, 1st ed. “Terracotta Army.”]
* Common Sub-categories in Terracotta Research
* General Overview of Terracotta army: The physical features of terracotta is the most reviewed aspect of literature. Numerous publications have concentrated on the archeological finding and its effect on Chinese culture as Susan Braid, in particular, gives a detailed historical context of the Terracotta army and describes the emperor during his reign. Conversely, Ilaria Bunaduce gives an overview of the precise appearance of the statues and the paint medium. Mark Edward Lewis shows to explore how Qin created the army and how he believes the army would help him.[Susan G. Baird. The Terra Cotta Army: China’s First Emperor and the Birth of aNation ( NewYork: Da Capo Press, 2008), 80.] [Ilaria Bonaduce, Blaensdorf Catharina, Dietemann Patrick, and Perla Colombini Maria. “The Binding Media of the Polychromy of Qin Shihuang’s Terracotta Army” Journal of Cultural Heritage 9, no. 1 (2008): 105.] [Mark Edward Lewis. The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han. (New York: Harvard University Press, 2010), 10-13.]
* The motivation of the Emperor to build the army: Another group of scholars reviews the reasons behind creating the Terracotta army. Maurice Cotterell, for instance, analyzes the messages encoded in each technique during creation and other details involved in the creation of the army.[Maurice Cotterell. The Terracotta Warriors: The Secret Codes of the Emperor's Army. (New York Inner Traditions/Bear& Co, 2004), 13-19.]
* The significance of Terracotta Army to Chinese culture: Other authors examine the significance of the army to the Chinese culture. Angela Lala, for instance, demonstrates how philosophy art and culture has been influences following the discovery of the army.[Angela Lara. Terracotta Army: A Symbol of the Life and Beliefs of Qin Shi Huangdi.(Ph.D. diss.)Utah Valley University Library, 2014.]
IV. Conclusion
Terracotta clay soldiers are one of the earliest and probably the most elaborate example of the Chinese culture in earlier times. The terracotta figures are notable for their significance interplay between realistic details and stylized form, which represent Chinese rich culture and the importance of its history to the world. Future research must be used to have a better understanding of the significance of this incredible discovery to the Chinese people.
Final Paper
Introduction
The first emperor of China conquered much in his reign, as was the subsequent rulers in China; however, his driving purpose was much greater particularly because he sought to conquer death. He built himself a tomb, a massive underground place guarded by an army with life-sized warriors, horses, chariots, infantrymen, and weaponry. The army, which was discovered not long ago is one of the most remarkable and mysterious discoveries in the history of China. The terracotta army represents the most momentous events in Chinese history; therefore, this paper aims to explore all details surrounding the discovery of Terracotta army. The paper gives its attention to the emperor, the artifacts, and its significance to the Chinese history and culture.
Historical Context
The Terracotta Warriors is a collection of more than 8000 life-size figures of warriors located near the Mausoleum of the first Chinese Emperor known as Qin Shihuang Ling. Qin is said to be the most prominent emperor in China, with the greatest achievement, having conquered more than six states for the first time in China. At his time, China was disintegrated into seven states all struggling with supremacy. Shihuang became the king of Qin, one the most powerful states and during his reign, he sought to conquer other states and unite them to becoming one empire. After conquering the other states, he reformed the states and laws, developed the entire empire and by in the process died in one of his inspection journeys. However, he had a plan to conquer death to ensure that his enemy did not finish their job in the afterlife. He built a tomb shortly after taking over at the age of 13 years, believing that the soldiers and horses would protect him even after death. Essentially, the emperor built the army in 210-209 B.C.E. More than 2000 years had passed since the discovery of Qin inventions near the city of Xi’an in 1974 and the discovery has been shown to be of great important to Chinese history.[Ancient History Encyclopedia, 1st ed. “Terracotta Army.”] [Susan G. Baird. The Terra Cotta Army: China’s First Emperor and the Birth of aNation ( New York: Da Capo Press, 2008), 80.] [Ilaria Bonaduce, Blaensdorf Catharina, Dietemann Patrick, and Perla Colombini Maria. “The Binding Media of the Polychromy of Qin Shihuang’s Terracotta Army” Journal of Cultural Heritage 9, no. 1 (2008): 105.] [Ilaria Bonaduce, Blaensdorf Catharina, Dietemann Patrick, and Perla Colombini Maria. “The Binding Media of the Polychromy of Qin Shihuang’s Terracotta Army” Journal of Cultural Heritage 9, no. 1 (2008): 106.] [Mark Edward Lewis. The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han. (New York: Harvard University Press, 2010), 10-13.]
A General Overview of Terracotta army
Following the discovery of the army, numerous publications have concentrated on the archeological finding and its effect on Chinese culture. Susan Braid is among few scholars who have given a detailed historical context of the Terracotta army and described the emperor during his reign. Mark Edward Lewis shows how Qin was obsessed with death, and he believed that immortality was possible; thus he built the army believing that they would protect him after death. Precisely, he believed that after death, he would rule over another empire in the afterlife and the army was the only way he could be able to protect his kingdom. The army was discovered in 1974, by a group of farmers who were digging water well only a few yards east of Qin burial mound situated at the foot of Mount Lishan. The pyramidal earth mounds in the grave chamber 70m high are surrounded by a thick wall with 79 underground pits with burial goods with four of the areas containing terracotta army.[Susan G. Baird. The Terra Cotta Army: China’s First Emperor and the Birth of aNation ( New York: Da Capo Press, 2008), 80.] [Jennifer Wolff "Emperor Qin in the Afterlife." 2.] [Michael Capek. Emperor Qin’s Terra Cotta Army (Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-first Century Books, 2008), 20.] [Ilaria Bonaduce, Blaensdorf Catharina, Dietemann Patrick, and Perla Colombini Maria. “The Binding Media of the Polychromy of Qin Shihuang’s Terracotta Army” Journal of Cultural Heritage 9, no. 1 (2008): 105.]
Bruce Bower explores ancient workshops that built a terracotta army where Chinese Emperor was buried. He noted that Mount Lishan is where the materials to make the warrior was probably sourced. The pottery found by the farmers has over the years attracted archeologists who have established beyond doubt that the artifacts were associated with Qin dynasty. Bonaduce and other authors give an overview of the precise appearance of the statues and the paint medium. According to the authors, the scriptures, chariots, weaponry, and other burial goods were painted in bright colors, which have some historical significance. The technological skills and knowledge of the artisan who created Terracotta warrior are astonishing. According to John Komlos, the scripture was unique and different from each other although they seem to be larger than the normal Chinese soldiers. The warriors were made in one place, with some scholars arguing that the art skills could have been borrowed from Greek.[Bruce Bower. "Clay Army Made From Custom Pastes." Science News (2009): 4.] [Ilaria Bonaduce, Blaensdorf Catharina, Dietemann Patrick, and Perla Colombini Maria. “The Binding Media of the Polychromy of Qin Shihuang’s Terracotta Army” Journal of Cultural Heritage 9, no. 1 (2008): 106.] [John Komlos. "The Size of the Chinese Terracotta Warriors-3rd Century BC." Antiquity 77, no. 296 (2003): 4.] [Staff Rowena Lindsay "Did Ancient Greeks Help Build China's Terracotta Army?."  Christian Science Monitor, (2016): 2.]
According to the observation made by archeologists, the statue was incredibly detailed with decorative hairstyle and different armors. Some were modeled on the surface, while other emphasized on the facial features. Before the discovery of Terracotta army, there was no historical technique in China recorders, and it is unclear on how China had such incredible knowledge during a time where technological knowledge was little. Martinon Torres and colleagues show the structure and the system of manufacture are organized in diff...