The Legendary Terracotta Warriors

The Legendary Terracotta Warriors American International School Hong Kong, Kwon, Hojoon Patrick - 7

mperor Qin became emperor when he was only 13years old. When he was born, his name was

Zheng. Then he changed his name to Qin Shi Huang Di. Which meant ‘ the first emperor of

China’. Emperor Qin conquered the 6 surrounding kingdoms. In present, we call all of the 7

kingdoms [including Qin] China.

Emperor Qin ordered people to build the Great Wall of China for the defense of the war. One day,

Emperor Qin said to his warriors, ”Make an army of clay statues in the place where I’m buried”. Why

did he say that? You may ask. He thought that his clay made warrior will protect him in the afterlife.

The first terracotta warrior was found by a farmer who worked in Xian, China. Archaeologists found

nearly 2000 of them. Archaeologists think there are 8000 total. There are also 130 chariots along with

520 horses and 150 cavalry horses. Each statue has its own facial expressions. Even the horses have its

own facial expressions. There were even wild animal statues beside the terracotta warriors. It took 40

years to finish the terracotta army. Before anyone had found the terracotta warriors, they were buried for

22 centuries. The pits where they were buried is nearly 4 football fields.

I wonder what part of history in China will be discovered now.

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The Amazing Terracotta Warriors American International School Hong Kong, Ng, Yu-Zhi Maegan – 6

erracotta warriors are amazing! They are clay soldiers that were buried with China’s first

emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di. Qin Shi Huang Di was an amazing man himself: he became

king in 246 B.C. when he was only 13 years old! He built roads and canals, and started

building the Great Wall of China. He was a very powerful king, but he also made many enemies. So,

he ordered workers to make the terracotta warriors to accompany and protect him in the afterlife.

Terracotta warriors are amazing because there are so many of them! So far, about 2000 terracotta

warriors have been found, but many more are still buried. It is estimated that there are as many as 8000

terracotta warriors in the emperor’s tomb.

Terracotta warriors are amazing because they are unique! Each terracotta warrior is as tall as a real man,

and each one of them looks different, just like in the real world where no two persons look the same.

They have different costumes, hairstyles, facial expressions and even ear shapes!

Terracotta warriors are amazing because they form an orderly army! The clay soldiers were placed into

pits, all facing the east where the emperor’s enemy states were, together with their weapons, clay horses

and chariots. There are stories about miniature cities and rivers of mercury inside the vast tomb still

waiting to be discovered. Indeed, the emperor made sure that he would be as powerful in the afterlife

as he was in life!

Terracotta warriors are amazing because their creation required a lot of people’s hard work! Such an

impressive army of clay soldiers took 700,000 workers more than 30 years to make. Even so, the work

was never finished: an empty pit was found in the emperor’s tomb, where more clay soldiers were to be

placed.

Terracotta warriors are amazing because we continue to learn new things from them today! These clay

soldiers were made more than 2000 years ago. Even though it has been more than 40 years since they

were discovered, scientists today are still thinking of new ways to study them. For example, scholars are

still trying to figure out how workers were able to make each terracotta warrior look unique. Recently,

scientists have also found ways of preserving the paint on the clay soldiers so that we can learn more

about how people lived and dressed more than 2000 years ago.

If you have a chance to visit the terracotta warriors, I am sure you will find them amazing too!

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My Big Adventure! American International School Hong Kong, Nireshwalia, Jihan - 7

Vacations

The summer vacations were close. We had recently moved to Asia and we all came up with the idea of

visiting CHINA!

The Trip

Finally the day is here, we are here in Shanghai. Beautiful place! At the airport I found a tourism

information booklet. I came across a very interesting page, The Terracotta Warriors! I was so amazed to

read about them. I had to visit this place!

No we can’t!!

Next morning at the breakfast I slipped the booklet towards my Dad. Dad said we already have planned

the events and there is no more time for anything else. I tried my best, but my parents wouldn’t agree. I

had to visit the place somehow!

I can make it!

In the list of our tourist places to visit, I saw that on our 3rd day we are going to visit Xi’an. That’s the

entire Terracotta Warrior burial site. I am so close!! I can visit the site, but how?

A new friend.

On the third day we finally arrived at my most awaited place, Xi’an! The whole entire day was spent

seeing, The Drum Tower, The Bell Tower, come on guys!! I have better things to do!! In our tour, I

met an equally bored looking boy like me. His name was Henry Fung, and he was from Hong Kong. I

told him about the Terracotta Warriors and he also knew about it. In fact he knew much more! He told

me about the powerful Emperor Qin Shi Huang, how he wanted to make the whole army of around

8000 soldiers to be made and buried along with him after his death. All because he wanted to be

protected by them even after he died.

The Plan

Henry and I, both wanted to visit the site very badly. Henry said, “But we can’t! The site is protected and

no one can enter it!” We needed a PLAN! We decided to sneak out of our rooms in the midnight. We

had the map from the tourist booklet, and we could read it! We were here, at the burial site. We hid and

watched them. They entered a small opening in the corner and disappeared. We followed them but were

too scared to enter the dark opening. Brave Henry put his hand in and he said, “I can feel something like

a book!!” He pulled it out, it was a diary!

The Diary

I couldn’t read Mandarin, luckily Henry could, with great great difficulty! He explained that diary

belonged to one of the men who made the Terracotta Warriors. He said the whole site is also buried

with loads of treasure! One who gets in will surely DIE!! “That’s it!” I said, “enough of adventure, lets go

back!” Henry was equally scared and we rushed back to our hotel rooms.

NOOOOOO!!!!!

Next day at breakfast, I was grim! Dad thought I was sad because we couldn’t visit the site. He said, “Hey

buddy, how about we go and check out the burial site today!!” All I could shout was,

“NOOooooooooo!” I heard a similar cry from the table next to us! Guess who it was??

Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors Kau Yan School, Gittings, Mark – 8

t’s been more than 40 years since some Chinese farmers discovered the Terracotta Warriors. In that

time, teams of archaeologists and scientists from all over the world have spent thousands of hours

studying this amazing discovery. But despite all their hard work, there are still lots of mysteries

which they haven’t been able to solve.

One mystery is why the Terracotta Warriors were made more than 2,200 years ago. We think that

the First Emperor of China called Qin Shi Huang, who is buried in a tomb a mile away from the

Terracotta Warriors, believed in life after death, so he wanted an army to protect him in his afterlife. But

we have no proof of this.

Another mystery is why no two out of the approximately 8,000 warriors are exactly the same. From a

distance, they look similar. But when you study them closely, there are little differences in their faces and

ears. We think that the emperor ordered the workers to copy from an army of real warriors, which

would explain why they are all different from each other. But again, we have no proof of this.

Yet another mystery is the way the warriors were painted. Over the past 2,200 years, much of the

paint has faded from the warriors. This makes life even more difficult for the archaeologists and scientists

trying to solve this mystery. Some paint still remains and, while most warriors have pink faces, there is

one strange warrior with a green face. Some experts believe this warrior was painted green by mistake.

Other experts think the green face was designed to frighten enemies away. But yet again, we have no

proof of this.

Still another mystery is why one of the pits is empty. Unlike the other three pits, pit number four

doesn’t have anything in it. Some people think that the emperor planned to bury criminals in this pit. But

no bones have been found, so this mystery is still unsolved.

Scientists have succeeded in solving some mysteries. For example, they recently used laser technology

to reveal the binding material used to stop the paint from falling off the warriors. That is an important

discovery because it will make it much easier to restore the warriors. Maybe in the future, the scientists

and archaeologists will succeed in solving some other of the other mysteries as well.

But the biggest mystery of all is what is hidden inside the nearby tomb of Qin Shi Huang, which has

still not been opened after thousands of years. According to a famous historian named Sima Quan, the

tomb contains a wonderful underground kingdom. But his writings also warn that the tomb is protected

by crossbow booby traps and 100 rivers of poisonous mercury. No one knows whether this is really true

or not. So until they excavate the tomb, this biggest mystery of all will remain unsolved.

I

The Mysterious Warriors Bradbury School, Chan, Airiana - 8

Who was the first emperor of China?

Qin Shi Huang (259 BC-210 BC) was the earliest emperor to rule over China. Like other Chinese emperors, he was very

mean to his subjects. If somebody disobeyed or disagreed with him, he would either force them to build The Great Wall of

China or execute them. Sometimes, their family members might also be punished even though they were innocent. Qin Shi

Huang wanted to enhance his own power in China, so he burnt many historical books and executed recalcitrant scholars. On

the other hand, he was a well organized and capable person because he set up a lot of big projects, such as The Great Wall of

China, the existence of the Terracotta Warriors and many more. These projects are now huge treasures for China. The

Terracotta Warriors were also known as the Terracotta Army. Why did Qin Shi Huang want the Terracotta Warriors to be placed in his tomb?

Qin Shi Huang wanted the Terracotta Warriors to be buried with him in his tomb as a show of his glory. To remember the

army that triumphed over the warring states to unite China, and people used to believe that objects like statues could be

animated in the afterlife. Important or royal people like Qin Shi Huang required an after-death army to be concealed with

him in his tomb. How do the Terracotta Warriors look?

The size of a warrior is about 5 feet and 8 inches tall. Terracotta Warriors were painted in a variety of colours, but since they

were exposed to air, some of them have turned either grey or black. Luckily, some still have their colour. If you look closely,

all the warriors’ facial features are unique. Even a facial recognition expert used a Neoface Facial Recognition, they still

couldn’t find a pair of warriors that looked identical. Some of the warriors were holding swords, others were battling with

crossbows, some were riding on chariots pulled by 2 horses, and a few were just riding on horses. It took more than 700,000

people and more than thirty years to complete this gigantic project. How were they positioned?

They were all arrayed facing to the direction of east. Most warriors were placed in the first vault, the largest and most

impressive vault in Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. There were around 8,000 warriors, 130 chariots and 670 horses. In total that is

8800! The tomb is in Xi’an China. When and how were they found?

The Terracotta Warriors excavation was regarded as one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century. Vault one was

discovered when farmers were digging a well in 1974. Vault two and vault three were found 2 years later. They were about

20 meters away from vault one. Archaeologists predicted the construction started when Qin Shi Huang was at the age of 13. What was the shape of a team and what does a general look like?

The warriors were divided into groups, and each group had to defeat an enemy. If a team failed to defeat their opponent, the

whole team will be killed. Each team had a general to lead the team. The generals were built slightly taller than the other

warriors. They all had a mustache and a goatee. Their hands were overlapped, with his right hand’s index finger pointing to

the left while their left hand was resting on top of his right hand. The general of each team was wearing gears that looked like

they were made out of metal instead of terracotta. How did they know how to make such amazing weapons?

The swords that the warriors were using could go through hard-wearing armour. Nowadays, the swords being found are still

very sharp and not rusty at all. Scientists found out the swords were being coated with a layer of Chromium, which will need

4000 degree Celsius to melt. Such technique was only developed in Germany in the 20th century. Their crossbows were

made from bronze pieces. All the arrowheads were so powerful that it could pierce a hole through the enemy’s body. Their

armours were made from alloy; alloy is a mixture of metals and many other elements. The armour they wore was called stone

armour, which gave very strong protection. Where the knowledge in Qin Dynasty came from still remains as a mystery.

Some scientists even believe that Qin Shi Huang had come across with some creatures from outer space, and they told him

which materials he should use and how to carve them. With those weapons, they could win almost every single battle. Conclusion:

When I wrote this article, I did lots of researches, from articles to pictures and from pictures to videos. The more I studied,

the more interesting it felt. One day, if you

have a chance to go to Xi’an, China, do not miss seeing Qin Shi Huang’s tomb! Who knows, you might find a tiny stone that

is magical. According to the Chinese historical book called Shi Yi Ji, it mentioned that the aliens whom Qin Shi Huang had

came across with some unusual creatures from outer space, the creatures used a piece of stone no bigger than a grain to help

them survive. With that stone, they could light up a whole room at night! They could even throw that piece of thing into a

river, then the whole river would boil and bubble!

New Tales of the Terracotta Army Clearwater Bay School, Chiou, Isabella - 10

he Terracotta Army is a part of a massive burial tomb built for Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.

There are over 8,000 life size statues of soldiers buried along with the emperor.

Emperor Qin wanted to live forever. He spent much of his life and resources searching for immortality and the "elixir of

life". He also spent a huge amount of resources building for himself the largest single tomb built to a leader in the history of

the world. He felt this huge army would protect him and help him to keep his power in the afterlife. He died and was

buried in 210 BC, over 2000 years ago.

The soldiers of the Terracotta Army are life-size statues. They average around 5 feet 11 inches tall with some soldiers being

as tall as 6 foot 7 inches. Despite there being so many statues, no two soldiers are exactly alike. There are soldiers of all ages

with different ranks, facial features, and hairstyles. Some of the soldiers look calm, while others look angry and ready to

fight.

The soldiers were even designed with different clothing and armor. Men from the cavalry are dressed different than foot

soldiers. Some soldiers don't have armor. Perhaps they were supposed to be scouts or spies.

As impressive as the soldiers are today, they were likely much more impressive 2,000 years ago. The soldiers were painted

to hook even more realistic and then covered with a lacquer finish. They also held real weapons such as crossbows,

daggers, maces, spears, and swords.

To build 8,000 life size statues must have taken a large army of workers. Archeologists estimate that over 700,000 craftsmen

worked on the project for several years. The bodies of the soldiers were made in an assembly line fashion. There were

moulds for the legs, arms, torsos, and heads. These pieces were then assembled together and custom features such as ears,

moustaches, hair, and weapons were added later.

There are between 8 and 10 different head shapes for the soldiers. The different head shapes represent people from different

areas of China as well as different personalities of the soldiers. The heads were made from moulds and then customized and

attached to the bodies.

The tomb is most famous for its large rows of soldiers, but there were plenty of other statues to accompany Emperor Qin in

the afterlife. There were 150 life-size cavalry horses and 130 chariots with 520 horses buried with the army. In other areas

of the tomb, figures of government officials and entertainers have been found.

Archeologists have had to reconstruct the soldiers from thousands of pieces.

The Terracotta Army was discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974, over 2,000 years after it was covered over during

the burial of Emperor Qin. The army was located about a mile from the tomb of the emperor.

Start with the smallest pit, Pit 3 , containing 72 warriors and horses, which is believed to be the army headquarters due to

the number of high-ranking officers unearthed here. It’s interesting to note that the northern room would have been used

to make sacrificial offerings before battle. In the next pit, Pit 2 , containing around 1300 warriors and horses, you get to

examine five of the soldiers up close: a kneeling archer, a standing archer, a cavalryman and his horse, a mid-ranking officer

and a general. The level of detail is extraordinary: the expressions, hairstyles, armour and even the tread on the footwear are

all unique.

The largest pit, Pit 1 , is the most imposing. Housed in a building the size of an aircraft hangar, it is believed to contain

6000 warriors (only 2000 are on display) and horses, all facing east and ready for battle. The vanguard of three rows of

archers (both crossbow and longbow) is followed by the main force of soldiers, who originally held spears, swords,

dagger-axes and other long-shaft weapons. The infantry were accompanied by 35 chariots, though these, made of wood,

have long since disintegrated.

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The Terracotta Warriors German Swiss International School Primary, Farquhar, Adam - 11

he Terracotta Warriors were made by sculptors for Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Emperor Qin Shi Huang was

famous because he was the first Emperor of Qin dynasty from 220 to 210 BC. Emperor Qin Shi Shang requested

for the Terracotta Warriors to be built to protect him in the afterlife. The Emperor hired the best sculptors from

Shaanxi Province to sculpt the Terracotta Warriors. However, he want the Warriors to be a secret so after the eleventh year

of carving, he killed all the sculptures.

The Terracotta Warriors were all in different shapes, sizes and varied expressions. The Warriors’ each had either a

sword, bow, spear, shield or were standing on a chariot connected to a horse. They stood from 5’9 (175cm) to 6’3 (190cm)

tall. The tombs where the Warriors’ laid was approximately 2KM x 2KM. The Terracotta Warriors were one of the top

archaeological finds of the 20th century as they were 2,200 years old! — It dates back to the uniting of China under one

emperor, who's buried there.

The Terracotta Warriors’ tomb is at this moment closed to the public. It is based at Lintong, Xi’an, Shaanxi,

China.

The discovery of the Terracotta Warriors was found on March 29th, 1974 by local farmers digging a water well

approximately 1.6 kilometres east of the Qin Emperor’s tomb mound at Mount Li (Lishan). Estimates from 2007 were that

the three pits containing the Terracotta Army held more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry

horses, the majority of which remained buried in the pits nearby Emperor Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum.

The Warriors’ tomb included four pits. The first pit was opened to the public on China’s National Day, on

October the 1st 1979. The first pit was the last pit to be found but was also the biggest pit. The second tomb was found in

1976, and is twenty metres northeast of the first pit. The third tomb was also found in 1976, twenty five metres northeast of

the first pit. The third tomb looked to be the command centre of the armed forces. The third tomb went on display in 1989,

with sixty eight warriors, a war chariot and four war horses. The fourth pit exists although it is empty.

This discovery is very important to China as it is one of China’s historical artefacts. It was a great find for

archaeologists looking for something new to uncover. It is significant because the hundreds of detailed life-size models

represent the army and the history of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. It is considered one of the greatest archaeological sites in the

world, and one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century.

The Terracotta Warriors were made from moulding, white grit, quartz, mica and feldspar. Each Warrior took at

least one day for a sculptor to make.

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The Terracotta Warriors Glenealy School, Suzuki, Sara – 8

ver 2000 years ago there lived a man in China. He was called Qin Shi Huang, when he turned 13 years old he

became the first ever emperor in China. Emperor Qin spent much of his life searching for immortality and built

himself a tomb complex that encompassed 20 square miles. Around 700,000 of his people made statues called

the terracotta warriors, also known as the terracotta army. When he died, they were to be buried with him. These

fascinating warriors are located in Shaanxi. The warriors lain underground for more than 2000 years, and most of them held

real weapons such as spears and swords and even after it was lain underground there were still sharp.

There are around 8000 soldiers, 130 chariots and 670 horses however the total is not really known and experts estimated

that it took around 40 years to finish them all. It is made of many figures including soldiers, horses, chariots, bowmen and

archers. Crossbows were set to fire automatically if the figures were robbed. Most of the figures measure 5 feet 11 inches tall

but some soldiers are as tall as 6 foot 7 inches. The figures are life sized (183~195 CM) and each have unique different faces,

no two of them are alike. Legend says that the first emperor had a single edged eyelid, so all of the armies was made with

him. Ordinary soldiers are bareheaded, and their hair is plaited and knotted in elaborate style. To help the figures stay

upright, the upper body and the head are hollow and the lower body is solid.The different head shapes represent people

from different areas of China as well as different personalities of the soldiers. The heads were made from moulds and then

customized and attached to the bodies. There were moulds for the legs, arms, torsos, and heads. These pieces were then

assembled together and custom features such as ears, mustaches, hair, and weapons were added later.

Many people think that it is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world and the greatest discovery of the

20th century. Visiting the terracotta warriors is also the top attractions in China. It is the world’s largest and most intricate

ancient bronze artifacts. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and attracts more than 2 million visitors

a year. Each soldiers has a footprint of 2.25 square feet. All of them together covers around 32 football pitches. The tomb is

most famous for its large rows of soldiers, but there were plenty of other statutes to accompany Emperor Qin in the afterlife.

As impressive as the soldiers are today, they were likely much more impressive 2,000 years ago. The soldiers were painted

to look even more realistic and then covered with a lacquer finish. The soldiers were even designed with different clothing

and armor. Men from the cavalry are dressed differently than foot soldiers. Some soldiers don't have armor. Perhaps they

were supposed to be scouts or spies.

There were 4 main pits approximately 7 metres deep and these have already been excavated. These were located

approximately 1.5 kilometres east of the burial mound. The first pit which was 230 metres long and 62 metres wide,

containing more than 6,000 warriors. Pit one is the largest pit, is rectangular and covers 14,000 square meters (150,000

square feet) of space. It has 11 corridors, most of which are more than 3 metres wide and paved with small bricks with a

wooden ceiling supported by large beams and posts. This design was also used for the tombs of nobles and would have

resembled palace hallways when built. The wooden ceilings were covered with reed mats and layers of clay for

waterproofing, and then mounded with more soil raising them about 2 to 3 metres above the surrounding ground level

when completed. Pit two has cavalry and infantry units as well as war chariots and is thought to represent a military guard.

By far pit three is the smallest pit. Pit three is the command post, with high-ranking officers and a war chariot. Pit four is

empty, which is maybe left unfinished by its builders.

They were found on 29th of March 1974 in Xi’an (a famous China cultural city) while farmers were digging water wells.

They suddenly found parts of bodies coming out except they weren’t bones, it was the terracotta pieces. Some of the

Terracotta warriors are kneeling and some are not. Most of the statues were found broken into many pieces which

archeologists have been carefully putting back together for many years. Terracotta is a common type of hard-baked clay.

Once the soldiers were shaped with wet clay, they would have been allowed to dry and then baked in a very hot oven

called a kiln so the clay would harden. Some of the statues were still painted which can give us an imagery of how the

warriors were once painted. The horses in the army are saddled and this shows that the saddle had been invented by the

time of the Qin Dynasty. The terracotta warriors truly are amazing.

O

History of the Terracotta Warriors International College hong Kong (Hong Lok Yuen), Cheng, Alfred - 9

The Beginning

There was a boy called Ying Zheng (259 B.C. 210 B.C) who was the Qin King's son. He lived in Qin in Ancient China

and when he was 13, he became the King of Qin for 37 years (247 B.C. 210 B.C.).

He wanted to defeat the six countries because he wanted more power and wealth. When he started defeating the six

warring states of China, it took him 26 years to finish this. The six defeated countries were “Han, Chu, Qi, Wei, Zhao,

Yan . When he was 39, he finally defeated all of them and he was the only King, this kingdom is what we know today as

China.

China Is Born

After he became the King, he renamed himself to be “Qin Shi Huangdi”, which in English means the first Emperor of

China. During his ruling, he did a lot of good things, like united all the different Chinese characters / words and this is very

important in the Chinese culture. Also he united all the currencies and scales on weight, length and size. But he also did bad

things too. For example, people did not have freedom to read and he gave out severe punishments or death sentences if

they did it.

Death Of The King And His After Death Kingdom

By defeating the six Chinese states, he made a lot of enemies. When he grew old, he was scared the rest of the enemies

would assassinate him. Also he always believed in immortal life, he wanted to rule the kingdom when he was in “ heaven”.

Therefore he ordered his workers to build a palace and 8,000 warriors out of clay so he could commend them in his afterlife.

In September 10, 210 BC was quite a bad day, the first emperor of China just died. The emperor maybe died of illness or

the king was murdered.

Discovery

In 1974, some local farmers in Xi’an China discovered these Terracotta Armies. The villagers were digging a well and then,

“tink!” the metal shovel hit something hard. That obstacle that blocked then shovel from going deeper was a clay warrior

from the terracotta warriors. The farmers thought the were the beings in the ground but what they did not know that they

were actually the terracotta warriors made from long long ago.

Necropolis

The place where the terracotta warriors were first placed is still in China right now and you can visit it. But there is no paint

on the warriors because the paint was made 3,000 years ago and it could not survive being show to sunlight/air erosion.

The soldiers were standing east of the king’s tomb, means guarding. The king wanted to make his burial place like his

palace. Before the people thought the terracotta warriors were useless, so they made them into walls. But then the scientists

made the terracotta warriors history.

Terracotta Warriors

The space that the 8,000 warriors were taking was nearly the size of 4 football courts and that is quite a lot of space.But less

than one mile is Qin Shi Huang Di real tomb, but until a way can be found to expose it without the treasures being hurt.

The people closed the tomb and you are not allowed to go inside. All the figurines were made of terracotta or baked earth a

type of reddish clay. To build them, multiple workshops and reportedly over 720,000 laborers were seized by the emperor

to make the terracotta warriors, it took 38 years to build . Also he got groups of artisans who moulded the different body

parts separately to make the clay warriors look the same as the real ones. Each of the warriors got different weapons such as

bows, daggers and swords. Before each warrior was painted in bright colors like red, yellow, orange and blue. there were

also chariots and cavalry horses too.

Different Soldiers

Each of the warriors were different or unique because they made with different face features from the nose, mouth, ears and

eyes. The parts were either bigger, flatter or smaller. The difference was not a lot but it was still a difference, because you

could easily tell them apart.

Interesting Facts

Qin Shi Huang Di wanted to be immortal so he could rule forever, so he spent a lot of resources to get him immortality.

The horses in the army are saddled. This shows that the saddle had been invented by the time of the Qin emperor when

he was alive.

The soldiers were even designed with different clothing and armor. Men from the cavalry are dressed different than foot

soldiers. Some soldiers don't have armor. Maybe they were supposed to be scouts or spies or assassins.

The bronze weapons of the soldiers were found in excellent condition because they were coated with a thin layer of

chromium like a shield which protected them for thousands of years .

The scientist are still trying to uncover all of the terracotta warriors. So far they have uncovered 2,000, but still have

6,000 more to go and that is still quite a lot to go.

A Guide to the Terracotta Army International College hong Kong (Hong Lok Yuen), Cheung, Charlotte - 10

What is the Terracotta Army?

Well if you’re wondering, read this and you’ll find out!

Also known as the Terracotta Warriors, the Terracotta Army was an army created by Qin Shi Huangdi to protect himself

in the afterlife. The soldiers each had their own special and unique features and own special colours painted on terracotta

statues, which is a hard baked clay. Unfortunately, the colours faded when exposed to light. That means when you visit

the Terracotta Army, you will not see these beautiful colours as they were in ancient times.

Where is the Terracotta Army?

The Terracotta Army is located in China’s ancient capital, Xi’an. These terracotta warriors were found in 1974 when a

farmer in Xi’an was digging a well.

Before the fantastic discovery, the ‘Terracotta Soldiers’ were legends and stories that were told to Chinese children. This

army was found 21 feet underground. This masterpiece was created by Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi in 245 B.C.

Who was Qin Shi Huangdi?

Qin Shi Huangdi was born in 259 B.C and was emperor in 245 B.C. The 700,000 craftsmen started making the Terracotta

warriors once he was emperor, at the age of 13. He was an ambitious emperor who conquered many lands. Fearing that his

enemies would try to defeat him, he ordered a vast army of soldiers to be made out of terracotta. This army would be

buried with him when he died so that they coukd protect him from his enemies in his after-life.

How Big was the Terracotta Army?

There are over 8,000 Terracotta soldiers,130 chariots, and 670 horses, but archaeologists have only dug up more than 2,000

of these Terracotta statues. These amazing soldiers have to be put back together because the next Chinese dynasty after the

Qin destroyed the warriors. The soldiers take a long time to be put back together and restored- from the shortest time

being half a year, to the longest time of 7 years! It must have caused real damage to the soldiers when the people

destroyed them.

To construct the Terracotta Army, it took 700,000 craftsmen and 30 years to do the project.The army was found over

2,000 years after it was covered over during the burial of the emperor. This army was located about a mile from the tomb of

Qin Shi Huangdi.

For 8,000 Terracotta Warriors, it would take 18,000 square feet of space to contain them all! This is the reason why there

are a total of 4 pits at the Terracotta Warriors site. The average height of a Terracotta Warrior is 5 feet, 8 inches. That

would be the same size as Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazis in World War 2 in Germany. All the warriors are created to

real human measurements and not one of them look alike.

Today, there are over one million people that visit these warriors to to marvel at this amazing creation.

How Does the Terracotta Army Impact History?

Well did you know while archeologists are still unearthing and studying the Terracotta treasures for Qin Shi Huangdi’s

tomb still remains unopened. Also, when you go visit the Terracotta Warriors, you won’t see the fourth pit because

archeologists think that the fourth pit was not finished before Emperor Qin died in 210 BC, over 2000 years ago.

The Terracotta Warriors has had a big impact on Chinese history. Archeologists can use the Terracotta Warriors to study

Chinese history, as well as other ancient treasures in Beijing. The credit for discovering these Terracotta Warriors all goes

back to a Chinese farmer. Without that farmer, we wouldn’t be able to study more Chinese history.

The Terracotta Warriors have transformed from a legend to amazing history and will never be forgotten.

The Making of the Terracotta Warriors International College hong Kong (Hong Lok Yuen), Popkov, Gleb - 9

he Terracotta warriors are made by an emperor called Zheng. He was only 13 years old when he ruled all of China.

He named himself Qin shi Huangdi, which means the first emperor of China. He faced lots of countries that tried

to defeat him in China but he defeated all of them.

He told the people to make him his Terracotta Warriors, but he was also known for making the Great Wall of China,

weights and vases. He also told them so that when he died they would keep them as a memory.

When it was 1974, some farmers in Xi'an, China were digging a well until they felt something hard.They found the

TERRACOTTA WARRIORS, hidden. But they didn’t know that they found the terracotta warriors so they were so

amazed to see faces staring at them. The weird thing is that they also made the emperor out of clay but 42 years had already

passed so that means he is hidden somewhere in a secret spot so people wouldn’t find the statue.

They also found horses pulling chariots. They found not just horses, they found animal sculptures they also found musicians,

acrobats, workers and a stable. The interesting fact about Terracotta warriors is that they are all different and that there are

8000 Terracotta warriors. They all have different weapons too.

Another interesting part about them is that they have their names in hidden places but people have found only 87 of them.

There is this New Zealand man who has identified faces in real life and he said they looked like copies of the warriors faces.

Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi may have commanded his people that if they didn’t make the terracotta army well they would

have to recraft them or go to jail or probably be executed. Scientists working on the archaeological find said that if there are

8000 warriors then they must have made more than 700 warriors a year and they had 11 years to make them because when

Qin Shi Huangdi told them to make them 11 years later he died.

And as you may know, all of the Terracotta warriors are made by hand. They have found the piece of the warrior and they

say that gives them lots of information of how they made it because if you look carefully then you can see some layers of

clay and they go from the top to nearly the bottom. After that, some archaeologists tried to make the Terracotta warriors by

using the same technique as they did in the past. They had to make more than 700 Terracotta warriors a year that were 180

cm tall and to make the Terracotta warriors 2 cm thick and they managed to make only one warrior in a month.

Unfortunately the warrior collapsed 3 or 4 times. They also found out that to make a terracotta warrior faster you have to

put an extra layer of terracotta on top of the terracotta warrior and to make the warrior not fall while you are making it you

can put sticks under the legs. If you want to make a terracotta warrior you have to let it dry but you have to let it dry in

pieces. But, if it dries too much it will most likely crack. People discovered that the ancient masters used coiling instead of

molding because coiling might be longer than coiling but it is the best way to make different warriors.

If you look carefully you might see that they are copies of real life soldiers and some have different hairstyles and their chins

were even different.

Did you know he ancient Chinese masters made the sculptures in caves that they made like houses

but they made them there because when you make terracotta warriors you have to make it at about 20 degrees Centigrade.

They made them there because in summer in that part of China, it is about 20 to 25 degrees Centigrade and in winter it is

about 15 to 20 degrees.

Did you know that before the Terracotta warriors were full of colour and the paint sometimes dried off in about a week or

minutes when people exposed it to air. Just so you know, people from Germany and China have found this material

called lacquer. Lacquer is like paint but comes from trees if you breath or touch lacquer you will get a reaction that you

don’t want to get because lacquer is related to poison ivy. If you touch it you might scream. The hard part of making

terracotta warriors is that you need lacquer that comes from trees and from every tree you can only get about 10 grams or

else the tree will die so the people that paint them say that it takes about 25 trees to make one terracotta warrior and it takes

200,000 trees to make an army. After the lacquer is dry it is this solid, shiny black colour. Lacquer is also used in vases, plates,

wooden knife and fork and other thing like that. But lacquer at first isn’t black it is like this dark yellow.

In conclusion, the history, the science, the skill and art behind making the Terrracotta Warriors is fascinating. We can learn

so much from the skills and crafts that ancient Chinese people used thousands of years ago, before modern technology was

even invented.

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All About The Terracotta Warriors International College hong Kong (Hong Lok Yuen), Sin, Charlie – 10

The Terracotta Warriors

The Terracotta Warriors are clay statues that were buried along with Emperor Qin, the first emperor of China, in a gigantic

tomb. The clay statues were lifesize, each as tall as two metres and weighing 300 kilograms. They all had different ranks,

facial features and hair styles and no two were the same. Some of them look calm, some look angry and some look ready to

fight. They all wear different clothing and armour. They are a very important piece of archaeological discovery and can lead

to a lot of interesting discoveries.

Weapons

The Terracotta Warriors held real weapons made of bronze in their hands. Some had crossbows, daggers, maces, spears, and

even swords. They were coated in a special material called chromium so they were in perfect condition when they were

found. That thin layer of chromium protected them for thousands of years! The weapons had a kind of protection activate

switch. If the tomb was robbed, the weapons would be set on fire! Isn’t that cool?

Accessories

The terracotta statues all had different accessories. The warriors and soldiers had weapons made out of bronze. It was coated

with chromium to protect them for eternity. They are real weapons that we still use during the modern times. The horses

had saddles. This makes archaeologists think that saddles were invented already during the Qin dynasty. How many modern

accessories were already invented during that time?

Other Beings

Inside the tombs, there were a lot of other beings, not just terracotta warriors. There were villagers, entertainers, musicians,

acrobats and a lot more different kinds of people Emperor Qin might have wanted to accompany him in the afterlife. There

were also 150 lifesized cavalry horses, 130 chariots used for war and 520 horses all in one part of the tomb! The

archaeologists also found government officials in other part of the tomb. Maybe the emperor wanted to have people serve

him in the afterlife and continue his life being a powerful king.

Time Taken

Archaeologists have been studying these warriors closely to try and find out about how these workers during 421 B.C made

these warriors. They still don’t know. Only two people are close to knowing. Their names are Han Ping Zhe and Zhang

Bin Ruo. They are both terracotta warrior replica making factory managers and they make replicas of terracotta warriors,

just for a living. Their factory produces thousands and thousands of terracotta each year. Even though they can make them

really fast, they still don’t make it the way workers made them thousands of years ago. They have tried to make terracotta

warriors like they did in the olden times, but it took them a month just to make one. How did the ancient workers make

8,000 warriors in 39 years? That question still remains unknown though we are getting closer to finding out by the minute.

Archaeologists estimate 700,000 workers had to work on this for 39 years!

Tombs

Underground, there is more than just one chamber. Four main pits 21 feet deep held the terracotta warriors. Xi’an was the

core of the tomb with all the terracotta warriors but there are still a lot more chambers that contain the other beings that

Emperor Qin wanted in the afterlife. Altogether, archaeologists estimate there are about six tombs underground, containing

all of the terracotta statues. These tombs are famous for their rows and rows of soldiers. One tomb is full of unconstructed

soldiers, and people think that this is because they couldn’t finish it before the death of Emperor Qin. Even though those

six tombs contain terracotta statues, Emperor Qin’s spectacular tomb pyramid, Mount Li, still remains uncovered one mile

away from the terracotta warriors. It is said that Mount Li contains thousands of jewels, rivers of mercury, miniature palaces

and cities and manmade seas. The archaeologists have still sealed Mount Li away because once exposed to air, the paint and

all the other things inside will fall apart. So until they can find a way to keep the artifacts safe, the tomb will not be open.

Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi

Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi was the first emperor of China. His real name was Ying Zheng and he was a ruthless warrior

who won battles between all six states. He changed his name when he defeated all six states and united what we call China.

He changed it to Qin Shi Huangdi. It means “first emperor”. He fought the six states because he wanted power and wealth.

He came to power at the age of 13 and commanded the construction of the tombs. The tombs took about 39 years to

complete and that was when the Emperor died. He was buried with riches in Mount Li but before that, he threw all the

workers and his sons into the tombs because he didn’t want anybody to know about this.

Discovered

2000 years after Emperor Qin and his army was buried, people finally found it underground. In 1974, the terracotta

warriors were discovered. But not by archaeologists, like people think. They were discovered by farmers. The farmers were

digging a well in Xi’an, China when they hit something hard. It was shaped like human heads. A little later, archaeologists

went to make some investigations, which lead to an amazing archaeological discovery; an army of more than 8,000

terracotta statues. More investigations went on, and they discovered the tombs of Emperor Qin’s army. Then, located one

mile away, they then found Mount Li, Emperor Qin’s spectacular tomb pyramid. Up until now, Mount Li is still sealed and

only the terracotta warriors are open to the public eye.

Fun Facts

Even though terracotta warriors by themselves are already really cool, here are some other interesting and amazing facts

about them:

Preserving paint: Scientists are trying to preserve the paint on the soldiers once uncovered. They are covering the statues

with lacquer, a type of liquid related to poison ivy. Still, it can keep the paint on it for more than a week if covered with

lacquer.

Smashing the numbers: In Wellington, New Zealand, Glen Cameron, face recognition expert, is now using the world’s

best app that can recognise thousands of faces at one time. He is finding the similar spots between the warriors and also the

differences.

The Legend of the Terracotta Army International College hong Kong (Hong Lok Yuen), Watne, Marlene - 11

The Legend Becomes Real

For more than 2000 years, Chinese children had heard the great story about the Terracotta Army, but it was like a fairy

tale and nobody believed it was true.

Until one day in 1974, when there was a farmer in Xi'an who wanted to dig a well so his family could get clean water.

But by accident he found one of the Terracotta Army’s soldier heads. This would become one of the biggest discoveries

in the century.

The news was spread at once out into the world. Everything about the Terracotta Army wasn’t a Chinese legend or

ancient myth, it was all true! There were really statues and horses in full life sizes.

Archaeologists believe there are about 8000 soldiers,130 chariots and 620 horses, but only 2000 have been found so far.

They also believe that more than 700,000 craftsmen worked for about 40 years to make them. And they were all there

just for one reason, which was to protect the Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s grave from all kinds of bad things-attacks from

his enemies, bad spirits, bad luck and so on.

The Creator of the Legend

Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of China. He wanted to live forever and to achieve that he said to his scientists that

they should make some pills that made his life immortal. But the pills didn’t work and the opposite happened. Instead of

making him live forever, he actually died at the age of forty eight. Later, it was discovered that there was too much

mercury in the pills.

All of this happened while he was on one off his tours to a temple in the East of China. The prime minister of China

then decided that nobody should know this; at least not until the people who had travelled with the emperor had come

home again.

During this lifetime, Qin Shi Huang was already scared about everything that might happen after his death. That’s why

he used nearly forty years to build the Terracotta Army so he started when he was still a child.

The Making of the Legend

The statues are made of clay, and this is why it is called “Terracotta” which is Italian and means “cooked earth”. Every

single statue is unique; there is not one that looks like another one. They were also painted in bright colours, but most of

the colours have faded today.

The sculptures were found in three pits:

-Pit One is the biggest and it was the first one to be found. It has about 6000 statues. Arranged at the front there are 204

archers, in the back there are 30 horse carriages, each one with four horses to pull it. There are also armed soldiers

between the carriages. The army looks mainly towards east. They are found in about five meters depth.

-Pit Two was discovered in 1976 and is about 20 meters north from the east end of Pit One. In this pit were 332 archers

standing and 160 archers kneeling. All of them are facing east. There were also 108 riders, they are all standing besides

their horse and they are all facing east, too. The reason why most soldiers look eastward is that the emperor's grave is

located west of the Terracotta Army. In the north the grave is protected by the river Wei and in the south by the small

mountain Li. All the horses had saddles and this is how the archaeologists today know, that people used saddles already

for more than 2000 years ago in China.

-Pit Three is the smallest pit and it is located about 25 meters north of Pit One. There are “only” 68 soldiers and one

chariot pulled by four horses. These statues carry a different type of weapon. That is why the archeologists think they

were guards, not soldiers, and Pit Three was the central command.

- Pit Four, a larger pit was found empty which might show that the emperor died before the Terracotta Army was

entirely finished.

The Legacy of the Legend

Qin Shi Huang’s grave has not been opened in modern times and it is very protected now. In old times though, grave

robbers might have been there already.

Nowadays, there is a museum at the place where the Terracotta Army was found. They are mostly famous for being so

many and so old.

So, the Terracotta Army became a protected site when it was included on the UNESCO “World Cultural Heritage

List” in 1987 . The full name is “Qin Mausoleum Terracotta Warriors and Horses”.

UNESCO gave this honour to the Terracotta Army because of:

- “the exceptional technical and artistic qualities”

- “The army of statues bears unique testimony to the military organization in China at the time of the Warring

Kingdoms (475-221 BCE) and that of the short-lived Empire of a Thousand Generations (221-210 BCE)

- “The mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang is the largest preserved site in China. It is a unique architectural ensemble

whose layout echoes the urban plan of the capital, Xianyang”

- “The mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang is associated with an event of universal significance: the first unification of

the Chinese territory by a centralized state created by an absolute monarch in 221 BCE”

(Ref: http://whc.unesco.org)

The fairytale about the Terracotta Army that was told to ancient Chinese children, is in fact an amazing reality. The

story lives on bringing future generations many insights, culture, information and wonder.

Memories of a Terracotta Warrior ISF Academy, Lo, Charlotte - 10

am a Terracotta Warrior, standing with my master, day and night. I shall fulfill my duty to protect him, withstanding

all problems. My fellow warriors are also there to guard him, Qin Shi Huang, the strongest and most powerful emperor

of all time.

Qin Shi Huang was the emperor that created a whole new China, reducing seven warring kingdoms into a united

country. He was good in many ways, but he was not the nicest ruler. In fact, he was a tyrant, probably the most gruesome

and barbaric one. In order to protect his kingdom, he sent thousands of people to build and connect the first Great Wall

of China, surrounding the borders of his empire. He ordered generals to whip them if they did not work hard enough or if

they stopped to catch their breath. If you spoke against him or said something that insulted him, “Off goes your head!”

One day, he decided that smart people who read books will be harder to control, so he ordered all books to be burnt and

hundreds of book readers and scholars were buried alive.

His dream was to live for eternity, so he sent ships to venture out across many cities, in search of a so-called Magic

Elixir, that can make him immortal. After many years of searching, no elixir was found. Qin Shi Huang thought, “ If I can’t

live forever, then, I have to have a fabulous afterlife, just like the life I have now.” So, from the age of 13, he started

ordering potters to form human-like servants, guards, life-like horses and carriages to be placed in his opulent tomb, which

took over 30 years to build, together with countless treasures and priceless jewels. My emperor was really worried that

tomb robbers would steal all these treasures, so he decided that he needed an army to protect him in his afterlife.

You may ask, what are Terracotta Warriors? Well, it literally means, “baked earth”. We were made under secrecy, by

around 700,000 laborers, and placed in underground trenches that were less than a mile away from our majesty’s tomb.

Thousands and thousands of clay sculptures like me stand guard, in strategic positions to protect and guard him in the

afterlife, and to stop tomb robbers from stealing his treasures. There are many different sculptures, like generals, archers,

officers, soldiers, chariots, and even acrobats! None of the warriors’ faces were the same.

All of the sculptures were placed in four pits, numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4. The first pit is the largest, containing around 6,000

soldiers. In pit two, where I lived together with almost 900 fellow warriors, there are also archers, chariots, cavalry and

horses. As a Terracotta Warrior, I wore armor which was made out of “fish scale” like pieces of metal, put together to

become a knee length robe. The lower ranked servants didn’t have any armor and only had cloth shin guards for protection.

We were in the pit for what seemed like an eternity, but it was actually 2,200 years. I’m lucky that I have a chariot

to relax on, with horses pulling on the reins, unlike other soldiers, who have to stay in the same position for centuries. My

chariot is made out of bronze, with four majestic and strong horses pulling it forward. It has two bronze wheels and an

umbrella on top. The horses looked so real that they might become alive any second.

We were never supposed to be discovered by anyone, and my emperor even took special measures to ensure that, including

shutting the people who took his dead body to the tomb in the tomb forever, until they starved to death. But

unfortunately, one day in 1974, because there was a drought, the six Yang brothers decided to dig a well around the place

we were buried and dug right to where a brother of mine was standing, and in a blink of an eye, all of us were all

uncovered. The archaeologists goggled at the sight in front of them, unable to contain their excitement. They started

restoring us one by one, which was really hard work, by placing heads back, fixing chips… and they are still busy doing so

today, as there are over 7,500 of us! After all their hard work, we looked almost like how we looked like when we were

first made, except for the colours painted on us, as the paint didn’t stay a long time on us. Then, they opened an exhibit for

tourists to come and see us in Xian, where we were found.

We, the Terracotta Warriors, represent the Emperor’s power and fierceness, standing straight and still, with no

expression on our faces. We are proud that we have protected our majesty well since Qin Shi Huang, as of today,

remains undisturbed in his tomb. That is probably why a lot of people marvel at us, and why we are classified as the

eighth wonder of the world. We are another one of China’s marvels, right next to the Great Wall of China, also created

by the mighty Qin Shi Huang.

I

Terracotta Troubles Kau Yan School, Gittings, Rebecca – 10

t was one of the most famous accidental discoveries in history. Farmer Yang Zhifa had been digging a well for three

days in Xiyang village, 35 kilometres east of the city of Xian in northwestern China. Suddenly he and a few friends

made a discovery that would change the lives of everyone in their village. On 29 March 1974, his shovel hit

something unusually hard. When he dug it out, he discovered a strangely shaped terracotta object that looked like a head

without a body.

None of them knew this would be the beginning of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

Nor could they have guessed that it would start a chain of events that would see Yang and his fellow villagers forced to

leave their 200 year old village to make way for a museum that now attracts millions of visitors every year.

Yang thought the object was part of an ancient kiln. Some of the other villagers worried the discovery could cause trouble

for the village because China was then still in the final stages of a 10 year campaign called the Cultural Revolution in

which most historical objects were seen as bad things. So other villagers urged Yang and his friends to rebury the object.

But Yang refused, saying it should be shown to the county Cultural Relics Bureau. Together with his friends, they took

three cartfuls of terracotta relics into town, but all the bureau gave them was 30 Chinese yuan. They gave the money to

their village and received a tiny reward of 13 Chinese fen (which is worth less than one Hong Kong dollar) in return.

Yang’s discovery of the terracotta soldiers has brought great benefits to our understanding of ancient Chinese culture.

Sometimes called the eighth wonder of the world, the thousands of terracotta soldiers have given us an amazing insight

into the First Emperor’s rule over China and the phenomenal skills of Qin Shi Huang’s craftsmen. The terracotta soldiers

are, without doubt, a valuable contribution to our knowledge of Chinese history. They have brought visitors from

around the world to gape at the three pits containing the splendor of the terracotta army. Some people have made

money selling souvenirs and other services to the tourists and, for a few people, the discovery has been a gold mine. For

example, one villager started a factory producing replica warriors and now sells them all over the world for up to 10,000

yuan each.

But not everyone has benefited from the influx of visitors and some have even suffered as a result. Among the most

unlucky are Yang’s fellow villagers who have been forced from their homes to make way for exhibition halls, coach parks

and gift shops for the visitors. In China, when the government tells you to move, you often have little choice and receive

little compensation. Although the villagers were paid 300 yuan for each 600 square metre piece of land they lost, they had

to pay 8000 yuan per person for new homes to be built elsewhere. Some of the villagers were so unhappy that they

complained about a “curse of the terracotta army”. They were so angry with Yang that he had to move out of the village

to avoid their hostile stares.

I

Yang was luckier than most of the other villagers because he got a job signing books for visitors who want the autograph

of the man who discovered the terracotta warriors. But being famous has its price. A Chinese newspaper described Yang

as an illiterate who couldn’t write his own name and could only draw three circles as his signature. A furious Yang sued

the newspaper and received 20,000 yuan in compensation. That money came in handy when Yang stopped signing books

some years ago, and found himself with no income at all.

Even whether Yang Zhifa really discovered the terracotta warriors has been challenged by other villagers trying to make

money signing books for visitors. Yang Quanyi, for example, has set up another table outside the exhibition hall and tells

visitors that he is the true discoverer of the terracotta warriors.

The tale of the discovery of the terracotta warriors is an interesting example of how the lives of so many people can be

changed so much by an accidental discovery. As Yang Zhifa has said, if he had dug another foot in the other direction he

would have missed the discovery that made him famous. Perhaps someone else would have found the terracotta warriors

later on, we’ll never know. But most likely Yang would never have signed any books, and instead spent his whole life

farming.

Some people have benefited from the discovery, including Yang for the most part. But others have suffered, including

many of his fellow villagers. Some must surely wish that he’d taken their advice to rebury the object he found, instead of

taking it to the county Cultural Relics Bureau.

It would be a tragedy if other villagers who find historical objects in the future decide it is better to rebury those objects,

instead of revealing them to the world. Archaeological tourism is something which every country must handle carefully to

make sure its benefits are bigger than the disadvantages. There are international guidelines which say that archaeological

sites should work closely with the local population and respect their values, ideals and rights. That’s something which the

Chinese government should remember when managing the terracotta warriors’ site. The aim should be that no one will

ever regret making an archaeological discovery.

The lesson to be learnt from this tale is that historical artifacts are important, but so are the people affected by their

discovery.

A Non-fiction Documentary of the Terracotta Army Kau Yan School, Ng, Yuet Kwan Brandon - 10

he Terracotta Army comprises clay replicas of the army of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, dating

from c. 210 BC. Several local farmers digging at the edge of the site discovered the figurines in 1974. After

reporting their find, the Chinese Government sent local archaeologists in to see if there was more. They were

shocked to find terracotta statues buried in exceptional state of preservation.

Based on experience, early workers thought there would only be a few statues; imagine their shock when they found

thousands!

The Terracotta Army is part of a much larger necropolis that forms part of the First Emperor’s tomb. The site contains

offices, halls and other parts possibly resembling the Imperial Palace.

The figures range from being 175 to 190 centimeters tall. They were assembled like cars; first, torsos, legs, arms and heads

were made in molds then stuck together. After that work was completed, other features were added, such as ears, eyes,

noses, hair, clothing and beards. Next, they were painted in bright colors like pink, blue, red, green, black and lilac.

Legend says Emperor Qin had single-edged eyelids, and so all have single-edged eyelids. The characters have different

occupations such as soldiers, generals, officials, acrobats, spies, strong men and musicians. Some soldiers have quite calm

expressions, while others have ferocious, alarming looks. Eight thousand soldiers, if standing shoulder to shoulder, would

take up eighteen thousand square feet, an enormous space. Within the finds there are two amazing bronze chariots with

four horses attached, consisting of more than three thousand, four hundred pieces each and having gold and silver

ornamentation. There are over one hundred more chariots, along with five hundred and twenty cavalry horses which were

saddled. These finds give us information from before and during the Qin dynasty, showing the skills of the ancient Chinese.

Work on the tomb began in 246 BC, when Emperor Qin gained control of the Qin state, it was completed in 206 BC, and

took around seven hundred thousand people an estimated forty years to complete the project. The Terracotta army was to

be a showpiece of Qin Shi Huang’s glory, to remember the unity of China, to grant Emperor Qin’s wish of eternal life, and

to protect the tomb. Sadly, after the tomb was buried, the middle and the outer gates were closed to imprison all the artisans

working on the project.

Pit One is the biggest, and is the size of an airplane hangar. All the best photos and videos are taken in this area, and it is said

to contain more than six thousand soldiers, although only around two thousand have been excavated. Each terracotta

figurine is unique and provides amazing reference points of information for archaeologists and scientists.

Pit One was opened in 1979 and measures four acres in size. Ten walls separated the soldiers, which were packed in nine

corridors, at two and one half meter intervals.

Pit Two is the most spectacular because the combat formation there is more complex and the formations of the armed

forces are more complete. The pit can be divided into four sections and is L-shaped.

Pit Three is the command center, the smallest pit and is actually a part of both Pits One and Two. Only sixty-eight

terracotta figurines were found there, many of which are headless.

There was also a fourth pit, which was completely empty. It is assumed that this pit’s construction was stopped abruptly at

the time the emperor died.

T

The four pits seem to resemble a fort with Pits One and Two being the left and right army, Pit Three the headquarters, and

Pit Four was possibly the middle army. There was possibly an underground park, because bronze ducks and cranes were

found in various pits.

In March 2015, archaeologists unearthed a perfectly preserved crossbow in Pit One. It was fitted with Qing, a structure that

ensures that these weapons stay sturdy even after being buried for thousands of years.

A historian suggested that the mausoleum was constructed by Qin Shi Huang himself. The implication is that he may have

been too concerned about the future, having planned for his burial long before he was enthroned. He chose Mountain

Lishan for his burial because of the geological riches inside it, like gold, rich on its northern side, and jade, rich on its

southern side. He also wrote that the First Emperor was buried with palaces, towers, officials, valuable artifacts and

wondrous objects. According to his account, a hundred flowing rivers were simulated using mercury, and booby traps were

equipped with functioning shooting arrows. Evidence for this was confirmed with high levels of mercury in the soil. These

horrifying features make sure that any daring intruder is going to have an unfortunate ending.

Qin Shi Huang was known for his cruelty, and so he included that in what was known about the tomb! He killed almost

every person and his or her family so the news wouldn’t spread and he could keep it a secret. He claimed to have “the elixir

of life”, longing for immortality and spending most of his life looking for resources to do so. The Terracotta Army, of

course, formed part of his “quest for immortality”, too.

Speaking of tombs, the graves of the builders of the Terracotta Army were found a mile southwest of the Emperor’s

Mausoleum. Over one hundred skeletons, squashed inside the thirty-two graves, were found soon after the discovery of

Emperor Qin’s tomb.

Today, the Terracotta Army is one of the all-time favorites for foreign tourists and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It

looks like Emperor Qin hadn’t managed to keep the whole thing a secret after all!

The Terracotta Army Kennedy School, Lau, King Hin – 9

he Terracotta army is one of the most prestigious archeological finds of the 20th century. 8000 clay soldiers with

their own unique features all in four pits of different sizes containing different ranks of military forces.

The Terracotta army was built by Qin Shi Huang Di he called himself the First August Emperor of all China. He believed

that when he died, the souls of the people he had executed or beheaded will wage war on him, so he built the terracotta

army to protect him from any harm.

During his lifetime, he used a ruthless way to unified China, standardized the way of measuring, writing and had an official

currency for all the citizens to use. He also built the Great Wall using a huge labour force made up of almost 1 million

men, women and children. It was built to protect China from invading nomads and barbarians as the Chinese called

them.

Furthermore, he also ordered the burning of books in the Imperial Library except of the books for the agriculture and

books by Qin writers. This angered the Confucius scholars and led to a rebellion. But the rebellion failed and every

member of it was executed. After that assassins from other states that he has conquered tried to assassinate him, but failed

and were executed too.

The First Emperor believed in immortality and sent alchemists to find something that will make him immortal. He also

built a tomb, and according to Sima Qian, a historian. It was filled with rivers of mercury kept circulating by a mechanism

and also had a sky filled with jewels. It also had a map of unified China. Finally death claimed the First Emperor in 210

BC, aged 50.

In March 1974, farmers digging a well to the east of Xi’an and 1.6 km east of the emperor’s mausoleum. They uncovered

what was called the greatest archeological find of the 20th century. After experts had examined the warriors made out of clay,

it was proclaimed true that the emperor indeed had 8000 soldiers made to protect him from the soul of those he had

murdered during his lifetime.

The Terracotta Warriors were poised in battalion formation and the pits resembled a palace with generals, soldiers and

entertainment people such as acrobats, dancers and musicians. The swords and arrows made in the Qin Dynasty were

longer and the arrows were pulled by a trigger and the killing range was a stunning 150 meters!

They were made in a unique way because it is believed that they were the modification of real soldiers and generals that

served the First Emperor in real life.

I think the ancient Chinese were very clever in making the terracotta warriors and I hope that there will be no more

wars and peace will remain forever in China.

T

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Kowloon Junior School, Ng, Anthony – 9

he Terracotta warriors is an attractive history in the past about the emperor who lived long ago.

A long long time ago there lived the first great chinese emperor that was called Qin Shi Huang He was the first

emperor to rule China, for he built the great wall of china for good military defence.When he died and he was

buried underground.Some people believed the emperor had an afterlife,so they built the terracotta warriors,used to protect

the emperor in his after life and to show his glory.

The terracotta warriors is part of history when the emperor lived in the olden days.

There are 8000 warriors that were made standing by the side and buried with the emperor that lived long ago in China.

Emperor Qin wanted to live forever in his life,so he went and researched on immortality and the “elixir of life”.

He also used a lot of resources to build the largest single tomb for himself.

He felt this huge army of warriors would help him keep his power and protect him in his afterlife.

He died and was buried in 210 bc over 2000 years ago.

The soldiers were made by stone, the average around were 5 feet tall and 11 inches.

The terracotta were discovered by some farmers from the east who were digging a well in 1974 that was approximately (1.6

kilometres) deep.

The first part of the terracotta warriors site to be discovered was named vault one,the two other vaults that were uncovered

were found 20 metres away from vault one.

These stone warriors bring you back into the history of war and art when the emperor lived 2200 year ago.

the soldiers facial expression were unique and positioned by rank,some of them are on horses and also have unique

weapons.

All the terracotta warriors were made with clay,but the weapons they are holding were not.It was made out of bronze very

carefully.

The terracotta warriors had only eight different shapes of the face,it is:characterized by rectangle face,high cheek bone,wide

forehead and chin,Shape face:flat cheek and chin.Shape face:narrow and long with small features,shape face:near square

face,shape face:narrow forehead and a wide chin,shape face:wide cheek bone and narrow end of the face and oval face.So

these are the eight different shapes of the faces in the whole terracotta army.

The terracotta army were based on real soldiers who protected the emperor.

The terracotta warriors were built in nice bright colors and were added new conversation techniques on the excavated

(replaced)ones.

Curiously he had the terracotta warriors facing east,some people say it may be because of the topography around his

mausoleum or it could be because he felt the threats that would come into his land.

When Zheng’s father died in 246 B.C,Zheng took over when he was in the age of 13.

Over the next three decades,he initiated a series of different military campaign that would want to see Qin unify China for

the first time.

After the unification was complete in 221 BC,Zheng took no the name of Qin Shi Huang,which means “ in essence”The

First emperor of Qin,

After he died in 210 BC,his dynasty quickly collapsed with a new army that will take over,it is called the Han dynasty.

In this ensuing period,the emperor terracotta army may not have been looked carefully upon.

Vault Two

Vault two was just 20 metres north from vault one.

The first row in vault two was men holding bows and arrows that were kneeling down,for the second row there were

chariots word arrays,and the third row was with mixed forces of warriors standing like soldiers,and the fourth row had large

troopers holding their weapons. All of them are arrayed in a large war position,ready to fight.

The weapons that the terracotta warriors hold were buried for 2000 years underground but their weapons were still very

sharp!

T

Mixed Feelings visiting the Terracotta Warriors Kowloon Tong School (Primary Section), Lau, Sze Tung - 11

ast year in the Easter holiday, I went to China with my parents and little brother. We visited a lot of places as

China is filled with modern and old culture. Skyscrapers fill the sky in Shanghai; on the other hand, Beijing has the

Great Wall which is over 2000 years old. The contrast is so striking and it makes the whole country interesting to

explore. Among all the interesting places I visited, I was most impressed with this incredible sightseeing spot - the

Terracotta Warriors, which was where the King Qin Shi Huang was buried after his death.

At first, my brother and I were so reluctant to visit the tomb because we were told it was where the dead people are

buried. My dad said paying a visit to this tomb is an opportunity of a lifetime. Even though we had reluctant hearts, we

seemed to have no choice but to join them……. Now, I have to admit that we were lucky we booked the tour as there

were some unbelievable facts that I was made aware of during this trip.

On our way to the tomb, the tour guide briefed us about the history of the Terracotta Warriors in his tranquil tone. I

could tell that he must have done this a thousand times already for he was so familiar with the content, like he was reciting a

poem. Although his tone raised no excitement, the background of the tomb did. In 1974, a group of farmers digging

wells near Xian in China staggered upon this big tomb complex. It was one of the most shocking archaeological

discoveries of all time, not only in China but all around the world. This discovery prompted Chinese archaeologists to

investigate. The construction of the figurine group involved huge efforts. To be more specific, heads, arms, legs and

torsos of Terracotta army figures were created separately and then assembled. The soldiers are all man-sized but vary in

height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance with their ranks and duties. We were told that the project took more than

thirty years to complete and more than seven hundred thousand people were dragged in to help finish it. I could not

believe that it took this enormous crowd of people only thirty years to finish this project. After digesting so many facts

about the Terracotta Warriors, I figured out that manpower is much more powerful than machine power, if people work

together with spirit. In that kind of situation, back then in 221 B.C, it was so incredible that manpower could create such

a great achievement.

But why would someone with such a power and energy command a construction of such a huge project? The answer is

King Qin - one of the legendary kings in ancient Chinese history. He was born in 260 B.C. and became the ruler of

China at the age of 13. He died at the age of 50. It is believed, the reason why King Qin built this tomb was due to his

cultural beliefs. Ancient Chinese believed that the items and even people buried with a person could be taken with them

to the afterlife. The formation of Terracotta Warriors was the consequence of his cultural belief.

While standing inside the museum listening to the tour guide’s briefing, I had mixed feelings. If I was an archeologist, this

complex tomb would certainly be a huge treasure for me. Digging the history of Dynasty Qin inside out and learning

more about our country’s ancient culture and traditions would be indeed a lifetime experience. The fact is, this tomb

complex is the biggest tomb in the world and no king has ever made an achievement so humongous as this one. However,

what about the fate of people living in the time of Dynasty Qin? I pity those greatly, more than seven hundred thousand

people involved in this project. They had suffered terribly for as long as over thirty years. A lot of human lives must have

been lost during the construction stage.

Coincidently, my school had a debate on “King Qin”, in the first semester of this year. Having visited his tomb, I found

myself engaged in the discussion whole-heartedly. King Qin had made a lot of achievements and the impacts are still

noticeable and affecting even today’s generations. Just to name the few, he had built the Great Wall and the Terracotta

Warriors. At the age of 39, he united China after conquering all other warring states. After that he unified the Chinese

script and currency. During his short yet meaningful ruling years, he had made China a strong and undefeatable

country. People were grateful for his intelligent mind, but in the minds of the ones who suffered, he had killed a lot of

people in order to uphold his ruling.

For centuries, people have debated and still do about his merits and demerits. The debate will continue and shall inspire us

to think. I thank my dad for giving me this chance to visit the Terracotta Warriors, for he knows well what inspires kids to

think.

L

Army of Warriors Quarry Bay School, Madden, Samuel – 10

i Hao!

I like going on holiday with my Mom and my brother. I like to go to different places, swim in the sea, discover

new things, meet new people, eat different food and most of all go on really cool adventures.

I have been very lucky to swim in the Barrier Reef, see the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, go on a horse and

carriage in central park and so see the sights of Melbourne. I have walked on The Great Wall of China, Walked through the

Forbidden City in Beijing, Walked across Sydney Harbour Bridge, Climbed up the Tower of London, Visited Buckingham

Palace, Survived the Edge in Melbourne and even got to see Big Ben. I have seen the World’s largest Telescope and visited

an old Irish Castle. I have been to the Zoo, visited an Aquarium and even went whale watching in Boston. I have been on an

Elephant in Thailand and touched a meteor in the American Museum of Natural History and even though I don’t really like

heights I managed to convince my Mom to take me in a helicopter!

So, you are probably wondering what we might be doing for our next big adventure!

I am really hoping that our next big adventures will take me, my Mom and my little brother Jonathan to Xi’an in China, for

a holiday.

Do you want to me to tell you why?

The reason why is because I want go to Xi’an is to see the Army of Terracotta Soldiers! I have been doing some research on

some the amazing places in the World and I think that this is top of my list!

“The Army of Terracotta Soldiers” or “The Terracotta Army” or “The Terracotta Warriors and Horses” are a collection of

sculptures made out of terracotta, which according to Wikipedia represent the Armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Chinese

Emperor. It is thought that they were built to protect the Emperor in his “afterlife”.

It is estimated that there are:

Eight thousand soldiers

One hundred and thirty chariots with five hundred and twenty horses (four horses for each chariot)

One hundred cavalry horses

All the cavalry horses were all saddled. This shows that the saddle had been invented at this time.

The Terracotta Army was found on the 29th March, 1974 to the east of Xi’an in the Shaanxi province by farmers digging a

well east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. It was the major archaeological find of the 20th century.

The Terracotta Figures are life sized. Not two statues are the same! They are all different in height, uniform and hair style.

Every figure differs in facial expressions and features. There are eight to ten different head shapes for the statues.

People think that the sculptures used the workers or themselves as models for the warrior’s faces. The heads, arms, legs and

bodies were created separately and then assembled. The figures were originally painted with bright coloured pigments such

as blue, green, red, pink, black, brown, white and lilac. However today a lot of the colours have now faded.

N

The height of the statues is five feet and eleven inches tall with some statues as tall as six feet and seven inches.

Many of the figures held real weapons and more than ten thousand weapons have been discovered so far today. The weapons

were covered with a thin layer of chromium and this protected the weapons for thousands of years. So, after being buried in

the ground for more than two thousand years, the weapons were still sharp!

Each workshop name was inscribed on the items they made to ensure quality control.

Archaeologists estimate that over seven hundred thousand craftsmen worked on the project for many years.

Terracotta is a common type of hard baked red clay. When the soldiers were shaped with the wet clay they first had to dry and

then they were baked in a very hot oven called a Kiln until they were hard.

Archaeologist think the warriors discovered so far may be part of an even larger terracotta army still buried around the tomb

of Emperor Qin Shi Huang!

When i was doing my research I discovered that some of the statues found in Xi’an were part of two traveling exhibitions.

One was "The First Emperor," which was organized by the British Museum, and opened first in London then in the High

Museum in Atlanta. A second show which was called the, "Terracotta Warriors," opened at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana,

California. The Terracotta Warriors show then went to the Houston Museum of Natural Science and after that, the

National Geographic Society Museum in Washington, D.C. This is really cool as not everyone will be able to go to Xi’An

to see the Terracotta Army!

So now you can see why I am hoping that one of our next family adventures will take us to China.

I have even promised my Mom I will do my best to practise my Mandarin!

Qin Shi Huang Raimondi College Primary Section, Leung, Dipsy

About Qin

The Qin people are the earliest race in Chinese history to undergo a transformation that saw them develop from a

tribe to an empire.

The Qin Dynasty was the first unified regime under a centralized authority in China and marked the beginning of the

reign of the country’s absolute monarchies. Although it existed for a short period, many monumental construction projects

were launched. Extensive sections of what later became the Great Wall were built to provide effective defence against

invasion by nomadic tribes, and chidao and zhidao were constructed not only for military purposes, but also to enhance

transportation, commerce and cultural exchanges. At the same time, the military extension of the Qin Empire to the north

and the south defined China’s national borders and laid the foundation for the co-existence of the different Chinese races.

The large-scale projects, together with the construction of the mausoleum of Qin Shihuang and its terracotta army pits at

Mount Li, reflect the Qin’s superiority not only in terms of its national strength, but also in the fields of art, pottery

craftsmanship, iron metallurgy and, above all, in the economies of scale it gained from standardized production process.

When Emperor Qin Shihuang ordered the construction of his own mausoleum, its design was intended to embody the

political system and institutions of his unified empire. Inherited and elaborated from the past, his ideals were passed on to

countless generations that followed him.

Qin’s Mausoleum

Comprehensive field investigations of the mausoleum of Qin Shihuang were launched in 1962, when the first

topographic layout plan of the mausoleum was produced. The terracotta army was discovered in 1974 in the southern part

of Xiyang Village to the east of the mausoleum. This important archaeological discovery was soon being called the ‘Eighth

Wonder of the World”.

Four terracotta army pits lie to the east of the mausoleum of Qin Shihuang, one of which may not have been

completed. The pits contain over 8,000 terracotta figures. Pit No. 1 is rectangular and uniformly filled with figures of

commanding officers, infantrymen, charioteers and terracotta horses. They are lined up in a systematic array alongside

several wooden chariots representing military formation. The L-shaped Pit No. 2 comprises terracotta figures of standing

and kneeling archers, infantrymen, cavalrymen as well as wooden chariots. The greater variety of military personnel it

contains and their complicated layout reflect the relationship between the different divisions of the army. One wooden

chariot was found in the U-shaped Pit No. 3, on which the original paintwork could still be seen, while traces of a parasol

with decorations on the top were also found. The warriors inside this pit were standing face-to-face, and some academics

have therefore concluded that this pit was the command headquarters of the terracotta army.

The Qin terracotta warriors were authentically rendered true to life size. No two faces are alike, and each warrior is

distinguished from the others by their hairstyle, clothes, shoes, headgear, countenance and moustache. The torsos, heads

and arms were made separately. The more delicate features were carved, and then all the parts were joined together. After

being dried in the shade and then fired in the kiln, the figures were painted with raw lacquer in a variety of colours

including red, green, yellow, black, white, blue and purple, with the latter made using a synthesizing process.

Different interpretations have emerged on the nature of the terracotta army. One suggests that it represents the

army under Qin Shihuang l s command after his death, another that the figures are the guards of the military procession

accompanying the emperor's funeral, a third that it is a "sacrificial army" that symbolizes Qin Shihuang l s military

achievements in his lifetime.

However, after many years of debate , the consensus is that the warriors represent the imperial guards of the

Qin capital.

Conclusion

To rule the country, Emperor Qin Shihuang centralized authority and enforced the draconian laws that the

state of Qin had inherited since the reign of Duke Xiao. Arguing that the tradition of granting posthumous titles that had

been practised for over 1,000 years since the Shang and Zhou dynasties was subversive of monarchic authority, Qin

Shihuang abolished it, while both his order to burn most existing books were manifestations of his desire to establish a

unified ideology.

The unification of China ended the chaos resulting from the division and conflict between the warring states, and

perhaps the newly founded empire should have paused to consolidate and allow its people a chance to live and develop the

nation in peace. In the last five years of his reign, however, Emperor Qin Shihuang was inpatient for success. He launched

several large-scale construction projects at the same time that cost his empire countless lives and money. In the first year of

the reign of Emperor Qin Ershi (209 BC), two army officers, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were leading their troops to

Yuyang to reinforce the border defences. Heavy rain forced them to stop in Daze Village, and they realized that they would

not be able to reach their destination on time. Qin law stipulated that any troops who reported late for duty, regardless of

the reason, were to be executed. Preferring to die fighting for their freedom, Chen and Wu decided to 'cut wood for

weapons and erect bamboo poles as banners' and rebel. Their action was the spark that prompted people across the nation

to rise up in one rebellion after another against the tyranny of the Qin state, and the empire founded by Emperor Qin

Shihuang soon collapsed in turmoil and disarray.

Despite his search for the elixir of life, Emperor Qin Shihuang could not escape death. His mausoleum,

however, had been designed to represent the central government under his authority and reflected his passion for his

unified empire. The clusters of burial pits and the military force with which he could continue to rule his eternal realm

in the afterlife. The wealth of cultural relics that have been unearthed unveil the mystery of the Qin dynasty and give us

a greater and more detailed understanding of the history of the Qin dynasty and the First Emperor of China.

The History of the Terracotta Army Sha Tin Junior School, Loh, Ellis - 10

The terracotta army is an army that protects Qin Shi Huangdi in the afterlife.(221-206 bce)

China’s first emperor spent much of his life searching for the ability to live forever and built himself a tomb complex that

surrounds and hold within 20 square miles. As part of the complex, more than 70,000 labourers constructed a life-size terra

cotta army and tomb complex.

Construction of the tomb began when the future Emperor of Qin (China) took power at the age of 13. Speaking of

construction, it took about 40 years for the army to finish including the horses and the chariots. And speaking of chariots and

horses experts have estimated that there are more than 8,000 clay soldiers, 130 chariots and 670 horses.

Around Qin Shi Huangdi’s tomb are artefacts that he collected/found and murky water flowing through mountains of bronze.

Talking about the Emperor's tomb no one opened his tomb. Until a way can be found to expose the tomb without damaging

the treasure inside it. So until we have a solution the tomb remains sealed.

The clay soldiers remained untouched for more than 2000 years. Until 1974, when they were unearthed by Chinese farmers.

Also recent digs also uncovered terra cotta acrobats, musicians and waterfowl.

An average soldier stands 5 feet,8 inches tall. Standing shoulder to shoulder, the 8,000 soldiers would take up 18,000 square

feet. Each soldier is unique, no two soldiers are alike and each has unique and realistic features. And scientists are using various

techniques to preserve the paint found on the warriors/soldiers.

Secrets about the tomb of Qin Shin Huangdi

In 221-206 bce, when Qin Shi Huang died and he is in the tomb in the afterlife and the warriors are protecting him , and a

thirteen year old Ming, an archaeologist’s son, lives in a small village in Maoist China. His father is convinced that Emperor

Qin’s tomb lies hidden in hills around them. But if father doesn’t prove it soon, the town’s political officer disapprove them

to the brutal labour camps. I am not sure about this secret (my opinion) because it seems so fiction but it is true. Another secret

is that a clay soldier comes to life and leads Ming into Emperor Qin’s mysterious tomb.

The Terracotta Warriors Sha Tin Junior School, Wong, Bob - 8

n 1974, a team of farmers were digging a well in Xian, China. One farmer found a pottery head looking up at him. Since

then, many new discoveries on the Terracotta Army continue to appear.

Long ago, before the emperor died, he ordered a team of skilled craftsmen to build a terracotta army to guard him in the

after life. The terracotta warriors found were arranged in battle formation. First came the archers,who were shooting and

reloading. Next came the powerful main army, who held 7-meter spears to keep the enemy at bay. Down the sides came

the charioteers, who drove chariots with archers shooting at the enemy. At the back of the army, there were many

commanders who commanded warriors of different ranks of the army.

The materials used to make the terracotta warriors had to be strong, durable and able to hold their shape. The craftsmen use

red clay to coil and mold the warriors. The warriors were painted in Chinese purple. Some flakes of paint could be found

near or on the terracotta warriors. The warriors were covered in lacquer, the ancient world’s plastic. The lacquer stopped

the paint from dropping off the warriors. Nowadays, not many warriors still have the paint on them. The paint got washed

of into the wet soil.

The warriors carried real weapons like the real Qin army. The difference in size between the weapons was less than 0.22

centimeters. The craftsmen were masters at mass producing high standard weapons. This showed that the real Qin army

could be supplied easily with high quality weapons. Some sets of stone armour were found in the emperor’s tomb.

This creation was one of the most greatest accomplishments in world history. The Terracotta Army will never be forgotten

by mankind.

I

Terracotta Warriors On the March St. Paul's Co-educational College Primary School, Ho, Pak Fung Julius – 11

he army has been silent for more than 2,200 years.

Now, after forty years of enduring excavation, a buried army of around 7,500 Terracotta soldiers and horses that

startle the whole world has surfaced.

An Extraordinary Discovery - WHEN and WHERE was the Army Discovered?

It was just an ordinary day in March, 1974. Three farmers plodded across a field in northeastern Xi’an, a large city and

capital of Shanxi Province in central China. Once known as Chang’an (literally means ‘Eternal Peace’), it marks the Silk

Road’s eastern end and was home to the Qin dynasty’s ruling house.

The farmers chose a spot near a coppice of persimmon trees. Down they dug and suddenly, one of the farmers felt his

shovel strike against something hard. It was a head of a real-looking clay man. The farmers have never seen anything

like that before, nor have the archeologists who arrived and begun to dig out more and more pottery men. The army was

then unearthed pit by pit, warrior by warrior until it had become a full life-size army of 7,500 Terracotta Warriors.

The Pursuit for Immortality - WHY was the Army Built?

Who was the Terracotta Warriors guarding?

One man - Qin Shihuang, the First Emperor of Qin. By 221 B.C., the ruler of the Qin kingdom had “eaten up” the

other six Warring States and united China. According to a legend, the emperor ate powdered jade and drank mercury in

the belief that they would prolong his life! I was shocked that the legendary First Emperor had acted so ridiculously! Just

as flesh-and-blood troops had protected him during his lifetime, the Terracotta troops were believed to be an afterlife

army to protect their ruler against any enemy for eternity.

The Silent Witness of Imperial Power – WHAT were Unearthed?

The Pits of the Terracotta Warriors consist of cavalry, infantry and chariots. Every figure differs in facial expressions and

gestures, with clothing and hairstyle vary according to their military rankings. Interestingly, the eyes of the Terracotta

Warriors depict a single eye-lid, which is believed to be a representation of the eyes of the Qin people!

Apart from the pottery soldiers, military experts were astounded by the exquisite bronze weaponry unearthed such as

swords, spears, scimitars, billhooks, halberds, arrowheads and crossbows. Scientists discovered that the surfaces of the Qin

swords were coated with an oxide film 10 microns thick which contained 2% chrome. How did the Qin people do it

more than 2,200 years ago without the help of modern chrome oxidation technology? It is a pity that their secret ‘recipe’

did not survive and we can only admire the remarkable casting technique and artistic standards of the treasure, while leaving

the scientists to unveil the mystery.

The Incredible Battle Formation – HOW was the Army Organized?

The battle formation of the army is thought to be a replica of the real one. Pit One is the largest and most impressive as

around 6,000 Terracotta figures have been excavated. The main part of the battle formation faced the east towards the

ancient enemies of Qin State, indicating the characteristic of being alert and hostile. Infantry was the main attack force as

evidenced by only 38 chariots in the formation.

Excavated in 1976, Pit Two stands about 20 meters north to Pit One and it consists of four units: the first unit contains

rows of kneeling and standing archers; the second one is a chariot war array; the third unit consists of mixed forces with

infantry, chariot and trooper standing in rectangular array; and the last one includes numerous troopers holding weapons.

The four units together form a meticulous battle array.

Pit Three is the smallest one. There are only 68 terracotta figures, many of which are without heads. It is believed as

the command post – there are only two chariots but they were made out of bronze, which means they were the best

chariots!

The Terracotta Warriors are in a precise formation and stand in organized ranks. The organization of chariots,

infantry and cavalry is simply unrivalled by any other military array at that time, which also signifies the martial spirit and

military culture of the Qin kingdom.

T

The Road Ahead – Cultural Significance of Terracotta Warriors and Its Preservation

The Terracotta Warriors have fascinated the whole world with their artistic, cultural, and scientific importance. They are

considered as one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in China and an eighth “Wonder of the World”. In 1987, the

Qin Shihuang Mausoleum and the Terracotta Warriors were listed as World’s Cultural Heritage sites by UNESCO.

However, unless caution is taken, the ‘unbeatable’ army of Qin Shihuang will be in great danger. For instance, their

excavation exposes them to corrosive elements that have been impenetrable to the figures for generations. Things that seem

as benign as mold can have damaging effects, too.

Tourists can be as threatening as tomb robbers. They bring in trash, food and other sources of litter that are organically

based. Bacteria may grow and could eventually impose detrimental effects on the figures. In my opinion, it is the

responsibilities of both the Chinese government and visitors to conserve the Terracotta Warriors. Civic education

regarding the preservation of the heritage is of utmost importance, not to mention the endeavor of the government to

further enhance the technical and management skills of the officials in charge.

What the well-diggers stumbled upon accidentally has turned out to be the most incredible archaeological discovery of

modern times. Qin Shihuang wanted immortality more than anything. With so many people visiting his burial site and

army every day, in such a way, the emperor has lived on.

The Green-Faced Warrior St. Paul's Co-educational College Primary School, Ven, Mia – 10

was made in dusty workshops across Lintong District, Xi’an over two thousand years ago. I lined up next to

thousands of my comrades and remained underground dutifully for two millennia guarding China’s First Emperor,

Qin Shi Huang. I was unique though. I was the only green-faced warrior in his notorious terracotta army.

The year was 246 BC and China had a new emperor: thirteen-year-old Qin Shi Huang. Emperor Qin wanted to live

forever, and spent a lot of his time searching for immortality. He was so determined to protect his body in the afterlife that

he demanded the construction of the largest tomb ever built for any king, pharaoh or emperor across the world. Most

importantly, he wanted his entire army to keep him safe in the spirit world too, which is why I am narrating this to you. I,

one of Qin Shi Huang’s most vibrant soldiers, have guarded his body faithfully in life and in death.

When work began, the site was like nothing anyone had ever seen. Nearly three-quarters of a million labourers worked on

building Emperor Qin’s tomb – a job that lasted thirty-six years! The emperor ordered the site to be the size of a football

pitch, and to be made up of four main pits about seven metres deep. We soldiers thought that the labourers digging the pits

were much braver than us – it looked like such hardwork, tougher than going into battle even. The pits had to face to the

East, because the emperor wanted protection against the states he conquered during the wars of unification, which lay in

that direction.

At the same time, in busy workshops nearby, government labourers and local craftsmen used ingenious methods to model

eight thousand of Qin Shi Huang’s warriors out of clay and other local materials. Our heads, arms, legs and torsos were

crafted separately and then assembled once they had been fired. The workers had eight different face moulds so that we

looked as real as possible. They even added extra pieces of clay to make our faces look individual. Other parts of our bodies

were made more efficiently: workers constructed our legs in the same way as they crafted drainpipes! The emperor was so

strict that he forced each workshop to put their name on the pieces they made so that the quality would be controlled.

We were life-sized and varied in height, just like real men, from around 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 7 inches tall. We all had

different facial expressions too; some figures, like me, seemed placid while others looked enraged and ready for combat.

Our hairstyles, armor and uniforms also differed according to our rank. The craftsmen painted us in a variety of shades from

pink to red to green to blue to black to brown to white to lilac. Though our colours have faded over the course of two

thousand years, in our prime we looked as different and unique as the soldiers we represented.

There were weapons for us to use, just like on a real battlefield. They were mostly the same spears, swords and crossbows

that we took with us to war. These made us look more realistic, and most importantly, to be better prepared to protect our

emperor. Our swords were given a chromium coating, which kept them rust-free for two thousand years. I think Qin Shi

Huang would be jubilant to see them shining still. The Germans and Americans think they invented this chrome-plating

technology in the twentieth century, but actually we Chinese had been already using it for over two thousand years!

Perhaps the most spectacular sculptures in Emperor Qin’s army are the two chariots made for him to conduct his

inspections in the afterlife. They are not made from terracotta, like we are, but from bronze, silver and gold. The chariots

are incredibly intricate with details copied from real horses, coachmen and two-wheeled vehicles. The coachman is armed

with swords and he sits under a parasol to shield him from the blazing sun. The colourful carriages are decorated with

clouds and geometric patterns – you can even open the windows and doors. It is hard to believe that they were buried in a

wooden box eight metres underground for two thousand years.

There are other non-military figures in the necropolis who are not as important as my companions and me. Most of them

were made to entertain Emperor Qin in his afterlife, this includes acrobats, strongmen and musicians. There were also

terracotta civil servants, equipped with knives and bamboo tablets for writing. I do not understand why the Emperor really

needed them, but we soldiers would protect our master in his afterlife under any circumstances!

I

Once the thousands of figures were complete, we were placed into pits based on rank. Pit one contains Emperor Qin’s

main army of six thousand terracotta soldiers, pit two houses the cavalry, infantry and chariots, the third pit is a command

post with high-ranking officers and another chariot inside. We stayed underground silently watching over the emperor

from 210 BC until 1974 when a group of farmers accidentally unearthed us, bringing us into a world that is so very different

to the one we left behind. Since then, the terracotta army has been considered as the most significant archeological

excavation of the 20th century.

You should come and visit us in Xi’an. Even though the terracotta army is now over two thousand years old, we are still a

fearsome and impressive sight with many secrets left to reveal. Perhaps if you come I shall whisper the mystery of my green

face into your ear. Some experts think it is to show off the bravery and power of all of the soldiers, others believe I am a

foreigner or wearing a battlefield disguise. See us and I am sure you will agree that just as Emperor Qin united the China

during his life, he has joined the world in admiration of his army after his death.

The Story of the Terracotta Warriors The French International School, Pathak, Vir - 10

n 1974 a few farmers were digging a well outside the city of Xian in China, when their shovels hit something solid.

What they found was a life sized clay model of a soldier. They were puzzled by what they found and notified the

Chinese authorities. The excavation revealed four pits filled with thousands and thousands of clay soldiers and horses.

This is how the great archaeological discovery of the terracotta warriors happened.

The terracotta army was built to be buried with Emperor Qin in 2009 BC to protect him in his afterlife. Like the Egyptians

the ancient Chinese believed in life after death and believed that a person should be buried with all the things they might

need to enjoy their other life after they die. The statues were ordered to be built soon after he ascended the throne. The

emperor was only 13 years old when he assumed power. He was one of the greatest emperors of China who unified the

different kingdoms who were warring with each other. He was also responsible for standardizing the currency, weight

measures and the script characters for all of China. He was the one to order the first Great Wall of China to to be built to

defend China against other tribes. The size of the terracotta army was meant to show his glory, to remember the army that

triumphed over the warring states and because the Emperor believed that he would need an army to help him in his

after-life.

There are thousands of terracotta soldiers, horses and chariots placed in underground pits around the Emperor’s tomb. Each

terracotta warrior is made out of clay and is armed with weapons like swords, axes, spears, lances and crossbows which are

made of bronze. Each terracotta warrior has a lot of detail and has a unique facial expression, hairstyle, ears and posture

and is positioned like he is ready for war. They are standing in the order of their ranks and the more important warriors are

built taller than the others.

There are several under ground pits containing the terracotta army. One pit contains over 6000 terracotta soldiers. Another

has over 130 chariots and 600 horses. The third pit houses the high command. However the fourth pit was empty which

shows that the work was unfinished and that Emperor Qin had more ambitious plans for his afterlife. There were also more

pits containing dancers, musicians and acrobats which shows that the emperor also wanted some entertainment in his

afterlife. The underground pits are located at a one mile distance from the Emperor’s tomb. The Emperor’s tomb is

supposed to have precious stones and artifacts and even rivers of mercury flowing through mountains of bronze. It has not

yet been opened because archaeologists fear that the valuable contents will get damaged on exposure to air and there are

some rumors that the reason why the Emperors tomb is still untouched because it has a solid anti-grave digging including

secret crossbows that can kill people and because the mercury was meant to poison any invaders. The terracotta warriors

were painted in bright colours but when they were exposed to light and air, the paint peeled off leaving only the bare

terracotta.

The terracotta army was found 2200 years after Emperor Qin’s death which shows how well they hid the location of these

structures since they probably did not want people to steal any of the valuables hidden in the underground pits. It is also

amazing to think of how long it would have taken to build so many life-sized statues. It is estimated that 700,000 workers

spent almost 36 years building the statues from the time the emperor was crowned till the time of his death. What is really

interesting is that the Emperor was only fourteen years old when he started planning his tomb and the terracotta army to be

built which was a very young age to start worrying about his death! There are also stories about how he was wanted with

immortality and sent many explorers to discover some kind of elixir of life.

Now tourists and visitors come from all around the world to see the terracotta warriors in the Museum of Qin located to

the east of Xian. In the museum you can view from a height the seven meter deep pits where the terracotta warriors are still

lying in battle formation. The terracotta warriors are so famous that the president of France, Jacque Chirac, called them

the eight wonder of the world.

I

Unlocking the Mysteries of the Terracttoa Warriors Victoria Shanghai Academy, Choi, Ethan – 9

here are many mysteries surrounding the terracotta warriors. After all, they were constructed over 2200 years ago

but only discovered 40 years ago by chance. Only a fraction of the army were unearthed by archaelogists. How

many terracotta figures were actually buried? Why were they discovered so late? What is the finished product?

How do the workers transport the terracotta warriors to the site? I will discuss each mystery, make a hypothesis, and

provide supporting facts.

The first mystery is that pit number 4 is empty. This may be happening because all the other tombs already has lots of

figures in it. In pit one, there are the standing archers, infantrymen and charioteers, and the kneeling archers. In pit two,

there are the Junior Officer, the General and the charioteers. In Pit three, there are the kneeling archer and the robed

infantrymen, and that leaves the non-military soldiers, which are in another pit (K0007). Another reason is that the

terracotta warriors are not yet finished, and the carvers died before they even finished them. They left everything to do, and

hoped that the other generation will finish it, and maybe the other warriors were hidden in another spot, maybe

underneath. Also, my other hypothesis is that it might be just a space in case they wanted to display all the materials they

used, or maybe they wanted to make a secret passage to the Emperor’s tomb, but when they buried the terracotta warrior’s

tomb, they forgot that pit four was empty. Or, they could have a plan to create another site, since historians say that there

should be more. My other hypothesis is that somebody else discovered the terracotta warriors before the year 1974, and that

person stole the warriors or figures from Pit 4, and also buried it so well that it is like nothing happened.

The second mystery is that why are the terracotta warriors discovered so late? Why were they discovered 2200 years after

they buried it? In the old times, they might know the book that Si Ma Qian wrote, but because they were busy at war, so

they didn’t bother finding the terracotta warriors. Perhaps the emperor killed all the workers after he thought they have

done enough, to not let anyone steal it Also, they were hidden 7 meters underneath the ground. Lintong is not a very

popular place back then; nobody except the residents there knew about it. Also, it was blocked by rivers on two sides,

mountains on the other, and the other leads to the Great Plains, which is very dangerous. It might be that the vilagers found

them by digging a very deep hole through the well. Or else, they may not be able to find them. But why didn’t anyone

want to make an attempt? Firstly, there was the Han dynasty, and the Three Kingdoms, through all the way to the Tang

Dynasty. They were all busy reading and researching, in battle or writing poems. Also, everyone might be very busy.

Scientists say that there were some towns that would protect the Emperor’s afterlife, such as Shanrencun, which protected

him until the Ming dynasty, and Xiajiaocun which protected until the Song dynasty. Unfortunately, they didn’t protect the

emperor until now. But if they really protected it until now, some people may already know the terracotta warriors exist,

before 1974, the discovery date of the terracotta warriors.

The third mystery is why was the terracotta warriors tomb in that spot. Based on the area of the terracotta warrior’s tomb,

there are two rivers, each around a few kilometers from the tomb. One side of it leads to a tall mountain, while the last side

is protected by the terracotta warriors. Also, the rivers lead to a very remote area, and it passes through a lot of major cities.

The other side of it leads to the yellow river. And, the mountain is very tall, and it is followed by many other mountains.

Some people say that the mountains look like a national park. However, some historians say that the idea that rivers and

mountains might not be a very good idea. The main goal of the Qin Emperor is to protect himself, but because it is beside a

major city, Xian, so there can just be a very big explosion that will explode the terracotta warriors. Firstly, villagers mined a

well to discover them, so some robber may just explode the terracotta warriors. So, historians think that it should be hidden

not next to a big city, but in a very remote and save area, to truly protect the emperor’s afterlife.

The fourth mystery is that how do the workers transport every heavy figure from the workshop to the site of the terracotta

warriors? Scientists say the terracotta warriors each weigh a ton. Even with a thousand workers, that will require a lot of

work. My hypothesis is that the workers firstly carry all the body parts to the site, then build it up part by part. But, with

not a lot of space, how can they put the last few together? It may also be pulled by a certain machine, but it must be very

ancient, and most of it might be from manwork. Probably, it could also be pushed by an animal, followed by lots of people.

Or, the workshop should be very close to the site, but the emperor might have demolished it in the end. Scientists reported

seeing very broken terracotta parts, which will rarely happen, because terracotta is a very firm material. So, it might be a

sign of the workers accidentally dropping one of the soldiers. If it was all made by manwork, it will drop many times, and

possibly break. But, my hypothesis is that ancient scientists tested out the hardness of different building materials, and they

all agreed with terracotta.

So, the terracotta warriors really have a whole lot of mysteries, and still, there are lots more to solve, because there may be

just a few odd things that people didn’t discover just yet.

T

Ears and Arrowheads Chinese International School, Fung, Liam – 14

he Terracotta Warriors are seen by many as the eighth wonder of the world, an engineering

marvel. But even though they were discovered in 1976 and have been under excavation and

study for about 40 years now, we still have only a vague idea about how they were made.

Recently, some research has been done, allowing scientists to discover more about production methods.

The Terracotta Warriors were constructed to keep Emperor Qin Shih Huang’s soul safe in the afterlife.

Approximately 8000 soldiers and 600 horses have been unearthed, and there are still many that are trapped

under the dirt in undug sites. The Army was built on his command and was buried along with him around

210-209 BC. The tomb was sealed, and it was forgotten in the sands of time for over two thousand years.

The Qin Dynasty was the first time China was completely united, and therefore was historically

significant. Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of knowledge about this period in time, as the warriors

were buried and then suddenly disappeared through history, and Qin Shih Huang ordered the burning of

many books documenting events through this era in history, so the only way to really know much about

this period of history is to examine artifacts and weapons. As the Terracotta Army contains a lot of

weapons and reveals a lot about army formations during the Qin Dynasty, it is an momentous discovery.

In 1976, farmers in Shaanxi were digging a well and accidentally discovered the Terracotta Army. Initial

excavation took years and was precarious. The government did not want to damage the soldiers or

somehow cause the whole excavation to go wrong. The stability of dirt near the undug sites is

unconfirmed, and it is risky to continue excavating as it is possible the site could cave in or collapse into

itself, ruining the warriors and ruining the site. After a significant portion of the site was unearthed, it was

clear that this discovery was extremely important and could help scientists discover a lot about Qin Shih

Huang’s reign. Following the initial excavation, scientists quickly moved on to studying the warriors and

begun investigations into production methods and metal compositions.

Just in March of 2014, scientists believed they had discovered the method according to which the warriors

were made, the “cellular manufacturing system”. A cellular manufacturing system is actually quite simple

- within each cell, an entire warrior was made from beginning to end. Skilled craftspeople made the mold

of the warrior’s body, poured clay into the mold, painted the warrior and made weapons out of wood and

bronze to arm the warrior. All of this happened in a single cell while, nearby, other cells were doing the

same thing. This is a very different process from, say, the modern assembly line method. The cellular

manufacturing system was used to create both the bodies of the warriors and the weapons they wielded,

and ensured that the weapons would be very high quality. By examining the arrowheads of the warriors,

the manufacturing system was deduced. It was discovered that their metal compositions differed

somewhat from one group to the next. Since this would not make sense had the arrowheads been

constructed using a conventional assembly line, scientists deduced that the cellular manufacturing system

was the reason. Because there is no way that there could be such a large variance in metal composition if

all the metal came from a single operator’s stockpile, the only way that there could be such a large variance

is if there were many different craftspeople creating arrowheads from many stockpiles of metal.

Not only were the warriors within a given group of 500 different from those in other groups, but each

individual warrior, it has been discovered, was unique. This has been discovered through comparing their

ears. Scientists found that no two ears of the thousands of soldiers were the same. This highlights the

amazing detail that the workers put into each and every one of the warriors. Each warrior was not simply

put into a cast, poured out, and stood up, they were slowly constructed little by little, limb by limb. The

T

research was painstakingly slow and tedious - scientists had to note details of the warriors, while at the

same time making sure they didn’t touch the warriors and damage them. The scientists measured the

warriors by taking 360 degree photos of the ears, then rendered them on a computer screen as a 3D model,

then measured them.

Personally as a very curious teenager, I believe that there is still a lot to reveal about the Terracotta

Warriors. A few questions I still have in mind for scientists today are: Firstly, how was the knowledge of

the location of Qin Shih Huang’s tomb lost suddenly? It took a whole lot of coincidence to discover the

location of the warriors, how did it just vanish into thin air like that? Secondly, why didn’t scientists simply

measure the warriors’ chests instead of having to go through all the trouble to measure their ears?

Wouldn’t measuring their chests be a lot easier and a lot quicker than measuring their ears? Finally, I

wonder if we will ever be able to prove that the cellular manufacturing system was definitely what was

used to create the warriors, as all we have now is a deduction and no solid proof it was actually this way.

Until proven wrong, we just have to kind of assume that this is the case and that this is the truth.

It’s estimated that only around ten percent of the entire vast army has been unearthed and excavated. By

discovering this amazing monument to Chinese engineering and technology, we have already uncovered

swathes of knowledge and history previously unknown to us. The more we dig, the more questions we

ask, and the more we question our previous research. A lot more can be known about these warriors, but

not much has been answered so far, and we seem to be drawing near to the limits of our knowledge,

unfortunately.

Although this is the case, and even though we may never know everything about the mysterious

Terracotta Warriors, curiosity will lead our charge into the depths of Qin Shih Huang’s tomb.

Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors Chinese International School, Lee, Lynn – 13

iscovered in 1974 outside the city of Xi’an, China, the clay soldiers known as the Terracotta

Warriors have drawn many tourists to Xi’an. Thousands of human-sized warriors are in

underground pits, created during the Qin Dynasty to accompany Emperor Qin to the afterlife.

These warriors and their horses, collectively named the Terracotta Army, is displayed in the Museum of

Qin Terracotta Warriors and horses.

How developed was China in the Qin Dynasty? What did the Qin know? Was their military equipment

the main reason that the Qin managed to defeat the other states and unify China? Why are Terracotta

Warriors so special? And, of course, how were Terracotta Warriors produced in such a relatively short

amount of time? Not only do Terracotta Warriors serve as a tourist attraction, but they also provide

answers to many of our questions about ancient China.

1. War/Military Equipment

The Terracotta Warriors have revealed the highly advanced military weaponry in the Qin Dynasty. Made

of bronze, these weapons have been subjects of a lot of investigations on the logistics behind the

construction. Each warrior found was fully equipped with bronze weaponry. After excavating Pits 1, 2,

and 3, archaeologists found a number of weapons, which include the following:

a. Sword

A sword is the king of short weaponry, used to stab the enemy in battle. The Qin swords were

found to be made longer than those in other places and times. Longer swords make it easier to stab

the enemy, and it is clear that the Qin Dynasty Chinese knew that, even though people of the other

states did not.

b. Spear

While spears found in the Wu and Yue states focused more on beauty, the spears found with the

Terracotta Warriors were simple, sharp, wide, and flat -- what a spear needs to be, to be useful in

combat.

c. Crossbow

In March 2015, a 2,200 year old crossbow was found among the terracotta warriors. This crossbow

could have shot an arrow up to 792 meters, which is much farther than most of our crossbows can

today. Mike Loades, an expert on ancient weaponry, said that it “It is an ingenious bit of

mass-produced, standardized, military equipment, two millennia ahead of it’s time.”

d. Arrowhead

Over 40,000 arrowheads were excavated and examined, and small differences in the measurements

identified subgroups among these arrowheads. An arrow examined showed that there was 20% of

tin in the arrowhead, and 3% of tin in the shaft. More tin makes the arrowhead harder, and less tin

makes the shaft more flexible. The arrowheads had the perfect amount of tin in them. Janice Li, a

senior archeologist, used silicon molds to examine the blades of the arrowheads. The identical

parallel lines she found on many arrowheads and the consistency of the lines show that each of the

arrowheads was sharpened by using a wheel. The only machine that could make the even lines on

the arrowheads is the rotary lathe.

D

e. Halberd

As a defense against cavalry, the Qin had a weapon called the halberd. The first function of the

halberd is the spear, which can impale a horse. There is a cross piece behind the spear that stops the

horse from going any closer to the halberdier, so that the halberdier does not get trampled. The

second function of the halberd is the spike on the other end of the halberd, which is used to take

out the horse’s legs. If the horse gets past the halberd, the halberdier can use the halberd to lift the

point of the lance of the opponent. That would push the lance onto the opponent’s throat,

knocking the opponent off the horse.

It seems the advanced military weaponry of the Qins was the main reason that they were able to unify

China. Every bit of the weapons is well thought out, with functions that can deal with any enemy,

whether they are standing on land or sitting on cavalry. The weaponry of the Qin dynasty reveals the

high level of metal working and planning of the ancient Chinese.

2. Mass Production

How could Qin craftsmen produce so many terracotta warriors in the short time they had? This is a

big question that many researchers have asked, and they were determined to find out the answer.

Archaeologists believe that the Qin weapons workshops had similar characteristics as our modern

day mass production. They think that the Qins had a specialized department of quality control,

where workers had the job to scrutinize each statue and sign on the back of the statue as their

personal mark of approval for the quality of the statue ensured the quality of the statues, and it is

indeed surprising that the ancient Chinese used the same quality control system as ones used almost

2,200 years later in the modern industrial world.

Forced labor was the main reason that the Terracotta Warriors were produced in such a small

amount of time. In the far western side of the site where the Army was discovered, many buried

bodies of men, women, and children were also found. Next to each body is a tag stating the name

and how the worker had come to work at the site. It is striking to find out that many workers and

families were working there because of debts owed to the government. Instead of having to pay

their debts, they were forced to work. The forced labor allowed the Qin to create the Chinese

empire, to protect itself with the great wall, and to connect its vast regions with highways and

canals.

3. Production Skills

Andy Lacey, a forger, tried to reproduce the casting techniques that were developed in ancient

China. He put the shaft into the mold, and then put the top of the mold on and clamped it. He then

poured the metal over the mold, which had a hole that would take in the metal. This would weld

the two components together tightly. The way that the shaft was joined with the arrowhead to

make the arrow reveals the technical sophistication of the Qin.

To create the torso, short tunic, and the arms of the warriors, the Qin coiled ropes of clay the same

way that they made vases, so that it would be a more efficient process. They used base molds to

make the front and back of the head, and details were later carved in to make each soldier different.

However, experts are still not sure how the legs, hands, and some other parts of the warriors were

made.

How was the work force controlled? The workers were divided into groups, which were controlled

by master craftsmen. Crossbow triggers found in different areas of pits all have slightly different

shapes. This shows that each group of triggers was produced by a different group of craftsmen. Each

worker had to sign his name on the weapon that he had created, so that any below-standard work

could easily be traced back to it’s creator.

In China, purple can symbolize strength, divinity and immortality. Chinese Purple was found on

some of the terracotta warriors. But, how did the Chinese make the color out of natural pigments?

Many believe that glassmaking was associated with the manufacturing of Chinese Purple. Some

suspect that the Chinese had gotten the color from Egypt, but it is very unlikely that the Chinese

had acquired technology from Egypt before the Silk Road was created.

In conclusion, the Terracotta Warriors led us to the discovery of many things about the Qin dynasty and

ancient Chinese. The Qins’ weapons were sophisticated and superior to their peers, and this probably

contributed directly to their conquering of other states and unifying China. Furthermore, the in-depth

studies of weapons reveal that the Qins had advanced manufacturing systems and skills. Lastly, many

people in the Qin dynasty were forced to work for the production of the Terracotta Army as well as a

number of national projects.

Although we have learned a number of valuable lessons, many questions are still unanswered. How was

Chinese Purple created in the Qin dynasty? How were the arms and hands of the Terracotta Warriors

made? What unknown information is hidden in the tomb of the emperor? Hopefully, further

excavation of the emperor’s tomb will provide us with more answers.

Witness to the Eighth Wonder of the World Clearwater Bay School, Li, Megan - 10

Welcome! To you we must look crazy, strange,

But we are calm, and vigilant and proud,

A mighty army of our Emperor Qin,

Prepared for battle to protect his tomb.

Reminders of the ancient army bold,

Who first united China long ago,

We’ve suffered many hardships underground,

And more, since we have seen the light of day.

Our clothing, vivid, colorful and bright,

Has faded. We’ve been burned and plundered, smashed,

Yet now restored, revived in dignity,

Strong, elegant, magnificent, ‘most real,

Exquisite model of the ancient world,

A marvel to behold for modern eyes.

I, Yang Mulan Yong (杨木兰俑), general in the Emperor Qin-Shi-Huang’s Terracotta Army,

named the Eighth Wonder of the World, lived underground for 2,200 years.

I am a stoic soldier modeled after a real general, Yang Mulan, who farmed the land before

becoming a fighter. As he protected the living Emperor Qin, I command 8000 subterranean soldiers

defending him in the afterlife. Once I carried a bronze sword. My armor glistened with trappings of

Chinese purple, peach, red, green, and black. However, within a day of being exposed to sunlight and air,

the paint flaked away. An archeologist took my sword. A greater loss was my silk-paged diary with its

decorated bamboo cover. I must trust my memory.

We all have single-lidded eyes. Otherwise, our facial expressions, ears, hairstyles, weapons and

uniforms are distinct. Before disinterment, most of us had normal peach-colored faces, except a few

archers with green faces. Normal soldiers stand between 175 and 190 centimeters tall. Commanders stand

taller, about 200 centimeters.

Emperor Qin, whose name was Ying Zheng, was born into the Warring States in 260 BCE. At

age 13 he ascended to the throne of Qin. By 221 BCE, he had united China.

When alive, I followed Emperor Qin through the battlefields until unification. I saw Emperor

Qin’s glorious victory as well as the overthrow of his dynasty.

The First Emperor achieved a great deal. He united seven kingdoms: Han, Wei, Zhao, Yan, Chu,

Qi, Qin. With consolidated power, the ambitious emperor established centralized government and

created unified writing script, currency, weights and measures. He connected portions of the Great Wall

to protect the country from the Huns and created a national network of carriage roads. He vigorously

promoted agriculture featuring irrigation systems, such as Dujiangyan, in addition to encouraging

smelting and handicrafts.

Every bit of Emperor Qin’s accomplishment came with its price. Unpopular and cruel, the First

Emperor massacred enemies, sentenced millions to forced labor, burned books and buried scholars alive

(焚书坑儒 ). He also imposed high taxation. Qin-Shi-Huang died at age 50. Due to its oppressive

policies and flagrant disregard for tradition, the Qin Dynasty outlasted him only 4 years.

He survived many assassination attempts. Worried about rebellious enemies pursuing him into the

afterlife, he dedicated immense effort into building The Terracotta Army. To his credit, Emperor Qin

populated his magnificent tomb with clay attendants, rather than sacrificing living ones. It took at least 36

years and 720,000 laborers. Sima Qian wrote in Records of the Grand Historian (史记), ‘A world with

mountains made of gold, stars represented with pearls, and flowing rivers of mercury.’

The Terracotta Army is composed of several pits, thoughtfully designed. Three of these cover

approximately 5 acres. Pit 1 is the largest, housing most of the warriors within 14,260 square meters. Pit 2,

a grand L-shaped affair, accommodates 130 chariots, 150 cavalries and archers. Pit 3, the command

center where I reside, is the smallest. Regular workers, government officials, musicians, acrobats and

exotic animals in other pits completes tomb.

Our makers tiled the pits’ floors so well that they withstood the desecration of the chambers.

Mounds of earth supported roof planks. We terracotta warriors were made with powdered quartz, mica,

and feldspar added to yellow dirt, resulting in durable reddish-brown clay. Craftsmen probably made us

by clay coiling, rolling a long strip of clay one inch in diameter and shaping our various forms. Next they

fired the clay in kilns, at approximately 1000 °C. Holes were left in the clay so that trapped heat would

not explode us. After firing, craftsmen used egg white and lacquer to paint us.

We stand in ancient battle formation, facing outward. We can fend off attackers from all

directions, but most of our army, half-smiling, faces east, with backs to the emperor, alert and slightly

haughty. We are no longer at our best; the years have hurt us. Colorless and weaponless, some of us now

lack a hand, arm, foot, or head. We resemble a real army but diviner because we face the future.

On March 29, 1974, one of my descendants, farmer Yang ZhiFa, while digging a well,

discovered us in LinTong, approximately 1.6 kilometers east of the emperor's tomb at Mount Li. After

that things happened quickly.

My fellow fighters and I generate money for the modern state. Admission to our exhibit costs

182 HK$. Our battalions confront armies of tourists. Visitors admire our ancient Chinese wisdom and

heritage, taking replicas of us home.

2,236 years ago, Emperor Qin prepared for an eternal life with the underground Terracotta

Army, the Eighth Wonder of the World. Once I used my sword ruthlessly to conquer the known world

for the emperor. My descendants, deeply embedded in the globalization process, skillfully conquer

international markets with products and services. In less than 40 years, they have transformed China from

the 17th to the 2nd largest economy of the world, lifting billions of people from poverty, a true modern

wonder.

As you return home, please remember that we remain here, a symbol of China’s past and present

greatness.

We terracotta fighters all can see,

Our emperor past, our China yet to be.

Before, as warriors brave we claimed our land;

An economic power, now we stand,

No matter what our future may behold,

Our land’s defenders, loyal, staunch and bold.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School

(Secondary School Section), Yip, Kam Wing Kimberley - 13

in terracotta figures were revealed at Hong Kong Museum of History starting from today until end

of this month.

This was the largest exhibition in Hong Kong, which was organized by the Hong Kong Museum of

History joining hands with the Beijing National Museum. There were one hundred and thirty-five

cultural relics exhibited, including twenty-five different types of terracotta statues. Also, there were some

war horses, chariots and swords.

The Secretary for Education, Mr. Eddie Ng Hak Kim, attended the ceremony. He said the Qin Dynasty

made an immense contribution to the Chinese history, as China was unified for the first time and central

institutions were established to standardize calligraphy, currency, weights as well as measurements. He

spoke, ‘It is important and influential until now. It is worth for every students coming to see and

understand our deep-rooted history, culture and stories behind the terracotta figures.’

The exhibition had two sections, one of which was Cultural Relics Display Zone and the other was the

Multimedia Experience Zone featuring large-scale relics, panel texts as well as videos telling us the stories

of Qin from its rise to its pinnacle.

Q

Terracotta Warriors Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School, Pang, Tybalt - 12

hina has created numerous artifacts and structures that are widely known to the world and are

high in historical value. One of these magnificent creations is the Terracotta Warriors that were

created in the Qin dynasty by the emperor Qin Shi-Huang. The Terracotta Warriors are a

collection of over 8000 life-size clay warriors and horses that were made to protect the emperor from

potential enemies in his afterlife. This wonderful discovery leads to the fascination of archeologists as it

provided a well-rounded understanding of battle formations, tactics, history and situation of citizens in

the Qin dynasty. In this essay, the Terracotta Warriors’ construction, details, and weapons will be

discussed in order to gain a more thorough understanding of this marvelous creation.

Due to the structure’s massive size, the construction process of it was long and tedious. The

emperor’s strict orders at the time also hindered the process as he ordered for all the statues to be unique,

all weapon and armor pieces to be made to the exact perfection and for incredible detail to be added to

the statues. Firstly, local craftsmen, using clay, manufactured the Terracotta Army figures in workshops.

Clay was dug up from mountains and shaped to form the different body parts of the Terracotta statues.

Heads, arms, legs, and bodies were manufactured separately and were only put together in the assembly

process. After assembly, facial features would be added to the head using clay, and the figures would be

fired in a kiln. The kiln is an oven or a furnace that was used to bake and dry clay sculptures so that they

become hard. In order to ensure strict quality control, each workshop was required to carve their name

on the statue that they manufactured, so that if any statue was of insufficient quality, the statue could be

traced back to the workshop that made it. Any workshop that made unsatisfactory statues were penalized

with heavy fines, floggings, imprisonment, and even death.

There are several features in a Terracotta Warrior statue that left archeologists in awe. Firstly, the

facial features of the statues are all exact. All of the individual statues’ expression, clothing, hairstyle, and

gestures were based on actual soldiers that were in emperor Qin Shi-Huang’s army. This is usually

considered one of the hardest steps, as it required great skill to mold, knead and carve exact facial features

on clay statues. Secondly, are the bright and detailed colors on the Terracotta Warrior statues. Although

most of the of the statues displayed today are gray in color, some of the statues have been found to have a

layer of bright paint on their faces and bodies. Through further analysis, it was confirmed that artists

painted layers of bright paint on the statues to make them more realistic. All of the statues were

hand-painted by the artists and it was time-consuming work, as all crevices of the statue had to be

painted and not a mistake could be made. Thirdly, were the weapons. Unlike highly decorative and

impractical weapons usually buried in most emperors’ graves, the ones buried in emperor Qin

Shi-Huang’s were designed to achieve the highest combat performance. Blacksmiths were required to

make high-quality swords. They were so well made that even after 2000 years and to this day, the

swords are unaffected by oxidization and still remain sharp. Fourthly, were the designs on the armor. One

of the hardest parts of creating the armor was that stone had to be cut to an exact 3 millimeters in

thickness. Even the most modern tools available now can only cut stone to the thinnest of 5 millimeters.

This meant that workers had to hand-grind each piece of stone used to make the armor. Holes also

needed to be punched into the thin stone slabs. It is very hard to imagine how workers in the Qin

dynasty were able to do that without breaking the brittle stone slabs.

Weapons were also a very important part of the Terracotta Warriors. Many weapons have been

unearthed from the Terracotta Warrior pits. Despite being buried for 2000 years, these weapons still

glitter and are still sharp as if they were new. This shows the high level of metallurgical technology of the

C

Qin Dynasty. High-quality weapons may have been one of the most important factors of emperor Qin

Shi-Huang’s military success.

Some of the weapons found included swords which were the most common close-range weapons.

Swords were usually made of bronze in the Qin dynasty and they were treated so that they would remain

sharp. Swords unearthed in the Terracotta Warriors’ pits were longer in comparison to other swords

because longer swords meant that it was easier to stab the enemy. Another weapon is the spear. The

spears unearthed from the Terracotta Warriors’ pits had high combat performance. This is because it has

fluent lines, a strong body, a wide, flat blade and a sharp tip. Thirdly, is the crossbow. Qin Shi-Huang

chose crossbows over longbows because crossbows could take more tension, require less strength and

have a longer range. Crossbows were very standardized in the Qin dynasty. The mechanical components

of crossbows were so standardized that even the smallest components were interchangeable. The bow

limbs were made of wood, the string was made of animal sinews, and the mechanical components were

made of bronze.

The Terracotta Warriors truly are a magnificent creation. The construction process was long and

tedious and it is truly difficult to imagine how the Qin dynasty artisans managed to create such detailed,

unique and colorful creations. It is also shocking to see that Qin dynasty blacksmiths could fashion such

high-quality weapons that aided the Qin dynasty’s military success. The amount of work artisans put

into the making of the Terracotta Warriors is obvious and it tells us the story of Qin Shi-Huang very

well. This marvelous creation will always play a big and important role in China’s history.

The Warriors and the Self-Made God Sha Tin College, Chan, Cyrus - 12

he discovery of the Terracotta Warriors was the greatest archaeological find of the 20th Century.

A mass collection of over 8000 individual soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry

horses, each and every piece uniquely handcrafted with no two warriors alike. Each individual

soldier lined up in battle formation, representing the power of the Qin Dynasty. This creations reason of

existence- the protection of the Emperor in his afterlife. However elaborate, breathtaking and astonishing

this collection may sound, the discovery of this hoard has raised more questions than given answers. Some

of these questions end up being quite outrageous and controversial. This leads us to the ultimate question

to sum it all up “Was Qin Shi Huang taking over the role of God?” If he was, did he succeed and leave

behind an everlasting legacy?

Qin Shi Huang was the first Emperor of China and was the first to unite all of the warring states. During

his reign, his accomplishments were vast, with the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors both under his

belt. Towards the end of his time on the throne, Qin Shi Huang became obsessed with immortality and

after many futile attempts; Qin Shi Huang began the construction of the Terracotta Warriors, designed

with the intentions of protecting him in the afterlife. These warriors were stored to the east of Xi’an in

Shaanxi Province. Individually, each warrior was hand sculpted and molded from clay. Hundreds and

thousands of artists and sculptors were hired to create this army of clay, however the sheer quantity of the

Terracotta Warriors meant the sculptors and artists were assigned each exclusively to produce a specific

part. This is one of the earliest evidence of an assembly line being used.

The mausoleum consists of three main vaults, with an additional empty fourth vault hinting that the

mausoleum was never completed the way it was originally intended to be. In the first and largest vault,

there stand columns of soldiers at the front with chariots in the back. The second vault contained a

thousand soldiers and dozens of wooden chariots. The most important third and final vault included a

command center of the armed forces with generals, officers, soldiers, horses and a war chariot. Within these

chambers, the warriors could be distinguished by their clothing. Generals wore a dual long sleeved jacket,

a crested hat, long pants with thigh protectors and boots with a square toe opening. Middle level officers

had two types of clothing; the first included a long jacket, thigh protectors, and boots with a square toe

opening also, a chest plate trimmed with lace and a double long hat. The second included a high collar

gown, thigh protectors and the same boots. Soldiers wore traditional chest plates and armor which appear

to be consistent with the uniform during the Qin dynasty. The weapons they carried had been crafted and

designed to last with the use of chrome.

The magnitude and scale of the Terracotta Warriors was huge. In today's day and age, we see the warriors

as an impressive art collection, a part of our history. A lot of people don’t question at what price did this

come at? The sacrifices he made to produce the Terracotta Warriors were insurmountable. Even though he

was the Emperor, the communities’ highest authority in command, does that grant him the right to abuse

his power and push the boundaries and limits of mankind? This possibly leads us to perceive during his

reign, was Qin Shi Huang drunk with power? So consumed in himself, he believed he was in fact God?

Considering he was capable of uniting the warring states, Qin Shi Huang already had accomplished the

impossible. The people of China would have depicted Qin Shi Huang as a God, the great power, granting

him the loyalty and respect only a God would get, satisfying his power cravings. They spoilt him, causing

him to delude, making him perceive himself as omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. With this

amount of power he was being given, Qin Shi Huang himself perhaps believed that he could gain

immortality, could ‘cheat the system’ and rule eternally. By making the Terracotta Warriors, Qin Shi

Huang may have had the intentions of replicating his empire into clay form while he further indulges

himself, playing the role of God. This last attempt at immortality seemed quite a possible, realistic feat to

Qin Shi Huang with all the power that he had been given. Another argument was the army was built for

T

the protection of his people and his land at times of need. Magic and witchery were quite commonly

practiced so that the theory isn’t quite farfetched.

Despite being one of the greatest 20th Century archaeological finds, at the time of its creation no living soul

was able to experience its glory; the Terracotta Warriors was perhaps the biggest kept secret. This build

however, did have its repercussions. Firstly the exhaustion of labor and materials, majority of the states that

were in development, there undoubtedly could have been much more fruitful, constructive use of those

resources. Perhaps the continuation of the Great Wall, the creation of additional road networks, the

improvement of irrigation systems or changes to the imperial court? On a larger scale there were also the

deaths of artists, sculptors and workers checking in at a hefty number of 700,000. At the time, did this

collection of statues better or change their community in any shape, way or form or were the laborers’ hard

work all in vain? On the contrary, if he took the Warriors public it would have become a symbol of

strength, power and wealth for the nation to believe in and for the world to fear; and more importantly, a

boost of morale for the population, uniting states.

The success he displayed and the way he is immortalized are some of the reasons why he still is reckoned

as one of the greatest leaders of all time. As previously mentioned, he brought together the warring states,

standardized multiple systems including the governing methods of China which allowed for easier

management. For his people, he created new measurements and currency units to allow for fair and equal

trade. This indirectly furthered their economy and eliminated the chaos between businesses and trades.

Moreover, he also improved irrigation systems which meant farmers had more fertile crops, improved road

networks for more sophisticated transportation methods between states and individual state defenses to

defend against the Mongols in the north. With these improvements and upgrades Qin Shi Huang was able

to give actual value to people's belongings and businesses. There is no doubt that Qin Shi Huang improved

his empire for many years to come. Arguably with the implementations he implanted within China before

his death, he was ruling beyond his grave.

Ultimately, there is one thing that deserves questioning, how superstitious did Qin Shi Huang have to be

to believe clay soldiers were capable of protection? Like many ancient emperors of China, Qin Shi Huang

was deeply superstitious and embarked on the lifelong journey of seeking immortality even more so after

three assassination attempts. The thought of death itself terrified him. He believed in magic and an elixir

that could grant him an everlasting life.

Although Qin Shi Huang's physical form did not make the cut for immortality, there are still many debates

that in actuality in fact he did. To begin, the Terracotta Warriors are probably the one thing he is most

widely known for along alongside the Great Wall. The Great Wall of China lived on to become one of the

Five Wonders of the world, a jaw dropping tourist attraction and a stunning piece of architecture.

Obviously this is just one of the many noteworthy contributions Qin Shi Huang had made to his people

and the world, but what does all this mean? Returning back to the topic of immortality; immorality can also

be classified or measured by the legacy one leaves behind and if that’s so, many can agree his is in fact,

immortal. From being studied by archeologists, historians and children in schools and read about by the

common people, the world is still fascinated and curious about him till this day.

The Terracotta Warriors have endured the test of time, in our modern day life it is still heard and talked of.

It is more than just a tourist attraction, it was a pioneer for areas like art, the assembly line and weapons

design. With all that being said, the truth is still untold. Most records of the events during the Qin Dynasty

were written 200 years after, leading to inaccuracy or faulty records. The only chance the truth may be

revealed is the unveiling of Qin Shi Huang’s grave. Whether the truth will ever be told or remain a

mystery, there is one thing for certain, the Terracotta Warriors have left behind an everlasting legacy

alongside Qin Shi Huang.

The Terracotta Army of Horses and Soldiers Sha Tin College, Lo, Hillary - 11

Introduction- as a famous asset to China

The Terracotta Army is a massive collection of sculptures that were made of ceramic. It is a type of

funerary art, which was buried along with the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang Di, during

210-209 BCE so he would be protected in his after life. Qin Shi Huang is also the proud creator of the

Great Wall of China, which he ordered many jailers and captured enemies to build. The Great Wall of

China is a majestic and colossal wall that is slowly falling piece by piece. It is breathtaking because the

architecture is so modern with endless winding staircases. The Great Wall of China’s main purpose was

to prevent barbarians and enemies from invading China, and is one of the most famous building projects

globally because of its long and interesting history. It has now become a tourism spot alongside The

Terracotta Warriors, The Forbidden City and many more wonders of the world. A famous historian

named Sima Qian recorded every piece of information about The Terracotta Warriors in his most

notable book, Shiji.

The Amazing Discovery

Farmers who were digging a well in March 1974 in Xi’an, Shaanxi province first discovered the

Terracotta Warriors. The soldiers vary in height because they are classified by their rankings, so the tallest

soldiers are the generals. The average height of a soldier is 5 feet, 8 inches. Every soldier has a footprint of

2.25 square feet, and 8,000 soldiers take up 18,000 square feet. The features of the soldiers are unique and

not even two of them are the same. Historians say that the construction begun when the next successor

(Emperor of Qin) took over China at thirteen years of age. The construction period took about 40 years

and more than 700,000 people were involved. Besides the Terracotta Warriors, acrobats, officials,

musicians and many more non- military figures were discovered nearby Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum.

Scientists are trying to use their knowledge and special techniques to preserve the paint used on the

warriors. The weapons are well preserved because of this modern technique called protective chrome

plating even though it had been more than 2,000 years.

Qin Shi Huang’s background- who was he?

Qin Shi Huang, also called Ying Zheng, conquered all the Warring States. He was a powerful man and

managed to unify China. His grandmother was not very important in King Xiaowen’s eyes, but Qin Shi

Huang managed to get the throne because his father teamed up with Lady Huayang, King Xiaowen’s

favorite concubine. He invented the title Huangdi, which means ‘Emperor’. It was then used by the

many Chinese rulers after him. He was a dictator and was famous for being brutal and cruel to other

people. He killed people who he thought would jeopardize his ruling, people who were holding

different views, or put them under great torture. Qin Shi Huang was a clever man, he knew that, and

thus did not like being challenged by other people. He was so obsessed with power that he did not care

about people’s lives and was very selfish because he was ready to sacrifice the life of his people just to

secure his position. But he was a great and important man because he left us all these wonders.

Giving up on immortality and having a unique mausoleum instead

Qin Shi Huang’s imperial mausoleum is the first, greatest and richest one. The emperor’s own tomb took

up 20 square miles and he had spent his whole life searching for the elixir of immortality, because he

wanted to be immortal and feared death (he was hoping to become the emperor forever). In the end, he

built himself his own tomb instead, choosing his design and arranged for the Terracotta Warriors to be

formed. The tomb is still under excavation nowadays because the people are looking for what is left

behind so they can find out more about his dynasty and reveal the mystery.

Conclusion- understanding that the Terracotta Army is important and therefore treasuring it

As the biggest burial complex ever, The Terracotta Warriors still plays an important role in Chinese

history. Without the Terracotta Warriors, the Chinese wouldn’t have been so popular and civilized,

becoming one of the oldest and longest ancient civilizations that have ever existed.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors St. Mary's Canossian College, Kong, Sum Mei Teresa - 14

went to visit the Terracotta Warriors during the summer. Therefore, I can deeply experience how

fascinating it was.

Terracotta Warriors were discovered by accident in 1974 by farmers in Lintong District, Xi'an. In 1987,

UNESCO identified it as World Heritage Site. It is located on the wide expanses of Mount Li.

Terracotta Warriors is an underground pit type of civil engineering structures building, where three pits

have been found - they are first, second and third. Pit two houses 332 archers who were positioned in

combat formation. It revealed a well-equipped troop with 116 terracotta horses and a group of

cavalryman standing in front of the horses. Three figurines pits’ area are up to 20,000 square meters

where there are many lively real horse similar size figurines, pottery horses, nearly 8000. There are

different branches of the chariots, cavalry and infantry, etc., arranged in a neat and orderly manner.

The Terracotta warriors have colorful face type, can be said to be thousands of thousand faces. Not only

are there the people of different personality traits, but also they fully reflect the ability of the ancients to

observe life intensively. If you observe the Terracotta bun carefully, his head has a tie hair band, hair rope

and issuers, which are used to bundle hair.

The first warrior is called Painted Equestrian Figurine. It was found in late warring states period and was

classified as grade two cultural relics. The horse does not have a saddle. The rider is clad in the nomadic

attire of the northwest region in a windbreaker hat, knee-length trousers and long boots. The figurine

appears to have been made using hand modeling techniques, as fingerprints are still visible on it, while the

eyes, nose and nostrils were carved by a knife. Remnants of paint were found on its body.

Terracotta warriors are divided into Matrimony figurines, royal hand figurines, figurines infantry, cavalry

figurines, standing figurines, kneeling figurines, six in total.

Here, I’m going to introduce some kinds of figurines:

General figurines are burly, wearing golden crowns and regulation armor, holding swords in hand, heads

held high, stood in the forefront, like in command of Matrimony and soldiers behind the front lines. That

air of calm way, to see that this is a battle-hardened, the important task of senior generals.

The kneeling figurines are depicted with their hair tied in a bun on the right of his head and his right

knee on the ground. The figure appears to have been holding a crossbow to the right of the chest, with

the right hand facing up to grip the crossbow’s handle and the left hand facing down to hold the arm of

the crossbow, ready to deploy. Originally painted all over, more than half of the figure’s colours have

faded as a result of human damage and natural erosion. However, the paint remaining on the body

suggests that the bun and hair band were crimson, the face pink, the collar pinkish green, the hands

pinkish white, the armour black and the shoes brown. The colourful layers and textures of the paint work

together with the delicate sculpting in a mutually beneficial artistic relationship that highlights the

craftsmanship of the figure.

On the other hand, standing figurines are wearing a light robe tied at the waist with a leather belt and

square-front shoes. They are standing with their legs forming an L shape, the left leg bent slightly

forward and the right leg stretched out behind to the left. Their right arms are bent in front of the chest,

while their left arm are extended. Their heads are raised and their eyes are fixed solemnly on a point to

the front and left. Their posture is that of a crossbow archer ready to lift his weapon and shoot.

I

There are also warriors which are about 1.8 meters tall each. They are wearing shirts and boots. Some of

them were holding a sword, some holding a shield ...... all eyes sparkled, lips closed, an air of seriousness,

as if a war is in sight.

From the above, we can understand the superb craftsmanship in excelling nature. Besides, their

accessories cannot be ignored since they are extremely exquisite!

All the stone armours are made of limestone sequins. The main part consists of the chest, back, shoulders,

collars and lower bands. The suit weighs a total of 18 kg and includes 612 sequins. They are bulky and

fragile, and anyone wearing it on the battlefield would have been slow and clumsy, and it is therefore

believed not to be designed for practical use but is instead a burial object.

The one I found most interesting is the realistic bronze chariot model, with luxurious decoration, the

extensive use of gold and silver for the decorations, the delicate production, known as the "bronze

crown’’. It was the best relic in China. The first chariot weighs 1061 kg while the second one 1241 kg.

Two chariots parts as much as nearly seven thousand, extremely delicate and complex. In the second

chariot, for example, it consists of 3462 parts, including 737 gold decoration, 983 decorative silver, the

biggest part is the turtle-shaped hood, it is up to 246cm, an area of about 2.5 square meters, minimum

0.5 square centimeters less than the parts. From the weight, the heaviest is the horse, up to 230 kg. The

two royal hand figurines arms reach, grip the rope bridle, head forward, a preoccupied look. Their

physical well-proportioned, plump face, hand Royal First royal hand figurine is like revealing a trace of

seriousness in relaxed, while the second face with respect.

Look at that eight bronze horse - their ears forward, eyes wide open, nose slightly open, six teeth

arranged in neat rows, the body's muscles bulge tranches, especially the chest, looked strong. Its ears erect

like truncated bamboo stems, its mane decorated and its tail braided. As a cavalry horse, it is very well

equipped: on its back it bears a slightly curved saddle that imitates real leather and that is carved with

eight rows of bolts; below the saddle is a representation of a saddle blanket, and embroidered around it

are leaf-shaped and striped bands; girth and flank cinches serve to fasten the saddle.

In late 1980s, two huge painted bronze chariots were excavated from a pit located to the west of the

tomb mound of the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang. Half the original size of the imperial chariots once

used by the emperor and featuring the same design as other chariots have been unearthed from this era;

more importantly, they are the most complicated and largest bronze vessels that have been recovered

from ancient China. In order to ensure the safety of these artefacts, a pioneering technique was applied

that involved removing the earth that covered them and recovering the pieces, with the remains then

taken together with the soil beneath them in a single gigantic block to a laboratory where the fragments

of the chariots were separated for repair and conservation. Experts analysed every component of the

chariots, their condition and the interrelationship between them. An integrated restoration plan was

subsequently drawn up, while comprehensive tests and studies were conducted before suitable restoration

materials, craftsmanship methods and bonding and welding techniques were selected. The restoration

works of reshaping the parts, removing rust, assembling the chariots, reinforcing the bonds as well as

protecting the paint could then start. The restoration of the two bronze chariots took a total of eight

years.

Many relics excavated from the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang were painted, with the terracotta warriors

and horses featuring a variety of colours. This is in a sharp contrast to the portrait of the Qin people we

have gained from historical records, which indicate that the ‘preferred black for their official regalia,

banners and signal pennants’. However, the change in humidity, after the terracotta figures were

unearthed and came into contact with the air, caused the paint on them to peel off. After years of

painstaking research, experts have now acquired the techniques- the injection of hardeners between the

layers of paint and a process of gradual dehydration- to conserve the paintwork, and several painted

terracotta warriors have now been successfully restored. It takes eight months or even a year to clean the

paint on one Qin terracotta figure.

It took thirty-eight years to build the Terracotta warriors, just from the team, we were able to

understand the vast project. The Terracotta lifelike shape, excellent ancient technology is unbelievable. It

has great scientific and artistic value. The mausoleum of the site is really under a lot of effort. It is in the

back by mountains, facing the plains to the mountains.

Many people have asked whether the terracotta warriors were modelled on real soldiers? My answer is

YES. According to Daily Mail, a team of archaeologists from University College London (UCL) worked

with experts from Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Museum in Lintong, China, to reveal the

ancient design process behind the soldiers. They measured the statues’ facial features focusing on the ears,

because they come in so many different shapes that they can be used to identify individuals. The experts

reasoned, that if the warriors depict real people, each statue should have different shaped ears. Because the

statues are packed so closely together in the burial pit, they scanned the ears and made 3D reconstructions

to examine them without risking damaging the ancient originals. Working from a sample of 30 models,

they discovered that no two ears were precisely the same and the amount of variation resembled a real

human population.

Hope you all can feel how fascinating the Terracotta Warriors were through my firsthand experience.

Meanwhile, let’s make efforts to preserve such marvelous world heritage!

The Terracotta Warriors: ancient symbols of the corruption of

power? Creative Secondary School, Cheung, Hugo - 17

ince my childhood, I have heard of a lot fantastic and unbelievable stories about the terracotta

warriors that were created in the Qin dynasty in China. The Terracotta warriors were discovered

by a farmer in China during the 70s. An army of about eight thousand soldiers made of terra cotta,

a baked reddish clay, were buried fifteen to twenty feet beneath the surface near the tomb of Emperor

Qin.

The Terracotta warriors were built for two reasons according to historians. Firstly, the army was designed

to protect Qin after he died; it is said, the ancient Chinese had very strong beliefs about the afterlife.

They believe that we will be heading to the underground world after death, therefore the terracotta

warriors were made to protect emperor Qin in the underground world. Emperor Qin believes that the

more alike the soldiers are, the more effective are the terracotta warriors guarding and defending the

emperor in the underworld. The second reason for building the Terracotta warriors was to demonstrate

emperor Qin’s power in the Qin dynasty. Qin began to construct a lot infrastructure during his teenage

years and he began to construct the army and the tomb at the age of thirteen. Historians estimate that it

required over seven hundred labourers and craftsmen working for thirty years to complete the

construction of these soldiers. This construction is some kind of indication of the emperor’s power

during his dynasty.

The people under the rule of the Qin emperor were subjected to new laws, which limited their freedom

and eventually made them become the slaves of the state; they were either made to become farmers or

soldiers. Books were burned and those intellectuals were forced to become labor or being killed. Severe

and cruel punishments often occurred. Families, who had ruled prior to this new emperor’s rule, were

forced to live in replicas of their former places. These kinds of acts were often performed throughout the

history and even nowadays, thus demonstrating the avarice of mankind and human nature.

The creation of the terracotta warriors successfully reflects how power and money corrupts leaders in the

society. The demand for gaining more power and money is endless, since people’s wants are unlimited.

Similar to the Qin dynasty, throughout history there have been many political and military power figures

who have grown corrupt with power, like Kim Jong il and Joseph Stalin. Leadership of a society is all

about power and influence. The other form of this power is also called personalized power. It is the

use of power for personal gain and psychologists believe that the more people possess power, the more

they focus on their own egocentric desires and the less able they are to see others' perspectives.

Kim Jong il, the leader of North Korea is a great example of power corruption in the modern day. Most

of us knew of him as a ruthless leader who would do whatever was necessary to remain in power; even at

the expense of his people.

Another dictator leader from history is Joseph Stalin, who was the primary Soviet leader of his time

during the 1920’s. Stalin overused his powers; he felt free to turn on all those who have opposed him.

Eventually even murder had become a social norm lead by him at that time. His overuse of power made

the society at that time complete chaotic.

Leaders like Emperor Qin, Stalin and Kim Jong il usually started out with good intentions but were

corrupted absolutely because they became consumed by the obsession for more power and more

authority. This also shows how money and power are unlimited wants of human beings; they will

never be satisfied by what they have. No matter how civilized or advanced we are nowadays, how much

ammunition we have at our disposal, we remain strangely powerless, like those warriors of yester-year

and can only watch and conform while corruption grows around us.

S

Death's Grip Creative Secondary School, Liu, Sophie - 17

e all knew that human cannot be resurrected from death, but even dead bodies can be

influential symbols of power. China as one of the four civilizations, inherits a number of

superstitious beliefs on death. Emperor, the son of heaven who stands on top of all the

classes, demonstrates these notions to the most extreme extent. The first Qin emperor’s mausoleum is

one of the most remarkable. Being at the center of power, the death of emperor is extraordinarily

meaningful, lending its significance too down the centuries to the death of modern-day leaders. China

nowadays is still maintaining her mausoleums as a big show of power and its favorably comparable to the

mass scale of terracotta warriors.

Dating back to the Qin dynasty, the construction of Qin emperor’s tomb demonstrates his absolute

control over the people. Based on the vast scale of construction projects such as the mausoleum, the

Great Wall, palace and roads, the beads of people’s sweat could have been gathered to form the Yellow

River. Therefore, the enormity of the creation of the terracotta warriors and the delicately crafted statues

can in their darkest sense, be seen to symbolize a mass grave. All this effort paid was purposed to protect

the afterlife of the emperor. This demonstrates his manipulation of the people.

Once his dynasty was overthrown, a fire destroyed parts of the terracotta army. The most convincing

theory proclaimed that the rebels lead by Xiang Yu carried out such destruction. This event elaborates on

the existence of the tomb as a symbol of Qin’s power. Soon after his dynasty vanished, his mausoleum no

longer was protected. Undoubtedly, his clay army is a projection of Qin’s dictatorship.

Although modern China abandons some of the old shibboleth on burial, a new and odd custom is

developed. After Mao Ze Dong died, the chairman of the China Communist Party, he was not buried

with any such mass of funerary objects, but was instead, kept in a glass coffin long-term. Despite his will

declaring his wish to be cremated, his wish was altered by a political power struggle. His successor Huo

Guo Feng was the one who greatly encourage preserving his body in glass coffin for displacement so that

people could pay their respect. This action was to continue the cult of Mao as means of consolidating

Guo’s power in the party. Similar to Qin building the terracotta army as an impressive demonstration of

his throne, the politician’s body remains a tool to solidify power.

It is also worth mentioning that China is not the only country to preserve their leader’s body. Most of the

socialist leaders such as Lenin in Soviet Union, Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam and Kim Jong-il in North

Korea were kept in glass coffins also. The display of their bodies is purposed to continue to be influential

even after they died. Mao’s remains are used to continue Mao’s fanaticism. Just as like Qin to build the

terracotta army as a method of control, so the politician’s remains a tool to manipulate power.

In spite of the mausoleums of both Qin and Mao symbolize power; the nature of both events is different.

Qin had an intended construction of the tomb since 13 years old, whilst the displacement of Mao

contradicted his will. Mao did not calculate the show of power through his own body. The instigators of

these events are different. Moreover, the manipulations of the people are by different approaches. On the

one hand, the Qin emperor enforced physical impact on the people. People were preoccupied by the

immense amount of hard labor. The atmosphere of fear rendered the people’s complain into speechless.

On the other hand, politician used Mao’s body to influence people’s ideology. By allowing people to get

a glimpse of their leader, the significance of the hero of communist China is repeatedly emphasized even

today. Therefore, people are still fascinated by Maoist revolutionary ideas through the successful

depiction of Mao’s heroic image.

On the whole, the deaths of the leaders were made advantageous, showing us the influence of dead

bodies. Although the benefits of the leaders’ burial were exploited through distinct methods, they both

inevitably signify power. Even after they have died, people’s lives continue to be shaped by their

unforgiving souls.

W

Conspiracy of Terracotta Warriors Discovery College (Secondary), Woo, Nicole – 14

hina is known to have countless historical attractions, such as, the infamous Great Wall and

Forbidden City in Beijing. However, the Terracotta Army must not be excluded from one’s

list of must-sees when travelling, as it is one of the top attractions in China. Gaining its

significance due to the hundreds of detailed life-size models, representing the army that triumphed over

all other Chinese armies in the Warring States Period and ushered the united imperial China era 2,200

years ago, it is considered one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, and one of the greatest

discoveries of the 20th century.

Many believe that the Terracotta Warriors are the greatest collection of terracotta sculptures in the world.

However, the name should be changed to Terracotta Worriers, as it will better describe the designer –

Qin Shihuang, the first Emperor of China, the reason and purpose behind these monuments.

Background Information

A quick review before we submerge into an ocean of information: The Qin Tomb Terracotta Warriors

and Horses (秦陵兵马俑 in Chinese), feature hundreds of life-size models of soldiers, horses and

chariots in battle array. It was constructed in 246-206 BC., and with the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang,

it took 720 thousand builders.

But, one may ask, why were the Terracotta Warriors made? First Emperor Qin, from whom China gets

its name, ordered the creation of this army of terracotta statues, to be buried with him. Supposedly, it is

said that it was a show of his glory, to remember the army that triumphed over the other Warring States

to unite China, and because it was believed that objects like statues could be animated in the afterlife, and

Qin Shihuang required an after-death army. However, the real reason of why these statues were made

remains unknown, as there is no record in history showing why it was built.

Laid underground for more than 2000 years, farmers digging a well in 1974 uncovered what is now

considered one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world. The first part of the Terracotta Army site

to be discovered was named Vault One. In 1976, two other vaults were uncovered about 20 meters away,

and were named Vault Two and Vault Three. In December 1987, UNESCO selected the Tomb of the

First Emperor (including the Terracotta Army Vaults) as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Thousands of life-size, vivid terracotta warriors in battle formation were revealed in the course of

excavation of the earth and timber vaults - a whole army that would accompany their emperor into

immortality. The horsemen, the longbow bearers, the archers, and the senior officers and generals were

positioned in a grand ancient army formation, in strict accordance with the ancient directives on the Art

of War. Every figure differs in facial features and expression, clothing, hairstyle, and gestures, providing

abundant artifacts for the study of the military, cultural, and economic history of that period. Imagine if

you were the designer, the number of soldiers you would need to make would be much more than your

following on social media.

Many of the figures originally held real weapons of the time, such as bronze swords, longbows, arrows,

spears, dagger-axes, and other long-shafted weapons. The weapons were treated to make them resistant

to rust and corrosion, so that even after being buried for over 2,000 years they were still sharp.

The museum mainly consists of three vaults and an exhibition hall: Vault One, Vault Two, Vault Three,

and The Exhibition Hall of the Bronze Chariots. The vaults are arrayed as the buried army was in strict

accordance with the ancient directives on the Art of War: facing east towards the ancient enemies of Qin

C

State (and towards the entrance), with Vault One on the right flank, Vault Two on the left flank, and

Vault Three a command post at the rear.

Vault One is the largest and most impressive — the size of an airplane hangar. It is believed to contain

over 6,000 terracotta figures of soldiers and horses, but less than 2,000 are on display. All soldiers and

horses face east in a rectangular array. The vanguard appears to be three rows of infantry who stand at the

easternmost end of the army. Close behind is the main force of armored soldiers holding weapons,

accompanied by 38 horse-driven chariots.

Excavation and restoration is still ongoing at vaults two and three. Excavated in 1976, Vault Two stands

about 20 meters north to Vault One. As the highlight of the whole mausoleum, it uncovers the mystery

of the ancient army array. It consists of four units, measuring 94m east to west and 84m south to north

and 5m deep, forming a 6000m2 built-up area. The first unit contains rows of kneeling and standing

archers; the second one is a chariot war array; the third unit consists of mixed forces with infantry, chariot

and trooper standing in rectangular array; and the last one includes troopers holding weapons.

Vault Three is the smallest one. There are only 68 terracotta figures, many of which are without heads.

It's obvious that Vault Three represents the command post, as all the figures are officials.

The two bronze carriages at the Exhibition of Bronze Chariots displayed in the hall were discovered 20

meters from the west side of the Tomb of Qin Shihuang in December 1980, and were elaborately

restored before exhibition. The carriages have about 3,400 parts each and were driven by four horses.

The bronze horses vary from 65 cm to 67 cm high and 120 cm long, weighing 1,234 kg in total. The

carriages were so well-made, and so vivid, that they boast being the best-preserved and having the

highest rank among the earliest known bronze relics in China. These chariots are the biggest pieces of

ancient bronzeware ever found in the world.

Designer of the Terracotta Warriors and horses

Qin Shihuang Di (the first emperor) reigned for eleven years over the first large empire in the region.

He was born the son of a king in a kingdom that already had plans for the conquest of every other

Warring State and had been preparing for conquest for years by mobilizing the masses for massive

construction projects, conscripting the people for the army, and producing the most advanced weaponry

that they could. Military might and conquest was their major goal aside from the continued rule of their

king. The State of Qin rulers believed in a political philosophy called Legalism, which justified strict

centralized control and using the people to strengthen Qin. He and his top officials followed the dictates

of this philosophy by first conquering the region (in which they conquered every other region of the

former Zhou Empire and some surrounding peoples as well) and then conscripting everyone for their

projects of construction and foreign conquests, as they believed that part of strengthening his rule was to

force everyone to simply obey and not speak out against him, by decreeing even how people could write,

what they could believe, and what they should do. The society was centralized to the point that every

dissenter against the rule of the court was destroyed or sent for forced labor, and most literature was

destroyed. Even Qin Shihuang's own son was demoted and sent to construct the Great Wall because he

dissented against him. He succeeded in molding the people to become more similar, to build massively,

and to conquer more territory. The absolute power that they wanted for themselves corrupted them, and

the dynasty quickly ended in foolish policies and the people rebelled.

During their rule, they made the first Great Wall on their northern borders that was a high wall and a

fortification to keep out northern tribes like the Xiongnu. They built countless roads and canals for the

transport of troops and supplies, as well as the Qin Mausoleum and Terracotta Army. The Qin court

succeeded in unifying the empire and retaining control for 15 years; they standardized the writing system,

money, and measurements and built a lot of infrastructure that helped the big region prosper later; and by

destroying the ideas and teachers who they were against, they established the dominant philosophies of

their big region.

He killed many scholars and officials, and imposed his harsh rule. It wasn’t hard to see why many people

hated Qin Shihuang; hence there were many assassination attempts against him. He wanted to live

forever, and rumors say he may have taken poisonous substances from Daoists to try to gain immortality.

The Qin Dynasty ended in suicide and death. But during their short reign starting from their wars for

conquests, they destroyed more than half of the population (estimated to have dropped from 40 to 18

million within their reign) and much of the culture, literature and scholarship of the Zhou era. In

carrying out their plans, they caused enormous misery and destruction. There was a standardized written

language for the whole empire that was promulgated by Li Si. This writing system became the common

literary language for the whole region afterwards until the modern era. By standardizing aspects like

writing and religion, they laid the foundation for later empires. But, the conspiracy is that there was no

explanation as to why the Terracotta Warriors was built.

Conspiracy of Terracotta Warriors

At the beginning of this text, it is mentioned that a lot of historians believe the construction of Terracotta

Warriors is due to the following reasons:

As a show of Qin Shihuang’s glory,

To remember the army that triumphed over the other Warring States to unite China, and

Because it was believed that objects like statues can be animated in the afterlife, and Qin

Shihuang required an after-death army.

But, it’s hard to believe these statements with such little evidence. When doing research on the

Terracotta Warriors as well as Qin Shihuang and Qin Dynasty, it is hard for one to agree with the reasons

above.

As a show of Qin Shihuang’s glory

He could have had a tomb made of gold, or filled to the brim with jewelry to do show this power.

To remember the army that triumphed over the other Warring States to unite China

Then the warriors wouldn’t need to be life-size and also wouldn’t need to be scattered in different

locations. At least, real weapons shouldn’t be held.

Because it was believed that objects like statues can be animated in the afterlife, and Qin Shihuang

required an after-death army

This sounds more reasonable but China has already been united, thus why would he require an

after-death army?

Up until now one may be very curious about this information. Besides the Terracotta Warriors, Qin

Shihuang also did few remarkable historical events:

A. The burning of books and burying of scholars (Chinese: 焚書坑儒) refers to the supposed

burning of texts in 213 BC and burial alive of 460 Confucian scholars in 210 BC by the First

Emperor of the Qin dynasty of ancient China. The event caused the loss of many philosophical

treatises of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

B. The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of many materials, generally built

along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China to protect the

Chinese states and empires against the invasions of the various nomadic groups of the Eurasian

Steppe. Several walls were being built as early as the 7th century BC; these, later joined together

and made bigger and stronger, are now collectively referred to as the Great Wall. The Great

Wall has on and off been rebuilt/enhanced; the majority of the existing wall is from the Ming

Dynasty.

King Zheng of Qin conquered the last of his opponents and unified China as the First Emperor of the

Qin dynasty ("Qin Shihuang") in 221 BC. Intending to impose centralized rule and prevent the

resurgence of feudal lords, he ordered the destruction of the sections of the walls that divided his empire

among the former states. To position the empire against the Xiongnu people from the north, however,

he ordered the building of new walls to connect the remaining fortifications along the empire's northern

frontier. Stones from the mountains were used over mountain ranges, while rammed earth was used for

construction in the plains. There are no surviving historical records indicating the exact length and course

of the Qin walls. Most of the ancient walls have eroded away over the centuries, and very few sections

remain today. The human cost of the construction is unknown, but it has been estimated by some

authors that hundreds of thousands, if not up to a million, workers died building the Qin wall. Later, the

Han, the Sui, and the Northern dynasties all repaired, rebuilt, or expanded sections of the Great Wall at

great cost to defend themselves against northern invaders. The Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, who ruled

Northern China throughout most of the 10th–13th centuries, constructed defensive walls in the 12th

century but those were located much to the north of the Great Wall as we know it, within China's

province of Inner Mongolia and in Mongolia itself.

Just by roughly calculating the number of people who died in these two events, it may now be classified

as disaster. Qin Shihuang, the ruler who had absolute power, also knew that he had killed thousands to

millions of innocents. But, there is no single reason why he should kill the scholars and push the

construction laborers to death for the Great Wall.

Having said that, it seems as if the building of the Terracotta Warriors was to protect him after death. He

needed a full troop to protect him, because he killed too many people.

Qin Dynasty believed in Daoism, which regards life as the most valuable thing and pursues immortality.

Life can be prolonged through meditation and exercise. To achieve this, Daoism stresses the need for a

peaceful and harmonious environment as a very important external condition. Since Qin Shihuang

somehow did a number of decisions which was totally opposite to Daoism, he was worried about his life

after death.

Chinese believes that the law of cause and effect underlies the workings of all phenomena. Positive

thoughts, words and actions create positive effects in the lives of individuals, leading to happiness.

Negative thoughts, words and actions on the other hand - those that in some way undermine the dignity

of life - lead to unhappiness. This is the general principle of Chinese and its religions.

If this assumption is correct, then it can answer why (1) the Warriors are built miles away from his tomb,

and (2) Why the Warriors are facing Qin Shihuang rather than to the enemies (outward).

Daoism (the national religious of Qin), Confucianism and Chinese folk religion stem from similar roots,

so they share a perspective on life after death. Actually, some people even say religions like Daoism and

Confucianism are not spiritual in orientation; rather they are ethical systems for how to run society and

behave in good conduct. It could be said that Confucianism focuses on social and moral guidelines,

while Daoism emphasizes the individual, mystical side of life.

Even though spirits, ancestors and deities are believed to exist, Daoism and others in its religious family

emphasize living in the here and now much more than what will happen when we die. Upon dying,

the Dao says that a person transforms from yang to yin, or from being to non-being. Death and ceasing

to be are merely part of the reality of life.

Daoism focuses on transformation rather than death, but the after-world does have blissful and suffering

states. For instance, Daoists who have followed the “way” during life are more likely to become

important ancestors in the afterlife, helping humans on earth. Those who have failed to live the deeper

life will be banished to the nine stages of Hell, a place of purgatory and agony.

Because all opposites are relative and interdependent, Daoism emphasizes living in harmony with the

flow of reality. An important philosophical concept is wu-wei, or non-action. It is believed that

actions and decisions can be avoided, made very simple or even almost invisible in order to allow for the

natural flow to persist. It’s only when we struggle and fight that suffering begins. It follows that ideas

about death, dying and passing into the after-world aren’t frightening topics for Daoists. The most

important point is for a person is to avoid any wrongdoing during his life. If you don’t want to walk the

shadow of Qin Shihuang, scare of after-death life, try not to do anything wrong or hurt anyone during

your life. After all this information, the following can be concluded:

Great victories involves lost of life

Great constructions involve great destructions

All in all, the conclusion to this research can refer to the Daoism symbol - the “yin yang”. Its meaning

and symbol date back to ancient China and represent the belief that everything in the universe consists of

two forces that are opposing but complementary. In a nutshell, Chinese Yin Yang symbols represent

perfect balance. Seemingly, the whole of Chinese philosophy stems from the concept of Yin and Yang -

opposites interacting and supposedly the seed of all things. For example, evil results from an imbalance in

Yin and Yang, and good comes from the two being in harmonic balance. The evil deeds performed by

Qin Shihuang overpowered the Yin, hence creating an imbalance. Hopefully the world will have a

perfect balance, where everyone respects each other and all wars stop. Then, there will not be other

Terracotta Warriors (or Terracotta Worriers) in the world.

Terracotta Warriors Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College, Arrej, Kianat – 17

he Terracotta army is one of the top attractions in China. It is important because the hundreds of

detailed life-sized models represent the army that triumphed over all other Chinese armies in the

Warring States Period, and who ushered in the United imperial China era 2,200 years ago. One

of the most violent times in Chinese history was known as the Warring States period. It is even considered

one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, and one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century.

It is known as one of the greatest architectural sites because it is the largest military museum underground.

And because of the interesting fact that all the terracotta soldiers were made to face east towards Emperor

Qin's enemies of the Warring States Period (475–221 BC).

About Qin Shi Huang

The 500 years of civil war was mainly a war between three different states in China and ultimately the Qin

dynasty won and there was Qin kingdom. China was then unified, and the first emperor of the Qin

Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang Di, was crowned. Under his rule, construction of the Great Wall began, written

language standards were created, and even wheels and roads were regulated to improve commerce in the

unified kingdom. Qin Shi Huang Di's tomb contained not only the famed Terra Cotta Army, but also

contained a full scale replica of his empire in miniature, and also dragon sarcophagus surrounded by a lake

of mercury. He was too obsessed with the thought of having his warriors with him in afterlife so he

announced the idea of burying them with him when he dies. Although it survived only 15 years, but it did

held a great importance in history and a great influence on the upcoming dynasties.

About The Terra Cotta Warriors

Terracotta is a type of earthenware, is a clay-based unglazed or glazed ceramic, where the fired body is

secure. The terracotta warriors are the warriors who served the first emperor of China. The terracotta

warriors is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang. He was buried with

terracotta warriors who served to protect him. When they were originally created, the terra-cotta warriors

were fully painted and armed. However by time exposure to the elements have stripped away most of this.

But still the site of the terracotta is impressive due to the architect and the history of the warriors. while

looking closely, it can be seen that the individual soldiers all have different expressions, and that the soldiers

themselves hold different ranks. There are soldiers of all ages with different ranks, facial features, and hair

styles. For example, an archer can be distinguished by the position of his hair, which will have a left aligned

bun so that he could reach into his quiver. The figures are arranged according to their roles such as tallest

are the generals it includes the warriors, chariots and horses. There are more than 8000 soldiers, 130

chariots, 6520 horses and 150 cavalry horses. They average around 5 feet 11 inches tall with some soldiers

being as tall as 6 foot 7 inches. The soldiers that have been separated into three different pits. The first and

largest one is considered the mainly battle army, and consists of mainly foot soldiers and horses. The second

is smaller, and is considered a flanking army. This pit contains mainly archers and chariots. The third pit is

considerably smaller, and is supposedly representative of a headquarters. And all pottery warriors and horses

were made using local clay, then baked in the kiln. After firing the figures were completed with painted

detail. The soldiers were even designed with different clothing and armor. Men from the cavalry are

dressed different than foot soldiers. Some soldiers don't have armor. Perhaps they were supposed to be

scouts or spies.

The Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses were made in life-size. And the terracotta army figures were

manufactured in workshops by government laborers and local craftsmen using local materials. Heads, arms,

T

legs, and torsos were created separately and then assembled. There are not even two similar statues all are

different with different expressions some angry some calm.

As impressive as the soldiers are today, they were likely much more impressive 2,000 years ago. The soldiers

were painted to look even more realistic and then covered with a lacquer finish. They also held real

weapons such as crossbows, daggers, maces, spears, and swords.

Why Were the Terracotta Warriors Made?

Because the emperor of China wanted his soldiers to be with him even in hereafter and as to show his glory.

And because to even show how the warriors have fought battles and wars to secure the people in China and

to secure the country. And because it was believed that objects like statues can be animated in the afterlife,

and Qin Shihuang required an after-death army. He spent a huge amount of resources building for

himself the largest single tomb built to a leader in the history of the world. And even because he felt this

huge army would protect him and help him to keep his power in the afterlife. According to Sima Qian,

Qin Shui Huang had already begun to build when he ascended the throne of Qin kingdom. He was not

able to resolve his fear of death nor he could realize the his claim on universal and eternal rulership in his

life, he determined to establish his supreme authority and power after his death. Arrogance that

characterized his life thud even accompanied him in his afterlife. 700000 workers worked together to build

it.

How Were The Terracotta Warriors Discovered?

In 1974 the Terracotta warriors was discovered to the east of Xi'an in Shaanxi province by a group of

farmers digging water well, they came across this most surprising and huge shocking archaeological

discoveries of all time, the TERRACOTTA WARRIORS. The life-size terracotta solider group of

farmers dug out of the ground turned out to be just one of an army of the thousands, each utterly unique,

with individual clothing, hair and facial features. The first part of the Terracotta Army site to be discovered

was named Vault One. In 1976, two other vaults were uncovered about 20 meters away, and were named

Vault Two and Vault Three.

NOW: The terracotta warriors need extra protection as their color fades away easily. Specially when the

visitors pass through the exhibition halls surrounding the pits, they bring outside air with them.Coauthor

Zhaolin Gu of Xi’an Jiaotong University and colleagues note that, along with humidity, air pollutants such

as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide can play a large role in the deterioration of the statues. For example,

they say, the formation of gypsum on the surface of the relics could be related to the interaction between

SO2 or SO42– in the air and CaCO3 in the soil and on the surfaces of the relics. And the site should be

protected not only for attraction and for the value but for the upcoming generations academic and cultural

values. To protect the site China can have air curtain technology to help create an invisible barrier between

the warriors and visitors.

The terracotta warriors is still one of the main and most attractive site for tourists in China. it's because of

the history and heritage. Most interesting fact about them is they are made by clay and by 700,000 workers.

And after so many years they are still preserved .

The Drugs of Immortality Marymount Secondary School, Lowe, Zoe – 15

rief, in Ancient China, was not considered proper unless made a public affair - deaths were

mourned with wailing and crying, and announced with banners and lanterns. This was the way

to show respect. And yet, the passing of Qin Shihuang, First August and Divine Emperor, was

strictly kept a secret.

To be honest, the reasons for this were more or less purely political, and not very interesting (his

primary advisor feared the announcement might trigger an uprising). That said, it may have been

surprisingly apt, because in spite of everything, the First Emperor wasn't quite dead.

What does it mean to live forever? Biological immortality refers to the immortality of a

bloodline - you exist forever in your children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. Religions

present us with reincarnation, and salvation, both of which are ways that the soul lives on. In the First

Emperor’s time, a belief in the existence of a mortal body and two separate souls created a whole milieu

of ideas about immortality. Most of the Ancient Chinese believed in a life after physical death as well, but

unlike Christian salvation, this afterlife did not quite denote anything about ascension to a higher realm,

nor anything about the person themselves. What’s more important is that anyone, even the lowliest

peasant, could enter that kind of afterlife. It wasn’t enough for Qin Shihuang.

Before we get into his death, it’s worth taking a moment to discuss what he actually spent his

life doing, besides, of course, uniting all of what is roughly still known as China under his power. All

things considered, it’s plausible to say that never before had one person been so prolific a source of great

conquests. One of the young emperor’s first immense tasks was building his own tomb and mausoleum,

which together spanned miles and were the effort of 700,000 men (more than enough to populate a 250

BC city).

But soon, even the notion that he would one day leave this earth left his mind. The Emperor set

about connecting the waterways and building a great wall in the west, not caring if the construction of

one great monument came at the suffering of thousands. Like many other early rulers of North China, he

hunted for sport and had land cleared on an incredible scale to make a ‘supreme forest’ and hunting

grounds. He sucked the souls from his people, his animals, his land, as if he could use their vitality to

sustain his own.

He looked upon his empire and decided that things would have to be different from before -

and when I say different, I mean that he intended to make everything the same. He standardized weights

and measures and coinage and roads; and when that was out of the way, he set about standardizing the

minds of his people - every material that didn't adhere to his idea of strict legalism went up in flames.

Says an imperial edict of 221 BC: ' When they are not uniform or are in doubt, make them uniform.'

With all this playing God you would think he intended to achieve immortality by ascending

directly to the heavens and becoming a deity himself (in fact by all records he believed he was fit to be

one). However, this too wasn't the kind of immortality he strived for. What the First Emperor wanted

was eternal life in its most straightforward form – to extend his physical life on this earth as long as

possible, to never grow old.

Constantly face to face with war and peril and assassination attempts, this was a seemingly

impossible feat, but at least he was never without help. The court was perpetually orbited by people who

were ready to offer their expertise on any subject at all, as long as you mentioned it in conjunction with

money. In light of that, enter the recipe gentlemen. The Western equivalent of these notorious figures

would have to be either alchemists, or (more fittingly) con men. China has never suffered a shortage of

rumour and folklore, so the recipe gentlemen had plenty to work with. They fed the First Emperor an

array of nuts, flowers, onions and badly crafted tall tales. Most of these had nice sounding explanations;

for example, pine was recommended for its evergreen longevity. Somewhat oddly, an array of parasitic

G

plants were popular as well (apparently their ability to grow from a dead host meant they could raise the

fallen). Many of us have heard the story about a particularly audacious pair of recipe gentlemen who

requested a thousand young men and women as well as a ludicrous amount of valuables, supposedly to

attract the help of immortals with their purity. Then they made off with everything and never turned up

again.

That said, for a man who had created an empire and then brought it to its knees before him,

gold and silver, priceless jewels, and even a few thousand youth were expendable commodities. But

eventually, the recipe gentlemen would exact the ultimate price. In 210 BC, he swallowed his final drugs

of immortality - toxic mercury tablets. He was dead before he got back to the capital. He had never

bothered with a will.

The Divine Emperor was irrevocably dead, it seemed. But it can't be said that he was dead and

gone. In fact when his closest advisors and eunuchs made the call to hide his death, they kept up the

charade for months. That's how strong his presence was.

Take a moment to understand how it would have been to be Qin Shihuang, the First Emperor

of the whole of China. Having spent your whole life chasing power, and orchestrating things that were

nearly beyond belief, would you really want to give up everything you'd done for something as

meaningless as death? In recent years, psychologists and philosophers have been considering a new type of

never-ending life - symbolic immortality. Confucianism (which, ironically, was strictly banned in the

Qin Dynasty) once postulated that ‘The superior man dislikes the thought of his name not being

mentioned after his death.’ Symbolic immortality is a very close manifestation of that idea - it's the

avoidance of death by living on in acts and accomplishments that people will remember forever.

The Great Wall is world famous, but hardly anyone outside of China knows who began its

construction; nobody has followed Qin Shihuang’s written script since the Han Dynasty. And needless to

say, the roads and canals he so painstakingly weaved across China have long been demolished. His real

legacy was unearthed in 1974, when some Shaanxi villagers were digging a new well. Instead of hitting

water, they hit the Eighth Wonder of the World - the Terracotta Warriors.

So this was the grand mausoleum and army the Emperor of Qin created when he was still the

King of Qin, at the tender age 13 and not yet knowing he would later change his mind about being a

mere mortal. But if we're to believe in symbolic immortality, that means he had finally gotten back his

legacy (and therefore his immortality) after all.

The First Emperor was, if not immortal, at least resurrected. And albeit by chance it was

Terracotta Army which made it so. It's tempting to just leave it there and call it a happy ending, but for

the sake of veracity we must be technical. If symbolic immortality is eternal life through our legacies and

monuments, that begs the question - is the Terracotta Army really his legacy?

After a new heir was firmly in place and the death of Qin Shihuang was finally announced, the

workmen who had meticulously crafted the Terracotta Warriors were been buried alive inside with him.

Nobody so intimate with the contents of the emperor's tomb could be allowed to live. For every stone

cold, lifeless soldier in those catacombs, there was a real man whose life had been ripped away; all to

provide Qin Shihuang with his Terracotta Warriors, his miniature tomb city, his resting place surrounded

by gold and jade and rivers of mercury. It was their work, and their spirit that took the hit. The drugs of

immortality that the emperor had indulged in for so long weren't mercury tablets or pine nuts, but the

endless toil of his people. Consider it again - whose monument is the Terracotta Army?

You can unite an empire without gaining its respect; you can die and still remain in power. You

can lose your immortality by mistake then get it back by chance, but not necessarily for yourself. The

Terracotta Warriors each house a spirit of unmatched vitality and creativity. But in the end it is not the

Divine Emperor who is alive among us today, but his army - the people of China.

Guarding the Tomb – Two Thousand Years of Loyalty St. Joseph's College, Chow, Hin Ching Justin - 15

could barely contain my nervousness- as the barely audible sound of a spade striking earth drew

closer and closer, I knew I was just seconds away from discovery.

The digging progressed with agonizing lethargy, making the pain in my chest all the more

excruciating. As I struggled to remain still, a thousand questions ran through my mind.

“Where are my limbs? Will they be found?”

“Who is behind that shovel? What will they do to me?”

After what seemed like an eternity, something metallic finally struck my head.

“Here’s another one,” someone exclaimed. They began to excavate the earth around me. There

were people in weird clothing all around me, and one of them was brushing my forehead, but I hardly

noticed. Instead, I froze, completely mesmerized by the first shaft of light I had seen in two millennia.

It all started way back in the Qin dynasty, when I was brought to life in a dusty workshop. I opened my

eyes to see an old, experienced artisan concentrating on my face. Behind him sat a seasoned Qin soldier,

who was smiling at me affectionately. I soon discovered that every terracotta warrior was modelled on a

real soldier, so naturally I pleased the soldier who shared my features. Around me, several of my brethren

were already waiting. I joined them eagerly. Life was more exciting then. New brothers were created

daily, and I got to observe the artisans at work.

Some say that terracotta warriors were the results of a factory-line production, but the opposite is

true. Every terracotta soldier is the unique work of a skilful artisan, which gives rise to an endless variety

of clothing and faces. So how were we made?

First of all, a cerematic worker would roll earth into the shape of a head, which would form the

backbone for the skull. The earth, which had been removed of impurities through screening, was mixed

with pebbles to ensure its strength.

Afterwards, a number of pre-produced body parts were attached to the head. The basic body shape was

now formed.

To continue, several layers of mud and argil were added to create different facial shapes. Through

carving, scraping and pasting, artisans painstakingly created the warrior’s faces. As the details were crafted

by hand, different styles were reflected on us. Some craftsmen preferred bright and energetic warriors,

while others made majestic ones.

The legs and torso was slightly easier, but it was no piece of cake. After the respective parts were

made in casts, the artisans had to engage in detailed repair. The leg muscles, armour and tunic all had to

be carefully built.

After all that, the warrior finally reached the last major part of production-painting. A layer of

lacquer was first applied, then one or two layers of pigment were added above the raw lacquer. I myself

was brilliantly and delicately coloured. My hair bun was reddish brown, I had a pink face, and my hands

were white. My robes were a multi-coloured affair. My black shoulder armour, decorated with light

green laces, was partially covered by the piece of frontal armour running in front. Simple yet lovely

intersecting patterns adorned my torso armour. I found this bright décor strangely comforting.

With all the details required for each of us, the workload for the artisans was enormous. To make

matters worse, the Qin soldiers who supervised the workers were harsh and cruel. They seemed to be

indifferent to the workers’ sufferings.

As a result, many of the labourers died of overwork. Doubtlessly the terracotta army was grand and

spectacular, but it was not all fun and games.

One morning, my own creator was absent. This was puzzling, as he had never arrived late before. There

were many workers in a single workshop, so it did not really matter. His numerous assistants continued

with his work. The incident was resolved during lunch, when he was dragged into the room by a pair of

guards.

“Why are you late?” they demanded.

“Please, sirs,” he begged, “I fell ill and lost track of time. It won’t happen again.”

However, the guards were unconvinced. My creator was giving a beating on the spot. All of us

terracotta warriors stared at our shoes, well knowing that we were the source of his hardship. We were

I

professional soldiers, trained from the start to believe in the Qin Empire, but for once we lowered our

heads. This was also the first time I thought the Qin empire was a bit unkind.

Even so, he was one of the lucky ones. Many of the labourers died of overwork, but they were

swiftly and silently replaced. Like the Great Wall and the E Fang palace, the terracotta warriors were

engineering wonders, but they had their dark side. These landmarks were built at the expense of the

unfortunate workers, the result of years of sweat and pain. In fact, the multitude of work was so large that

the work of the emperor’s tomb continued long after his death.

For a few years I waited at the workshop as the workers toiled to complete an army of us. Slowly

but surely our numbers grew. We all longed for the day when we would be entrusted with the honour to

protect the king. While we could not move, we shared the spirit of the warriors we were modelled on.

We were not just sculptures; we were made to be loyal soldiers, the emperor’s personal guard. We were

forever faithful to the Qin dynasty.

Finally, the big day arrived. We were chatting among ourselves when some soldiers brought weapons

into the room. We all stared at them. There were crossbows, bronze swords, bolts, spears, daggers and

many more besides. Almost anything the real Qin army used was included. Most of those weapons were

fully functional and battle ready models -real arms intended for real soldiers. I was given a halberd. It had

a wooden shaft with a bronze axe-head tied on top. This latest addition made us much more authentic,

and very often you could hear one terracotta soldier bragging about his beloved weapon.

Next, some of us were loaded onto wooden carts. It was no mean feat, considering we weighed

half a tonne each. The workers grunted as they pushed and pulled us on board. By means of a horse, the

carts were wheeled out of the workshop and into the tomb. As we outnumbered the workers a few

hundred to one, the process was painfully slow. I waited an entire morning before I was finally lifted onto

the cart.

How wonderful I felt then! I could finally embark on my long awaited journey. For several

kilometres I enjoyed wind and the picturesque scenery. My chest swelled with pride as I approached the

mausoleum. Through a series of ramps and tunnels, the workers negotiated the uneven tunnels of the

tomb. The workers made sure I was placed properly and in formation with the others. It was a chilly day,

and the cavern did not make it any warmer, but the workers were still sweating profusely. If it weren’t

for the armed guards overseeing the operation, they would have abandoned this gruelling task hours ago.

Pausing only for a moment to stretch their backs, they sighed and left for more wheeling.

After I had calmed down sufficiently, I eagerly took in my surroundings. I later discovered I was

placed in pit number 1, which was the name outsiders gave it. Pit number 1 was basically a network of

parallel tunnels that stretched for hundreds of meters. My home consisted of 9 identical tunnels, each

measuring around 3 meters in width, and it housed exactly 7029 of us.

Unlike the underground palaces, the pit was not luxurious, but at least it was presentable. The floor was

neatly paved with bricks. For the posts, beams and door fasteners, nothing less than the first-class pine

and cypress trees were used. The ends of each trench were framed with timber jambs, also made of fine

woods. The emperor spared no expense for his palaces, and certainly he didn’t mind constructing all

these for us.

As I mentioned before, we were arranged in formation. We stood in neat military rows, each

warrior flawlessly in line with the other. As an armoured infantryman, I stood at the middle rows,

following closely the archers. According to the tried and tested principle of “crossbows first”, 3 rows of

lightly armed arbalists formed the vanguard, thus maximizing their effectiveness. Infantry was considered

subpar when compared against ranged weaponry. Interspersed into the infantry were some chariots,

which were the main fighting force.

The wooden chariots carried three warriors each, and were drawn by a team of four life-sized

horses. They were deployed as two inner and outer steeds, with a single shaft and crossbar which ran

between the two inner horses. The horses themselves were state of the art. Elaborately produced, they

clearly displayed the bone and muscle structure. At the time of their creation, these war machines were

the principal criterion for measuring military strength.Following the generals, they were the admiration

of everyone.

Eventually, the workers moved in the last soldier and the army was complete. The tomb was then

sealed off, preventing any contact from the outside world. We were completely alone! But that was part

of the plan. Considering the priceless items buried with the king, the tomb was sure to draw raiders like a

magnet. To safeguard the emperor’s afterlife, total insulation was absolutely necessary. In fact, secrecy was

so crucial that the workers who helped create us were killed to conceal our location. Some of them were

buried with the fruit of their labours, at the tunnels leading to the tomb.

For years we stood guard underground, silently performing our duty. We compared tales with each

other all day long to kill time. If all went well, we would remain underground permanently, and there

was little else to do.

Time after time we discovered the underground tunnels would not last. The wooden structures that held

up the roof were beginning to show signs of decay. The soil and rainwater that touched the wood had

made it rot, and without the constant repair it needed, the situation was hopeless. It became apparent that

the entire tunnel would soon collapse on us, burying the lucky ones and crushing the unfortunate ones

into bits. With each passing day we grew more and more worried, and none of us, not even the generals,

could deny the fact that we were about to be obliterated. We prayed and prayed that some craftsmen

would be dispatched to rescue us.

After a few nerve-racking months, our prayers were answered. Or so it seemed. At first, we had to

strain our ears to pick up the barely audible footsteps, coming from the direction of the door. As the

minutes dragged on, the faint footsteps turned into a thundering march. Given the eerie silence of the

tomb, and the proximate location of the approaching men, sounds were clearly amplified. The marching

stopped outside the sealed door. What were all these people doing there? Perhaps they wanted to relocate

us?

Next they began banging on the door. The door shook as a web of cracks appeared on its surface.

It crumbled shortly afterwards and finally we spotted the mysterious intruders. They were not technicians

or repairmen. They didn’t even look like they were from the Qin state. For a few seconds we just stared

at each other. Then their leader shoved away the others and stepped into the pit.

I paled immediately. The man was Xiang Yu, a Chu state rebel general. In fact, his peasant revolt

had frozen the construction of the emperor’s tomb. We all feared and hated him. And he was in the

king’s mausoleum! What would he do to us?

“For our dead brothers!” Xiang Yu yelled, rallying his troops,” death to the Qin empire!” With a

savage battle cry the rebel army breached the pit entrance. They swarmed in like water from a leaky dam

and charged right at us. Weapons were looted and terracotta soldiers were toppled. The hoard quickly

dispatched the arabalists in the forefront and began moving closer to my position. Seeking revenge on the

Qin state, the rebels showed no mercy. Judging from the wild look in Xiang Yu’s eyes, he was not about

to spare any one of us. I knew my end would come shortly.

Suddenly, the halberdier in front of me collapsed. A man in a battered military dress had pushed

him over and was clobbering him with a mace. I stared in horror, not knowing what to do. Soon only

shattered pieces were left of the hapless halberdier. Then he turned round, bashed me with his shield and

everything went black.

When I came to, the terracotta army had been reduced to a few lucky survivors. I was relieved to

see that the destruction of the pit was over. But we weren’t out of harm’s way yet. A huge pile of red clay

and charcoal were placed in the center of our ranks and a few rebels were lighting it with torches.

Somehow they managed to cart in all these inflammables. We would be burnt alive!

The rebels quickly fled the pit. Thanks goodness they only managed to penetrate the outer rim of

the tomb. We were nearly destroyed, but we had performed our duty well. The emperor’s underground

palace was safe. He would continue to rest peacefully and undisturbed for the next few millennia.

However, we were not so fortunate. The fire promptly spread to the wooden roofing. Already

weakened by years of rot, the wooden ceiling stood no chance against the flames. The remnants of the

terracotta army could only watch as the ceiling, no longer able to withstand the earth above it, gave way

to the soil above. With a deafening crash, the mud and rocks descended on us. The rocks pelted every

single warrior, smashing each and every one of us to bits. Within seconds we had been swallowed up

completely. It was the most frightening scene in my entire life. The mighty terracotta army, buried and

crushed by the earth, was no more. We were completely annihilated.

For myself, I was pressed on the ground by the collapsed cavern. My head snapped off from the rest

of my body. The head of my axe, attached to one half of the broken shaft, fell right next to my nose. I

would spend the next few centuries buried with only the axe for companionship.

Covered by mud and constantly dampened by rainwater, I began to deteriorate. The bright colours

painted on me dimmed, then vanished. The shaft of my axe decomposed and I was left with a bronze axe

head. The halberd’s business edge, manufactured with alloys, was corrosion resistant, but it hardly

mattered anymore.

Occasionally a farmer would pass over us, and I would be filled with hope, but of course none of

them had the incentive to dig three meters deep into the earth. Neglected and forgotten, it was doubtful

I would ever be unearthed.

After some unthinkable 2200 years, I would be discovered, excavated, restored and displayed, along with

some of my terracotta companions. The restoration was a long and arduous process. Virtually all the

terracotta warriors were damaged, and none were spared from decay. Those who had been flattened by

boulders disintegrated into thousands of pieces, resulting in hundreds of work hours by the archeologists.

When unearthed, we were nothing but a jumbled heap of body parts. Every day, teams of

determined archeologists tried to piece together the disconnected fragments. Some unfortunate warriors

lay on the floor for years before they were completed. For a few months, I too lay on the floor awaiting

my lucky day. It was torturing, seeing your limbs but unable to feel them. However, I was not too

concerned. I had waited two millennia, I could wait a few more months.

Eventually I was restored. Firstly, my detached body parts were respectively labeled, and then a

team spent one whole day fitting me together. It was not perfect. My colour could be lost forever, and

my left hand was missing. But it was definitely better than a permanent underground burial. With the

help of the archeologists, I was able to rejoin the ranks of my fellow comrades. I am deeply indebted to

them.

I quickly adjusted to my new life. Much of my previous comrades were in the same boat, and being

reunited with them was an enormous relieve. I regained my position behind the arabalists. After being

buried alive, I don’t think I can ever tolerate an underground chamber again. Having a cylinderal-shaped

roof in lieu of a cavern was curiously reassuring. I promptly got used to the tour guide’s repeating

commentaries and the never-ending throngs of visitors.

Yet, once exposed to the outside environment, I was particularly vulnerable. Exposure to high

temperatures and humidity gave rise to new enemies: mold and fungi. For a few months they spread

through our ranks like fire, but they were stopped in time following a series of treatments. With the

influx of international experts, the technology is much more advanced now, so hopefully our existence

can be safeguarded.

Today, the terracotta army continues to guard the emperor’s tomb. As the last legion of Qin soldiers, we

take great pride in our unwavering loyalty. If you wish to observe the military might of my country, visit

the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum in Xi’an. I promise you it will be a spectacular experience.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Island School, Jacota, Zaheu – 14

housands of years ago, a vast hoard of ceramic warriors was built to protect the spirit of the First

Emperor of China. The discovery of these changed the course of history and archaeology forever.

The 8,000 soldiers perpetually stand ready for battle in order to protect and serve the Emperor in

the afterlife. Each one of these soldiers was intricately designed to ultimate flawlessness, but the most

amazing thing about these soldiers was the fact that each one was almost different from the other in small

detail, from the patterns in the armour to the size and shape of the ear. The tomb took 38 years to create,

and it was as if the emperor needed his own army of toy soldiers to play with when he was alone, and to

never leave him and protect him.

Qin’s ideology behind the warriors was to ensure his immortality. He was driven to the point of insanity by

trying to find the key to immortality. His final call came to him at a surprisingly young age, as he tried

different pills containing various sorts of concoctions that would supposedly result in immortality, but

ultimately resulted in his untimely demise. Qin was madly driven by power. He had done great things for

China and would not stop at any costs expanding his empire and destroying any armies that got in his way.

This was demonstrated by the highly innovative emperor through his various builds, among which include

the Great Wall, and of course, his tomb. The plans for Qin’s tomb were groundbreaking, quite literally. He

commanded almost 400,000 workers to construct an underground tomb almost 76-meters high. It has

been said that his underground necropolis consists of many large-scale, traditional buildings which really

help illustrate truly how advanced the Chinese were at this time. These builds consist of scenic viewpoints

of the tomb, valuable goods such as golden swans, animals, performers, villagers, and most importantly, the

terracotta army. It is also said that the tomb of the emperor himself is located within a part of the

mausoleum deep underground in a chamber laden with gold and active rivers of flowing mercury.

The process of constructing the terracotta army is one that requires heavy amounts of patience, precision

and time. Terracotta, or “baked earth”, was at that time being used all around the country and labourers

had been working with this material for decades. Each body part of the warriors was moulded separately

among all 720,000 workers, and then fired together to create a several-hundred pound, life-size clay

soldier. However, none were the same, and the intricacy of each individual element of each individual

soldier suggests that the soldiers may have been based off real soldiers. The process of creating a single

soldier took almost 10 years due to the heavy quantities of materials required to construct this army. Each

warrior had a different role within the army; the infantry, chariots, the cavalry, and as of this day 9 Generals

have been found. Some stood high and mighty, with longbows drawn ready to scope out any enemies,

while others crouched low in order to hide from the enemy and duck for cover. There were many

weapons featured, which comprised of swords, longbows, maces and spears. Once again, this demonstrates

just how powerful, technologically and militarily advanced Qin’s Empire was.

It was said that the workers moulded the heads based off between 8-10 different designs, but each detail

down to armour, weapon of choice, stances, expressions were all unique to depending on the soldier. Each

soldier was also painted with vibrant colours specific to the soldier, all forming a rainbow army that would

carry Qin into the skies. Emperor Qin was a man of lavish taste, and he wanted to make sure that when he

met his ultimate fate, he would go out on the most extreme of highs.

T

The emperor’s selfish behavior led to the burial of the warriors deep underground in the paddyfields of

central China. He wanted to guarantee that the services of the warriors were reserved for his use and his use

only. Before the Qin Terracotta Warriors unearthed, the land above the soldiers was a large piece of barren

pebbles beach. Farmers often found small bits and pieces of Qin’s treasure. One unknowingly found a rod

made purely from gold and used it to sleep on. Because the farmers found so many unexplained pieces of

terracotta, they stayed well clear of the land in which these pieces were found - the warriors maintaining

their undying loyalty in doing their job keeping unwanted visitors out.

Even upon discovery, the warriors still scared off intruders. Farmers digging a well in the wasteland that was

the surface of the earth above the glorious stumbled across the burned earth, and even deeper, some cavity

potteries which looked like human bodies were appeared and they found the floor was covered with a

piece of blue bricks above which scattered the pottery pieces of perished warriors. When word got back to

the rest of the village, superstitious old women believed that the digging had disturbed the Earth God. An

old man thought probably birds would be scared if they saw the weird terracotta warriors, so he put a straw

hat on a warrior to make it act like a scarecrow in the sweet potato land. When the villagers and locals

finally learned that it was the tomb of an ancient Qin Dynasty emperor, they were marvelled and in awe.

When the news spread internationally of this discovery, the entire population of the world shared the same

reaction, eyes bejewelled with astonishment and admiration.

The eighth wonder of the world had finally been discovered, and Qin’s ultimate goal had come true - to

be eternally unforgotten by his people. People from all corners of the earth come to see the necropolis that

is Qin’s tomb. The terracotta soldiers finally have company after all those thousands of years, and they are

all guaranteed everlasting life. They are no longer the ones who stand by, they are the focal point; they are

the main attraction of the entire scene. Chinese soldiers are no longer afraid of their enemies, they are

feared; the spirit of the Terracotta Warriors guides them to bigger and better things.

Colours of the Ancient St. Mary's Canossian College, Mok, Jovy - 16

am Jovy Mok from St. Mary’s Canossian College.

Here is my non-fiction passage on the terracotta warriors.

The Terracotta Warriors in Xian have always been a legend. Being the world's largest and most intricate

ancient bronze artifacts, it was portrayed by the French President Jacques Chirac as the 'Eighth Wonder

of the World' in 1978. Its historical value and artistic worth are beyond doubt. Currently, archaeologists

and artists have discovered a new technology named the PEG, which revitalizes the Terracotta Warriors,

further heightening their values.

This discovery of the techniques astonish the world and has continuously hit the world's headlines for a

couple of week. But before I introduce this latest technology, let us start with the basic information about

the funerary figures which are famous far and wide.

Excavated in the 20th century, the pit containing the warriors is around 1.5 kilometers east of Xian in the

Shanxi province. It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China as it covers 35 squares, and it took

11 years to complete the construction. It was the mausoleum of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi

Huang (211-206 BC). Not only were buried there with countless treasures, but sacrificial objects which

were deemed to accompany Qin Shi Huang Di in his afterlife were also found. The 2,200-year-old

mystery is adorned with flashes of pink and red, outstanding hues that hint at the original glory of the

terra-cotta warriors. The clay are was not a dismal procession but a deity display swathed in a riot of bold

colors, yellow, red purple and green. Nonetheless, seldom could the majority of the colors withstand the

test of time. Historians can only witness helplessly as the warriors’ colors disintegrate in the dry Xian air.

Yet, with today’s advanced technology, a newly developed technology once again relights the dimming

hope of the archaeologists.

Known as the PEG (polyethylene glycol), it is a mixture of serendipity and preservation techniques. It

was discovered by a group of Chinese researchers and experts from the Bavarian State Conservation

Office in Germany. Polyethylene glycol is produced by interacting ethylene oxide with and water. The

reaction is catalyzed by acidic or basic catalysts. PEG has also been used to preserve objects due to its high

osmotic pressures. The technology has been proven to be workable with the example of the artifacts from

the Steamboat Arabia in Kansas City, Missouri. It replaced water in wooden objects, which makes the

wood visually stable and prevent warping or shrinking of the wood. It prevents shrinkages of the ancient

artifacts. Another example of the technology is a hull of “War of 1812”. Parks Canada in Ottawa has

treated the large timber with a variety of PEG treatments, which was later known as the "Mallorytown

wreck". The immersion in a PEG solution revitalizes the colors of the wreck and The Mallorytown

wreck has been on exhibition to the public for many years since then.

PEG200, to be specific, is the solution used in the terracotta conservation. The warriors fresh from

excavation are covered with a solvent of PEG200, which slowly permeates into the lacquer layer to

replace the water of the artifacts. Despite the high cost and great amount of resources needed, PEG is still

commonly adopted as it has been proven to work better on larger pieces of terracotta. The sole aim of

these processes is to replace the water contained in the lacquer without leaving any damage or trace on

the artifacts. The principle is to spray the exposed part with the PEG solution and wrap the artifacts with

a plastic to sustain its moisture. Originally, before the solution has been invented, upon exposure to the

air, the lacquer underneath the paint begins to curl, within 15 seconds! The vibrant paints would flake off

in only four minutes. Could you imagine how desperate the archaeologists were when they watched the

I

historical piece lose in a blink of time. All their efforts to dig up the warriors went down the drain as long

as the paint fell off. But now, their worries vanish because of the introduction of this new technology.

Everyone is overwhelmed with delight as the technology is working, which means the pigments can be

preserved in a good condition for further investigation. All the excavated warriors offer clues about the

artistic culture which flourished during the Qin dynasty, as well as the vibrant palette which infused in

the warriors.

An instance of the application of PEG on the terracotta warriors is a three-foot-long shield.

Archaeologist Shen Maosheng freshly excavated a shield which he immediately sprayed the PEG solution

onto it. Even the wood has rotted away, but the shield’s delicate design and brilliant reds, greens, and

whites are still firmly imprinted on the earth. The colors have left a mark on the earth that they can be

preserved for a longer period of time -- which means more time for investigation and a lower risk of

destroying the color patterns on the artifacts. It helps to offer clues about the cultures flourishing under

the Qin dynasty and the vibrant palette that has infused it.

The Terracotta Warriors in the burial complex are the most significant archeological excavations of the

20th century. The advanced technology helps to revitalize the ancient warriors and bring them back to

life. It helps descendents to learn more about the history, customs and cultures in the Qin dynasty. It is

hoped that more parts of the complex will be disclosed to the public as nowadays, only around 1 per cent

of the whole area is displaced and exhibited. The Terracotta Warriors truly showcase the glory of the

Chinese emperors to the world and they undeniably have high status in the history of art in China.

A Legendary Empire A.D.& F.D. of Pok Oi Hospital Mrs Cheng Yam On School, Chan, Sheung Kiu - 7

I heard about terracotta warriors from an article.

After that I believed it was really a miracle.

Emperor Qin started building them when he was thirteen.

He was the first emperor in China who was mean.

Craftsmen working day by day for the emperor

Millions of forced labours died in the wonder.

Making mortuary things night by night underground

Armies with horses and chariots were found.

Soldiers were in formation holding arrows.

Cavalries riding on horses and taking bows

Generals wearing cuirass looked so brave.

All are totally different buried in the grave.

No matter Emperor Qin did something wrong

He made his Kingdom absolutely strong.

Constructing a tomb with such an enormous scale

The history of terracotta warriors was an ancient.

Tales of the Terracotta Builders Island Christian Academy, Kan, King Lun - 7

Majestic soldiers made of clay,

I set my sights on one today.

Terracotta builders were exhausted,

I guess I was too, but I was more excited.

Kneading, carving, and scraping,

Making sure they were all so-striking.

Sculpting furrows on a general’s forehead,

Countless hours before he’s ready to spearhead.

It’s hard to chisel, my hair turned into frizzle,

Crafting each distinctive face,

Sweat and tears were all over the place.

My hands were bleeding from the tough Terracotta clay

which cut me a lot today.

Deep down I know all the hard toil would be worth

With masterful craft, I set legends on earth.

My troop of warriors which I aimed to build,

8000 statues standing tall and still.

Each soldier had their own story,

To tell of all their successful battle glory,

Memories all captured in clay,

The ancient, magnificent days.

The Terracotta Warriors Korean International School, Kim, Juno - 7

The Warriors are made out of stones.

The farmer found the Warriors when he was digging.

They painted the Warriors, now they are colourful!

Then the king likes the Warriors!

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Po Leung Kuk Lam Man Chan English Primary School, Chan, Rock - 7

Crazy Emperor set up army for war

Poor people join the army because of the law

Far away they have gone

Now there is no more home

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Po Leung Kuk Lam Man Chan English Primary School, Leung, Kimberly - 8

Here come the brave Warriors!

All of us bring our sharp spears!

Whenever there is a war,

We were being called,

We shouted noisily

And fought crazily

All we missed is our Qin’s Dynasty.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Po Leung Kuk Lam Man Chan English Primary School, So, Adrian - 7

The Terracotta army had a spear

They have no fear at all

They were dirty, hungry and nasty.

They dare not to lie to the emperor

Or else he would be angry.

No one would give a pity

Huang's Warriors Raimondi College Primary Section, Chow, Carlie - 8

He was the king of the Qin Dynasty

Unique facial features are amazing

A mud statue is hard to build

Nobody knew what he wanted to do

Go to discover more about the Terracotta Army in Xi’an

‘Since unearthed, 8000 soldiers have been excavated

Wonder of the world ranked the eighth

Armed with real bronze weapons

Real weapons increase the statues’ realism

Reveals the sophistication of ancient Chinese metallurgy

In 1974, three farmers found the Terracotta Army

Over 2000 years’ of history

Really interested to visit the museum

Such a sight to behold

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors School of the Nations, Leong, Kaylum – 8

The terracotta warriors,

Standing straight and tall.

The terracotta warriors,

Standing five feet tall.

The terracotta warriors,

Not moving an inch.

The terracotta warriors,

I won’t even give them a pinch.

The terracotta warriors,

Ready for war.

The terracotta warriors,

I hope they don’t snore!

The terracotta warriors,

Do they each shave?

The terracotta warriors,

Built to guard a grave.

The terracotta warriors,

Do they brush their teeth?

The terracotta warriors,

I hope they each have a sheath.

The terracotta warriors,

Never dying guys,

The terracotta warriors,

Do they wear ties?

The terracotta warriors,

What exactly do they do?

The terracotta warriors,

Do they each wear one shoe?!?

The terracotta warriors,

They’re really tough and strong,

The terracotta warriors,

Do they like to sing songs?

The terracotta warriors,

Do they drink wine?

The terracotta warriors,

Are they like Einstein?

The terracotta warriors,

Made of sharp steel.

The terracotta warriors,

wriggly as an eel.

THE END

The Terracotta Army St. Paul's Co-educational College Primary School, Ng, Sung Hei Sarah - 8

Marching! Marching!

Soldiers in armor,

Follow the Emperor,

Qin Shi Huang is the ultimate Victor !

Roaring! Roaring!

Horses saddled,

Cavalry and chariots,

Leading this army is undefeatable!

Stomping! Stomping!

Thousands of troops,

Ready to charge,

Bursting out from their tomb!

Waking! Waking!

Buried for thousand years,

Passing through different eras,

The glory of the Terracotta Army lives forever!

Emperor Shi Huang and the Terracotta Warriors The French International School, Leotta, Francesca – 7

There once was a Prince called Zheng

And China was the place he lived

259 BC was when he was born

And just 210 BC was when he died

He was obsessed to live forever you know

but he died young

He tricked his older brother to kill himself

That was a very mean thing to do

He started many wars all over China

He wanted to be China’s only ruler

He became China’s first emperor

Then he changed his name to Shi Huang

Which means “first emperor”

Now he was very happy, I think

He wanted everything his own way

So he burnt all the books

Because he wanted everything to be remembered as his ideas

Emperor Shi Huang invented the Terracotta Warriors

For everyone to remember him

They wore plain clothes

They wore colourful too

The warriors were made out of clay

Chariots and live horses buried there too

Crazy Crazy Crazy

He made 700,000 workers make 8,000 warriors you know

The farmers found the warriors, their bronze weapons too

Rivers made of mercury

What a terrible thing to do

What a bossy emperor he was

I wonder how he died

Strong Terracotta Warriors A.D.& F.D. of Pok Oi Hospital Mrs Cheng Yam On School, Liu, Ho Nam Derek - 10

Stand on the left, stand on the right,

All steps are alright.

Face to the left, face to the right,

All faces are unique.

Step towards, stand behind,

No one turns around.

Outlook sharp, manner smart,

Every piece is an act.

Face to sky, heart to King,

They are the strong army of King Qin.

Terracotta Warriors American International School Hong Kong, Lung, Helios - 8

Thousands, Millions, Billions, Trillions

Of Lifeless Soldiers Stand.

On the rough and rocky ground,

Of Terracotta’s Land.

Behind This Ferocious Army

Lies A Lifeless King.

Who May Have Been Dead Forever,

Between The Army’s Ring.

These Clay Soldiers Are Restless.

They Stand Night And Day.

They stand longer than you can imagine,

The King They Shan’t Betray.

The Forgotten Tale Australian International School Hong Kong, Breeze, Naoise - 10

The Emperor was desperate,

For immortality,

He thought someone could grant his wish,

Hardly a reality.

Then one day out of pure surprise,

His wish could be granted,

It gave him hope, out of his mope,

Like a green seed was planted.

The Emperor heard a story,

This horse has the power,

To give him immortality,

It roamed in his lofty towers.

A ghost horse came galloping by,

His mind began to tick,

If he could cage its magic touch,

He’d catch it very quick.

Then he sent the slaves to catch it,

Some heard their helpless screams,

Not knowing they had died outside,

He thought it but a dream.

When the Emperor heard the news,

The guards were sent to town,

They announced to the villagers,

Not to let their great Qin down.

There were lots of noisy screams,

Until just one was left,

Just then she heard the galloping,

It looked like a soul theft.

The Emperor sent his army,

To fight the wretched thing,

The whole army was turned to stone,

Funereal bells would ring.

Then the emperor realised,

That he was simply wrong,

He didn’t need immortality,

His life was already long.

The emperor learned a lesson,

His army had no bones,

The ghost horse was left to wander,

Is your heart made of stone?

Night at the Terracotta Warriors Australian International School Hong Kong, Dear, Toby - 10

We huddled in a circle within one room

When we heard a very deafening sound

So we went to investigate down the hall

Our footsteps stomping on the ground.

We were on a very boring school field trip

When we all needed to use a bathroom

We snuck off and when we finally returned

The gate was locked in the light of the moon.

We walked down the hall and we reached the big pit

I felt my heart jump in my throat

I nearly threw up when I saw what I saw

I wanted to hide in my coat.

Stories you heard when you were young

Were about as true as cow dung.

The warriors were moving around the pit

Walking, talking and having fun

If they saw us they would chop off our heads

So we all decided to run

Back in the room with our backs to the wood door

When we heard a deafening creak

We quickly turned around and then we saw a

Terracotta warrior. EEEK!

He seemed ordinary except for one thing

His face was as green as a grape

I screamed, “Get away from us you pile of clay”

He said, “I can help you escape!”

Stories you heard when you were young,

Were about as true as cow dung

We followed the warrior back to the pit

Because in the warriors plan

We had to steal the shiny keys to the gates

Then we saw an ugly clay man

The general was a deformed, huge creature

He was uglier than a snail

We were sneaking forwards, reaching for the key

When we heard a horrible wail

I turned back and Andy was in hysterics

I looked down, his leg was bleeding

A group of guards suddenly surrounded us

An escape route we were needing

Stories you heard when you were young

Were about as true as cow dung

The warriors jumped on us and pinned us down

We squirmed in their strong iron grip

I tried to push the warrior on me off

But off me his hands would not slip

The general lugged an axe to where we lay

I shouted, “I’m too young to die!”

Nodding towards me he said, “I’ll kill you first.”

That’s when I started to cry

The general was standing above my head

He was lining up his next swing

I finally knocked the warrior off me

And I knocked the axe with a ding

I pushed the general over and he fell

It made him look like a dumb clown

Picking up his axe and lining up the swing

And that’s when I brought the axe down

Stories you hear when you were young

Were about as true as cow dung

Terracotta Warriors Australian International School Hong Kong, Li, Kirsten - 10

Stories of how terracotta warriors came to be,

Facts and information they tell to you and to me.

All the stories that everyone thought that they knew,

The crazy stories that they told you, simply aren’t true.

A tingling sensation spreads across my hard chest

It started to feel like I was going through a long test.

Suddenly I have a feeling to run away,

But obviously it was so impossible, no way!

A familiar image appears into my dark head,

I’m already tired; I want to go to bed!

Echoing voices were screaming into my damaged mind,

“Run away! Emperor Qin Shi Huang won’t be kind!”

“He wants those mercury pills inside of you!

If you had thought that you are safe, that simply isn’t true.

There are two dangerous traps surrounding your tomb,

Step into one of the scary traps, then you could go boom!”

I slowly open my eyelids and continue to walk,

I was way too afraid to start to speak or talk.

Suddenly quick blurs fly across the room, all close to me,

I was terrified, but I needed to be free.

All the arrows were flying around and flinging

It felt like I was fighting someone in a boxing ring.

I knew I was going to die while doing this,

Finally getting out, arrows fly and only just miss

I continue to walk being more cautious than ever,

I looked around for more traps, trying to be clever.

All of a sudden lightning strikes and hits the ground so hard,

A shadow appears, I must have lowered my guard!

“You cannot escape! I need that mercury pill!”

It’s Emperor Qin Shi Huang! I must run, or else he’ll kill!

I run around, trying to dodge the lightning strikes,

He angrily growls, “I want your head on a pike!”

I slowly close my eyes trying to talk to my master,

“Hurry up! It’s going to be a disaster!

You have a time limit to your life, and soon you will die!

I angrily open my eyes and scream, “But why?!”

I jump as high as I can and start to fly

I pounce onto Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and scream, “You will die!”

I look around trying to find a sharp knife,

I throw the knife and it ends Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s life!

I sprint to the tomb exit, I was running out of time!

I open the door, it was the end of daytime.

I see the sunset, and already know that I’m dying,

But this time instead of crying, I was smiling.

The Terracotta Warriors Ballad Australian International School Hong Kong, Williamson, Anais - 8

The Emperor was desperate,

For immortality,

This craziness just started,

Hardly reality.

But endless living might fail,

And cease to just exist,

So he made another choice

His second strongest fist.

He ordered his next best choice,

His afterlife decree,

His soldiers found a weapon;

A stone carved grand army!

He’d walk around protected,

From evil ghosts and ghouls,

He’d shout this very loudly;

“Get out of here you fools!”

The soldiers were majestic,

They were like his great success,

As long as they were with him,

He felt he was the best.

Little did the soldiers know,

Medusa said in tone,

“The Warriors were once real:

I turned them into stone.”

But still the Emperor searched,

He searched both night and day,

To try to live forever,

Was his official say.

Then he found one small stranger,

Who dressed in lovely teal,

He fed him some strange product,

And said “How do you feel?”

Then he realised the great cure,

Was steely mercury,

The Emperor finally got,

His immortality.

He was very excited,

To try to live forever,

It takes enormous power,

It’s something to endeavour.

Sometime later over years,

Medusa’s reign was torn,

What happened to the warriors?

They aren’t stone anymore!

Their laughter rang like doorbells,

Who knew what they would do?

They could pose a dreadful threat,

A threat to me and you.

They ripped apart the houses,

And spoke with foreign tones,

And if they tried to stop them,

They ended up as bones.

They’d gone against the whole world,

They’d taken the Earth in,

They’d overthrown their owner,

The great Emperor Qin.

But deep in Central Xi’an,

A heroine lived there,

She was to save the people,

Who weren’t very aware.

A heroine called Raina,

Who set off on a quest,

To keep her townsfolk stable,

She really meant the best.

Along with her cat Stormy,

Aladdin was the horse,

He encouraged the battle,

And set her on her course.

So off the trio travelled,

They travelled near and far,

The fights were bad and beastly,

But they were like a star.

But when the soldiers gathered,

They stood to meet their end,

Luckily the Emperor

Was just around the bend.

The Emperor did a curse,

To turn the bad to stone,

“Remember,” said Emperor,

“You never are alone.”

(The Emperor knew some magic,

Because of brain power,

It started when he was born,

In his royal Tower.)

So Emperor Qin Ying Huang,

So old and yet so strong,

The Emperor of China,

His story’s travelled long.

“What happened to young Raina?”

The townsfolk would then say,

“That girl is our great heroine”

“And yet she took no pay.”

Look among the Warriors,

Look very hard they say,

And maybe you will see her,

The girl who took no pay.

A Thousand Miles Beneath our Feet - Terracotta Warriors Clearwater Bay School, Brown, Annabel - 9

A thousand miles beneath our feet

A king and his army were buried deep

He lived 2000 years ago

He conquered armies wherever he would go

He was the first emperor of China

There was nobody bold, braver or finer

In case his spirit liked to wander

He built a world for the ever after

In case his spirit got a little bored

There was acrobats there to please

And musicians to make music for his ears

There were birds and horses and other animals

They filled the tomb up to the brim

Until there was no more room in the dim.

But alas the soldiers, all eight thousand of them

Were made of clay with no two faces the same

Stoney silent, not giving away the Emperor's secrets

From their faces of painted colours

Years later this is what happened

Some farmers dug for water they seeked

And out of the soil guess what peeked?

The farmer yelled oh golly by golly

There’s a face staring out at me!

As soon as he found it, the colours ran away

Now steady on his friend cried

Remember the legends we heard

About human beings living beneath the soil

The legends must be true

For you have found the secret

And the world will change because of you

But how will it change?

Simple you see

For legends can be true you know

It may be creepy it can be freaky

But there you go

The story of the Terracotta Warriors

The greatest tale the world will know

The Tale of the Terracotta Warriors (a poem) Dulwich College Beijing, Wei, Hannah - 11

Once, in 1974, an army was discovered-

Of terracotta warriors, chariots and horses.

Who knew such a thing lay there

Among the trees and gorses?

,

Not a single person knows for sure,

Why or how they made

A vast army like this one

On ground near Mt. Li, a mine of jade.

Most think it was for Emperor

Qin’s spectacular tomb,

But I am the world’s only soul

Who knows the whole, true tale.

There used to be a dragon

A great, fiery, beast.

It was the only one in the world

And it lived in the east,

Where the Emperor’s nations lay.

It burnt down unique creations,

Houses, temples and all.

And destroyed the powerful nations.

And so he led a battle

Which led to his defeat,

And ignited the creature’s fury

And hatred, and so the mighty beast-

Took soldiers to his cavern

The horses to his cave

The chariots to his grotto

That would soon be the emperor’s grave

He turned them to terracotta-

All of them so gay.

He hardened them in the sunlight

And the colours faded away.

As for the Emperor, no one knows

Where he now does lie.

P’raps because of the things he did

He went to hell when he died?

And what about the dragon?

Does he still roam this world?

One day maybe you will find

Him, in a ball tightly curled.

This is the end of my tale

But the beginning of yours.

Remember this, children,

Until the world is no longer ours.

The Terracotta Army German Swiss International School Primary, Chi, Joy - 10

The terracotta army is a collection of many sculptures,

Made by a few of the very best sculptors,

To protect the first emperor of China,

If he didn’t wake up from his very deep coma.

In 1974 the figures were found,

By local farmers as they dug in the ground,

Into the earth the sculptures were mound,

The arena so big that words would resound.

Inside included many different troops,

Soldiers, horses plus many other groups,

In total there are three pits of this army,

Though there may be more than just three.

People are still digging to find more pits,

Thinking there are more according to their wits,

But meanwhile they’re a tourist attraction,

Due to the huge amount of sculpted action.

Now considered the last and eighth wonder,

As many people have done to think and ponder,

The army is now shown in many different exhibitions,

As the proud emperor of China admires it from the heavens.

Two Thousand Two Hundred Years Ago German Swiss International School Primary, Lau, Justin - 10

two thousand two hundred years

ago the first emperor of

told every citizen to

build his

tomb.

the builders worked

really hard

they made terra-cotta

warriors out

of hardened

clay.

the warriors were

a glowing red

an azure blue

a tender green

a happy yellow

a flaming orange

though standing still.

the emperor was

congratulated

for the beautiful

terracotta warriors.

but not the builders

they didn’t

do anything

wrong but

still-

they

were

sent

to

death.

All Different German Swiss International School Primary, Robinson, Caeli - 11

Different faces everywhere

The power of their glare

The dominance of the Terracotta Warriors.

Chariots are the fastest

of them all

RUSTY, DUSTY, FROZEN

that is what they are.

Gold and copper are the colours

of immortality and fame

a convoy of clay carriages.

Horses are the mightiest

perfect and complete

COURAGEOUS, DEVOTED, QUIET

to everything around them

They are not remembered

even if they try

committed to the end

Soldiers are the bravest

loyal to their emperor

SUPREME, TOUGH, HEROIC

thought of as the best

Their ancient past

is left behind them

always remembered as heroes

All the same, as in clay

All different, as in individuals.

The Immortalised Warrior German Swiss International School Primary, Tin, Jocelyn - 11

Out of the kiln glowering with blazes and sparks,

Out of the workshop tense with fear and sweat,

Out of the sun’s heat and glare

And into this subterranean pit we will share.

From miles under I think of my fathers’ warm hands,

From plain red clay to rolls and strands

Crafted with care and painted with pride

And turned into the finest cavalier with my horse beside.

Archers, cavalry, generals, infantry alike,

We were born to protect, born to strike

For two thousand years we stayed awake,

And watched for the First Emperor’s sake.

As I began to wonder,

When we would be known and feared,

A man’s face stared and peered

And in came the archaeologists like thunder.

Then along with the sun

We silently rejoice as one.

How I found the Terracotta Warriors German Swiss International School Primary, Too, Zachary - 11

I had a pet once

He was a cool, lovely dog.

He buried a bone.

I tried to find it

But, instead, I found a head.

So, I kept digging,

After time, I found…

A whole soldier, to behold!

So now what to do?

I told my father,

“We can be famous! YAY!”

But he said, sadly,

“We must not disturb,

For bad fortune may come fast.

We cannot risk it.”

So, now, I can say,

The secret remained secret

‘till ’seventy four!

Young Emperor Ying Zheng lived a good life German Swiss International School Primary, Watkins, Felix - 11

Young emperor Ying Zheng lived a good life.

He had slaves who served him day and night.

When he got bored of them

He killed them with a knife.

He had many wives too, a total of 100 kids

Which were mad too.

But before emperor Ying Zheng finally died,

He ordered 700,000 or more to build him a clay army.

Then he buried them alive.

A few years ago a farmer dug a hole,

And found Ying Zheng’s clay army.

Called the local historian who told him who they were

And now that's the tourist attraction of Xi’an

The Afterlife of the Terracotta Warriors German Swiss International School Primary, Wong, Hughlyn - 11

Lifeless

Selfless

Ruthless

Endless

Statues of lifeless, selfless might

Warding off the ruthless, endless fight

Swirling

Whirling

Growing

Throbbing

Spirits in a swirling, whirling bane

Suffering from growing, throbbing pain

Rusting

Rotting

Moving

Stirring

Through human eye, rusting, rotting clay

Forever not moving, stirring alone

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors German Swiss International School Primary, Wong, Michelle - 10

Terracotta warriors lie asleep

Dreaming away, in a slumber so deep

Guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin

Unopened and dangerous because of his sins

Are they alive, will they wake?

Or will they stay, for their Emperor’s sake?

Have their weapons, their steeds, their spies

Ready for their first battle cries

Waiting for the day their master calls

Wars will start and enemies will fall

Beware the day the warriors rise

Away in the future the day surely lies

The Terracotta Warriors German Swiss International School Primary, Yan, Charlotte - 11

The elixir of immortality

Emperor Qin Shi’s ultimate desire,

Ready to find it at all costs,

Raving on and on, haunting his every dream.

A shudder, a feeling, death

Crawling up on him relentlessly.

Oh, how he raged on.

Terrorizing his thoughts was a fanatical notion;

Terracotta warriors! He will rule them all in life and in death

A desperate thought for a despotic man.

Workmen, dragged from their beloved

All were beaten, broken; surrender their only release.

Ragged, they shuffled forwards to do his bidding,

Ravenous with hunger; the Emperor was ruthless.

Innocent and impotent, it was inconceivable that they would be treated with kindness or care.

On and on, the slaves laboured endlessly

Realizing the emperor’s cold hearted desire.

Sadistic, the Emperor certainly was to those who were frail or displeased him..

The Terracotta warriors appeared one by one; the slaves who succumbed to weakness, buried alive or burnt;

A tragic, barbaric thank you.

Life slowly seeped out of the Emperor.

Emperor Qin Shi, buried in his tomb at last.

Standing guard then, now, forever, the Terracotta Warriors.

The Silent Terracotta Army Glenealy School, De Blank, Alana - 9

Terracotta warriors, buried in xi’an shaanxi,

Eight thousand of them, guarding emperor Qin.

Terracotta warriors, six feet tall,

and one hundred and thirty chariots, that are taller than a short wall.

Terracotta Warriors, took 30 years to make,

Plus a hundred and fifty cavalry horses, that took long to create.

Terracotta warriors, found by farmers digging a well,

In 1974, some farmers were so shocked they even fell,

Terracotta warriors, each unique they are,

Made just to be the emperor’s silent army afar.

Terracotta warriors, used to be painted bright,

But lost their lustre over time and no light.

Terracotta warriors, silent tomb soldier men,

Guarding emperor Qin when he died then.

Terracotta warriors, the greatest find,

So lucky to have them as the 8th wonder of the world in kind.

Song of the Warriors Good Hope Primary School cum Kindergarten, Chan, Hoi Tung Daphne - 10

Hi-ho! Here we march,

Among the light of flaming torch!

Faces aglow with Chinese pride,

Although we never saw the cerulean sky.

We were once just normal young men

Idly ambling through every valley and glen.

But one day Qin summoned us into the troop,

We marched and sang in a large, awe-inspiring group.

We dreamed of returning to our homes in glory,

With more to tell than a single story.

But Qin told us one day, "You are to be

My Terracotta Warriors through death serving me."

Between us and our dear ones were ten million miles,

We wished we could have sent them our smiles.

But what more were there to send, as a sienna statue?

Stoic and icy-faced was our only cue.

The Emperor's wish was our command,

So under the earth we did stand.

Terracotta bodies battered with time,

Rotting that hundred become ten, ten become five.

And under great Qin we stood vigil,

Tremblingly trying to stay still.

As the soaring stork chirped the song,

We shook and sputtered, and played the horn.

Time flew like a kestrel-feather arrow,

As if it was the melting of the Xi’an snow.

Han, Tang, Song, Ming… they trailed on

We knew our loved ones were long gone.

No one could object or say a thing,

No one knew anything about the new Qing,

No one could stand the marching of the Britons,

No one could prevent the annihilation.

We were promised to protect glorious Qin

And the treasures and wealth within.

But we didn't help in the massacre.

We were too slow, too late, and they died in a blur...

And the ominous era came upon us,

We were ruined, couldn't discuss.

The wind scraped the maroon and peach away,

From our flesh and armour, and left us to agonisingly stay.

Then sky shot from a hole one dawn,

Parched ground cracked in a field of withered corn.

All of a sudden it was 1974,

We’d missed so many chances to sparkle and roar.

And now a museum is where we live,

But we are now brown, like a mastiff.

Nevertheless, staying alive is what Terracotta Warriors are made for

But once vibrant warriors can never be restored.

New Tales of the Pearl River Delta Harrow International School Hong Kong, Siu, Megan - 10

Have you ever heard of the Terracotta Warrior?

Do you know the tale of the first Chinese Emperor?

If you don’t know, then make yourself comfortable

Because I’m about to give something knowledgeable!

The Terracotta Warrior

The emperor had known better

He asked his men to build this army

So he won’t feel that lonely

The warriors were there till a farmer dug them out

Once he did that, he gave out a loud shout

“I found a clay army” the farmer exclaimed

“And there’s Qin Shi Huang’s grave” he then proclaimed

The army represented the emperor’s glory

His grave was built in a special territory

The army was built with rock and clay

In a very special and sophisticated way

This warrior was built 2000 years ago

Before the emperor lied down low

They were all buried in a big mausoleum

But soon got put in a historical museum

Qin Shi Huang wanted to live forever

Because he realized he was so clever

But then he knew his time would end

That was when the special order was sent

He asked his men to build him an army with the slowest pace

Before the emperor lies down at his final drowsing place

The army included horses, too

So the great emperor wouldn’t feel blue

The terracotta army is what the emperor will bring to his afterlife

After all, it is what he asked for in his first life

This army was built in the ancient times

Right before the first bell chimes

Each warrior has it’s own exclusive aspects

That made the most unique effects

That is all I have to say about the Terracotta Warriors

These truly amazing hand-made soldiers

I have learnt a lot just writing this

How this army isn’t from Swiss

Thanks for reading this Terracotta poetry

I hope I’ve written it wonderfully

My Life Holy Angels Canossian School, Fung, Ching Kiu - 9

Soil gives me life, fire makes me strong.

I wear my armour and hold my sword.

Walk through the fire, in the flame of courage.

I am destined to protect the emperor in afterlife.

I line up orderly and freeze my pose.

Without sunlight the underground is cold.

My determination beats the darkness,

My bravery knocks down the fears.

Horses, acrobats and chariots,

The might army is incurious.

I am bored for day after day,

Loyalty and fealty make me stay.

Klonk Klonk, closer and closer,

A blinding sunlight shines on my shoulder.

My body shivers, my arm trembles,

My colour disappears and I faint.

My arm is healed when I awake,

My companions are here and all awake.

Now I can feel the sunlight, bright and warm,

I can smell the air, clean and fresh.

No evil enemies in front of us,

Instead, a lot of people smile to us.

Then I realize the afterlife is ended,

The emperor is safe forever after.

Enduring Strength International College hong Kong (Hong Lok Yuen), Chong, Arthur - 10

Noble regal faces,

Hard clay cases,

No surrender,

All with splendor,

To serve again,

As warrior men,

Archers, cavalry, soldiers on foot,

All of them with incredible output

Their faces stare blankly at ours,

Showing off their incredible fighting powers,

To protect forever the emperor’s tomb,

All of their faces have a certain gloom,

They did not accept impending doom.

Soldiers of China, brothers in arms,

With their rusted swords, dusty crossbows, crusted firearms,

They used to be painted a shade of purple,

Their clay armour like the shell of a turtle,

But now faded to a dull shade of grey,

Their voices muted, what would they say:

“By foul! I’ve lost my colour!”

“And now my body is a billion times duller!”

“All that happened because I was exposed to air,”

“And now everyone can see my wear and tear!”

Many warriors now with clay heads beheaded,

Quite literally, sacrificing their arms, legs and heads.

But still valiant men that will fight to the end.

For they are the Terracotta Warriors.

Seven Hundred Thousand Men International College hong Kong (Hong Lok Yuen), Sharma, Ariv - 8

“Long live the King!” they sang,

Then they raised and smashed the hammer hard,

Off and on, high and low, clink-clank,

On the metals, hot and cold;

On iron and copper, silver and gold,

The drew them long and smashed them flat,

And shaped and moulded just like that,

The sharpest of the spears and swords,” said my grand dad.

“Hundreds of thousands of them worked,

From dawn to dusk, from one winter to another,

Ruthless Emperor Qin Shi Huang kept them on task,

To see that he took all the riches for the afterlife,

Some twenty-two-thousand years ago when he came to rule.

His men chiseled terracotta, and carved, back and forth;

They carved moustaches and beards,

And they gave them unique noses, eyes and ears,” he told.

“They tinkered; they cut and scraped,

All those eight thousand soldiers had to look real.

They were to protect the emperor in his afterlife.

They made weapons for the moulded bodies;

They made chariots with four horses or two,

They also made dogs, musicians, acrobats and waterfowls.

Thousands of terracotta men they made from all the army-ranks,

And carved them their special armour and warfare gears,” said he.

I asked my grand dad, “Was it a wise deed?”

“Wouldn’t the king be just bones in the tomb?

His soul will sure go away;

Even if reborn, he may not be Emperor,

Though his Terracotta Army will always be here in Xian.

My grand dad told me, “That’s right.

Emperor Qin’s tomb has riches, a mercury river even a palace,

But in a tomb, no soul can ever stay…perhaps…”

Silent Army ISF Academy, Jiang, Sophia - 9

Terracotta warriors stand tall

Leaning against the dusty wall

Terracotta warriors remain strong

Holding swords sharp and long

All soldiers line up in perfect rows

Each with a different pose

Heads of their horses held up high

Like they are about to fly to the sky

Silent since Emperor Qin died

Yet still so many tales to confide

If you look closely

My eyes don’t sparkle, my mane doesn’t shine

My weary body is a sign

That I’m sick and tired of fights and wars

Of shining armors and heavy swords

No more reins and chafing saddles

No more cruel slaughtering and battles

If you look closely,

My edge is uneven and rusty

My sheath is broken and dusty

My handle is shaken and crusty

Two thousand years of history weigh on my tip

No more foes, no more gory killings

Nor blood stained swords

If you look closely

My hair lost its luster, my face is bruised

My shoulders are slumped, and my skin is not smooth.

My feet of clay is battered

My spirits have shattered

Hope dashed, innocence lost

No more peace, no more sanctuary

Only lies and illusions

But all that doesn’t matter

Because I am a terracotta warrior

Bold, unblinking, unnerving

The silent army holding fort

Like the phoenix

My brazen nature

I will rise up, again

From the fire

Terracotta Warriors ISF Academy, Wong, Magdalene - 9

Another day. Another week. Another month. Another year.

When oh when is somebody going to dig me out?

Being trapped in here forever is my darkest fear

All of this is enough to make me pout.

After what seemed like a million years

My paint started to flake off like crisps

I screamed and shouted for anyone to hear

But I guess that was just my lifelong wish.

My chamber is full of things you can’t describe

Musicians, artists, soldiers, rivers of gold, acrobats

Horses without places to ride

But, despite being old, it’s completely free from rats.

Centuries and centuries later

I finally breathed-in some fresh air

For the super-lucky waiter

Was on top of our pile of despair.

Our chamber turned into a museum

As curious faces walked by

On display by a famed mausoleum

All I could do was sigh.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Kau Yan School, Low, Hiu Lam Rene - 9

At the foot of the mountain,

A secret is uncovered.

The legend of an army,

True as it’s discovered.

The Terracotta Warriors,

What a fantastic sight!

All soldiers standing solemnly,

Guardians of thebravest knight.

With the horses and chariots,

The king built an army,

Who would protect him in the afterlife

Against whatever enemy.

These fearless warriors

Equipped with arrows and spears,

Never once trembled

In the face of fear.

They continue guarding the tomb

With utmost loyalty,

Believing that one day their emperor

Will rise again with authority.

The Bird of Time Kennedy School, Eyunni, Gayathri - 10

Part 1

What would she do if her day was not done,

What would she do if she was only one.

Her fear and sadness only getting worse,

So the bird had said.

Who would she meet if one never came,

Who would she meet if one would not stay.

Her fear and sadness only getting worse,

So the bird had said.

If she continues, her life be in danger,

And soon enough, what would be left.

Nobody knows, nobody will.

So the bird had said.

Part 2

What will happen when there is no news,

To the Army The King of Qin once led.

The warriors shall have a peaceful life the Great King had said.

But this is not what the warriors wished,

So the bird had said.

Is this the truth or is this a lie,

The warriors wondered with dread.

The King’s words are always true,

So the bird had said.

What will they learn in the years to come,

Thinking of the tears their family would shed,

They will be happy the King assured,

So the bird had said.

Their life will be different from what it should have been,

Different in a good way the King had said,

Good for the King’s ambitions, not for them,

So the bird had said.

There will be some benefit,

Something good the King had said,

Everyone will be safe and content the King promised,

So the bird had said.

Part 3

Many miles from the town of Xi’an,

Lived a very great King called Ashoka they said.

He was known as the ‘Beloved of the Gods’,

So the bird had said.

He was obsessed with peace after a great war,

We shouldn’t fight he said.

He vowed never to use his sword again,

So the bird had said.

The people in his kingdom were always very happy,

“What a peaceful life!” they said.

Everyone was joyful from young to old,

So the bird had said.

Why must we sacrifice the warriors’ lives,

Our innocent soldiers in war, Ashoka said,

He stopped war with the power of Dhamma,

So the bird had said.

Back in Xi’an the King was getting ready,

for the last battle that he would have led.

And he heard of the King who stopped war,

So the bird had said.

“Oh my fellow warriors” was heard from the sunken pits,

“We must learn from Ashoka” he said.

He thought a while in his final resting place,

So the bird had said.

But in our present avatars we still have fights,

“Will we ever have peace” the bird said.

Oh why do we shout?

Why do we doubt?

Why are we intolerant?

Why do we kill?

Why do we feel hatred?

When will we find peace in our hearts?

And so the bird had said.

Deep Beneath Your Feet Kennedy School, Hashimoto, Mayuka - 8

I have long served in Xi'an,

as a strong fearsome warrior,

for the mighty first emperor,

Qin Shi Huangdi.

our army sculpted to show emperor Qin’s might,

only thirteen when he came to power.

we all are different,

every detail down to hair,

sculpted by the finest craftsmen.

forty years to make all the one-hundred thirty chariots,

six-hundred seventy horses and eight-thousand warriors,

I have forty warriors to train on my own.

we were the best army,

just us proud warriors took up eighteen-thousand square feet.

now I am a terracotta warrior,

deep beneath your feet,

one in eight-thousand,

still thundering the ground,

and fighting against defeat,

one day you will find me still standing tall and proud for emperor Qin Shi Huangdi.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Kennedy School, Lee, Claire - 10

To search water for life,

3 peasants found the site.

It was 1974 in a small village of Yangeun-west along.

Eastern suburbs of Lintong County,

Located at Xi An, 35 kilometers away,

On the Lishan mountain, overlooking the River Wei.

From Lishan to Mount Hua is dragon-like,

The Imperial Tomb at the dragon eye,

Hoping the Dynasty to the height.

Underneath was a precious tomb site,

515 meters long, 485 meters wide,

And 100 meters in height.

Dear Emperor Qin had chosen bright,

According to the traditional Chinese geomancy.

Born in 259 BC,

Qin was the first Emperor ever.

7 states in Ancient China he united,

Systems of writing, money, weights and measurements were first time in line.

Emperor Qin needed body guards,

even after he died.

Terracotta Warriors and Horses were made in life-size.

Using local clay,

Then baked in the kiln,

After firing the figures, completed with paint.

No money to pay fines,

Violated the rules at that time,

Debtors and Prisoners were forced to build the tomb site.

Craftsmen had no choice.

The mausoleum was so huge,

Their skillful hands had contributed so much.

Now this is the world heritage site,

With technical and artistic qualities exceptional high.

A demonstration of the military organization at the time.

Conquering the other 6 states,

The meaning of uniting China as one.

Left as the largest mausoleum preserved in modern time.

Since the discovery decades back,

Many areas are still sleeping deep.

Even the Terracotta Warriors are not yet excavated fully,

Expecting us to visit the site.

Terracotta Warriors Kennedy School, Tsang, Prosper - 10

Buried down below

Deep in the grave with Great Qin

Clay army under

Tall short of many sizes

All to protect the Great King

Terracotta warriors Korean International School, Lai, Alpha - 11

Fierce warriors carved with clay,

Can look like a standing gray tray,

They were to serve the Emperor in the afterlife,

But too bad that he is dead and not alive

Some are holding spears and knifes,

But they don’t look very nice,

They look fierce and wants to kill,

But they cannot move and is very still,

Lots are placed in lots of rows,

Some are standing on their toes,

But the roof fell and took them apart,

Which also broke their heart

Poem of the Terracotta Warriors Korean International School, Slabbert, Brendan - 9

Emperor Qin was a man known to fear.

He created a clay army of men to always keep them near.

Eight thousand soldiers and horses were made,

With weapons to protect him in an afterlife fate.

Many women and men worked on them,

Their fingers to the bone to protect him.

Filled with fear that his enemies might come,

Near he built the Great Wall of China.

Emperor Qin wanted a potion for eternal life,

But a plan was set in motion to end his life.

He drank the potion and felt no emotion, as his life slowly slipped away.

In a dark tomb he eternally lies with his jewels buried away.

All he can hear is a river that flows,

A river he knows, a river of mercury!

The Afterlife Korean International School, Smeets, Karlijn – 10

I am happy with what I did,

now I can go in peace.

My final resting place is ready,

so now I can go to the afterlife

I made clay statues of my army,

they all had different personalities.

I put them in battle formation,

and they held some weapons too.

I gave them protection and unity,

but they had to show me their loyalty.

I thought they deserved what I gave them,

but it would take some time for them to understand.

I forced them to build the Wall,

then I buried them inside when they died.

Then China had no more invaders,

but everyone still hated me.

They build great monuments,

that people will remember forever.

Things that will last

for another generation to discover and marvel.

I am sorry that they hated me,

but this is what I did.

Now they are standing there,

each with their own souls and faces for the afterlife.

The Terracotta Warrior Kowloon Junior School, Chow, Marissa - 10

He is a Terracotta Warrior.

A war is raging on,

Yet he barely notices

All the scuffles around him.

He only dodges once or twice

To avoid a whizzing missile.

An arrow hurtles towards him,

But he does not flinch at all.

Instead of piercing his ebony flesh,

It bounces off his thick-as-steel armour.

He snorts in sardonicism

And yanks the arrow out.

Squinting all around him,

He takes his time to find

The enemy who dared

To mess around with him.

He peers at the suspect,

And with a deadly aim -

Sends the arrow soaring.

He strains his ears to listen

And grins in satisfaction,

As soon as the weapon embeds itself

In its regretful, shrieking target.

Bodies drop around him,

Going plop-plop-plop.

He stands - clad in armour and equipment -

On the hectic war field;

A distant figure

Blending into the midst of chaos.

9 months later…

The war is over.

He stands - hunched up -

On the blood-soaked battlefield;

A dark silhouette

Illuminated by the eerie beams of moonlight.

Time passes.

He ages year by year,

And slowly but surely

He withers away

And dies.

53882 years later…

A weary farmer’s spade clunks

Against a miniscule object.

He bends down,

And picks it up in wonder.

He stares incredulously

At the tiny figure.

The peeling clay has worn off;

Dust balls have gathered;

The colors have faded;

Yet it is perfectly preserved.

He knows what it is.

He whoops - hollers - shrieks in delight.

He has found a Terracotta Warrior.

Warrior's Heart Kowloon Junior School, Lam, Andrea - 10

The mighty clay army, resting in Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum.

Potters working away, ping-clonk ping-clonk!

The Terracotta Warriors standing there,

Tall and fine.

Hidden away in underground chambers,

Are chariots and horses,

Galloping away, emerging into ancient stone battlefields.

Terracotta Warriors, Terracotta Warriors,

The Emperor, in robes and fine jewellery,

His mighty name remembered.

Terracotta Warriors, Terracotta Warriors,

Standing straight as six feet tall,

Crying out China’s name.

Terracotta Warriors, Terracotta Warriors,

A garrison to protect our home.

The clay statues,

Some headless, some armless, a giant fierce army together.

Their massive armour, as they wear them proudly.

Terracotta Warriors, Terracotta Warriors,

A warrior’s heart, frozen in stone.

Battling the last battle of sickness and agony,

THUMP!

The Emperor’s last breath,

People of China mourned for him,

Oh dear, oh dear.

Oh

Dear,

Oh

Dear…

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Kowloon Tong School (Primary Section), Kuo, Hiu Yan - 10

We are the brave soldiers of the Emperor of China

We fight against the enemy

And take the victory

Fighting and defending and training ourselves

Be a courageous solider for our country

It our motto

We always remember

We are proud of ourselves

China is our home

Keeping our home safe is our duty

We are proud to fight for China!

Not be afraid and not be nervous

Fight for China and take the victory

What should we do?

Stand up and fight!

Remember! Fight for our home!

Be an audacious solider

Have our swords ready,

And fight against the enemy!

We are the Terracotta Army!

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Kowloon Tong School (Primary Section), Tang, Wy Lok Beatrice – 10

Awake! Awake! Awake!

Someone has awakened me from over two thousand years of sleep,

Someone keeps brushing away every speck of dust on my skin,

On and off the sparkling flashing lights shine into my eyes.

Wow! Wow! Wow!

All of us arrayed in the four main pits still,

All of us armed with long spears and swords as before,

Eight thousand of us standing shoulder to shoulder for Emperor Qin remained nearby.

Look! Look! Look!

More and more “Dai Fu” coming to examine us with their attentive hearts,

More and more strangers coming to see us with curiosity,

No one is allowed to touch or hurt us but to protect us.

Amazed! Amazed! Amazed!

Glorious stories of Emperor Qin can be heard everywhere,

Grandeur of all our warriors, horses and chariots continue to amaze visitors,

Emperor Qin unified provinces under his control, visitors marvelled at his leadership.

Wonder! Wonder! Wonder!

How come we look famous? Is that because of our secret mission for Emperor Qin?

Are we animated in our afterlife really? Is that because of Emperor Qin’s power?

We, the Terracotta Warriors all wonder about.

A Conversation with Terracotta Warrior Marymount Primary School, Cheung, Hay-Ching Eleanor - 11

Warrior, warrior, impart to me why you are here to dwell?

To guard against a vast mausoleum that no emperors’ parallel.

Warrior, warrior, how big is this mausoleum that surprised the world?

Twenty hectares is this underworld,

Thousands meters high with evergreen trees,

Four decades to build at his decrees.

Seventy thousand workers toiled day and night,

To satisfy the ambition of a man, never to mention human rights.

Warrior, warrior, unfold to me what’s inside the tomb?

The China landscape microcosm here resume.

Rivers and streams made with mercury flowing,

Vales and mounts made with bronze standing.

Precious stones sparkled in the ceilings as celestials,

Extravagance palaces are the Emperor’s collections.

Warrior, warrior, why I hear sweet music flowing by?

The Emperor is fond of music and glorify.

Clay dancers, musicians and acrobats amuse him to pleasure,

Fine vessels, precious stones and rarities are his treasures.

Life-after-death is as merry as life on earth,

Armies, concubines, and servants are here to serve.

Warrior, warrior, how the tomb is kept safe in the last two thousand years?

The Emperor prevented invasion by precautions.

Arrows automatically ejected to stop raiders,

Poisonous mercury and booby traps equipped to kill robbers.

Archers, chariots and horses in full flight,

Swords and spears are ready to fight.

Eight thousand soldiers devoted to protect the Emperor,

To ensure his afterlife is still in power.

Warrior, warrior, do you think the Emperor was great?

Unified China,

Established bureaucracy,

Standardized characters, coins, weights and measures,

Connected the Great Wall,

No emperors is comparable to him.

Burnt books,

Buried scholars alive,

Conscripted man to labour,

Ruthless and savage,

No civilian is bearable of him.

His impact to the world is still seen,

UNESCO named the mausoleum and the Great Wall World Heritage Site.

He is a legacy and a pride to the history.

Prophecy of the Dead Quarry Bay School, Yueng, Selina - 10

Storm and fire,

Wind and rain.

the fall of the warriors,

yet prophecy remains.

The ancient myths,

the legends foretold.

The battle begun,

evil to be done.

What could bring the enemy down?

Where do all broken souls frown?

Just an unsure, abstract fate,

something to end the untouched hate.

The final verse,

to undo the curse.

Five spirits born to stop the fight,

Five souls called forth to do what’s right.

Five to gather and choose their time,

to rise once more,

to face their lore.

The one so fair,

shall come by air.

The one despaired,

shall rise, repaired.

The one so meek,

where the warriors speak.

The one who cares,

among the ensnared.

The last one true,

the last to come through,

might disappear,

for power he hears.

Something is coming to shake the Earth,

something is coming to rake the ground.

The future shattered,

the heroes dead.

Unless the lost army of might can be found.

Remember your role,

the side where you stand,

for our lives,

and our race,

are both in your hands.

The Poor Souls Raimondi College Primary Section, Wong, James

Two thousand so’ years ago,

A great nation was full of woe.

The funeral arts were just created,

But then the act was quickly hated.

At first they thought, ‘Hey! It’s superb!’

But they began to feel disturbed.

A bunch of men went to the tomb,

But none went back; they met their doom.

The king jammed them in suits of clay,

Which they were left in to decay.

The poor souls were kept in there,

Lined up straight and left to wear.

As time flew by, dust piled around,

But they still stood there; made no sound.

And they’re still there watching their preys,

For long they stand, for long they slay.

Terracotta Army Regents Primary School of Shenzhen, Ren, Xubin – 9

The legend of terracotta army

Soldiers with their spirit of fighting

Buried under the thick red clay alive

Captured under the power of the king

When the clock bell rings 12 times

Spirits of the death wandering

Looking for the weak ones

Looking for people who need help

Singing them happiness in the world

Telling them glory of being alive

Teaching them knowledge of the ancient

Letting them realize what is true love

Spirits hope that they can change

People who feel sad and lonely

Hoping that the world can change

Spirits and people who start to help many others

When the clock bell rings 12 times

The world will change now

Everything will turn happy

And everything will be perfect

as what the Terracotta soldiers desire

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors School of the Nations, St. George, Noah - 9

Bit by bit,

Piece by piece,

History is history.

No matter how old,

More valued than gold,

It all seems a mystery.

The Terra Cotta Army,

Two thousand years gone,

Hidden from sight.

Who could have found,

This treasure underground,

A farmer, that’s right.

From the Emperor’s tomb,

Sixteen hundred meters away,

He dug his well.

Something hard he did find,

Who knew of what kind,

Only he was to tell.

There were horses,

There were Generals,

And then were the archers

There were acrobats,

There were strongmen,

And also the marchers.

Horses six hundred,

Chariots one thirty,

Soldiers eight thousand strong.

In Seventy-Four, they were uncovered,

Until then undiscovered,

To unearth them took very long.

Soldiers of ceramic,

Weapons of bronze,

All to protect, the Emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

The artist’s creation,

Warriors placed in formation,

Came to life in Xi’an.

Now the soldiers of clay,

Sit on display,

For the world’s delight.

By a farmer found,

This treasure underground,

Is now a World Heritage Sight.

New Tales of Terracotta Warriors Singapore International School, Aggarwal, Himanshi - 9

Accompany the first emperor of China into his afterlife.

Built were thousands of clay soldiers with unique facial expressions.

Construction was started when Emperor Qin Shi Huang was 13.

During this time, more than 700,000 labourers to build it.

Experts estimate there are more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, and 670 horses.

Found by a group of peasants digging a well in drought-parched on 29th March 1974.

Greatest attraction, China of the 20th century.

Has covered 16,300 square meters and took 40 years to complete.

In the order of discoveries, they were tagged as pit 1, pit 2, pit 3 or pit 4.

Jammed by a large fire, which destroyed the emperor Ying Zheng’s tomb also destroying the terracotta

warriors.

King Qin Shi Huang di was famous for unifying the warring states into what is now China.

Located in Shaanxi, China.

Made with terracotta, a type of earthenware is a clay-based unglazed or glazed ceramic.

Necropolis complex constructed to serve as an imperial compound or palace comprises several offices, halls

and other structures and is surrounded by a wall with gateway entrances.

On 210 BC, Emperor Qin was buried in his tomb with diamonds and things he would need for afterlife.

Pits of the soldiers in all are approximately 7 meters deep.

Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of China.

Raised by his mom Queen Dowager Zhao and dad, King Zhuangxiang of Qin.

Scientists are using various techniques to preserve the paint found on the warriors.

The terracotta warriors are unique, life-size and individually modelled in clay.

Unification of china was done under Qin’s rule -same system of measurement, monetary and political

issues.

Valuable utensils, scenic towers and 'wonderful objects,' with 100 rivers fashioned in mercury were buried

with King.

Weapons of the bronze were found in excellent condition, as coated with a thin layer of chromium.

Yester years memories teach us a lot about ancient Chinese culture.

Zheng was Emperor Qin’s given name.

Terracotta Warriors St. Margaret's Co-Educational English Secondary and Primary School (Primary Section), Chan, Valerie -

11

Emperor

Ruthless, Cruel.

Plotting, scheming, commanding

Sovereign ruler of China

Qin Shi Huang

Slaves

Devoted, loyal

Crafting, sculpting, unquestioning

Without power, liberty or voice

Oppressed

Army

Mighty, powerful

Marching, protecting, defending

Unique, handmade formed from the Earth

Legend

The Eternal Warrior St. Paul's Co-educational College Primary School, Hui, Raphael - 10

Here I stand in a dark hidden tomb

For hundreds and thousands of years

I, the Emperor’s warrior

His silent sentry

To guard and protect his Highness

My utmost duty

He conquered six Warring States

Unified them into one

Established the “Qin” Dynasty

His legacy had just begun

His Highness, Qin Shi Huang

Secured his empire by building the Great Wall

One of the Seven Wonders, people cried in awe

His Highness, the First Emperor of China

Determined his glory to last forever

A necropolis was built in his honor

Guarding the great emperor’s tomb

The eight thousand terracotta warriors

His strong silent army

Completed in thirty-eight years

To guard and protect his Highness

Our utmost duty.

A TERRACOTTA WARRIOR HAIKU The French International School, Garnier, Louise

HONOR, DIGNITY,

FOR THE BURIED WARRIOR

IS A DESTINY.

The Crumpled Up Poem Victoria Shanghai Academy, Ing, Lauren - 9

It’s the time of the year for the poetry competition.

I wrack my brains for ideas - this is now my mission.

I wonder who I can make fun of with glee!

My first choice are the teachers, I’m sure you’ll agree!

Imagine teachers acting like school kids,

Standing in the corner having told fibs;

Waiting for students to hand out detentions,

Hoping desperately not to get mentioned.

Imagine teachers - their homework forgotten,

As it lies at home - now isn’t that rotten?

A scared teacher, cowering in fear.

A fierce student, pulling their ear.

…No matter how many ideas come into my mind,

Just nothing seems good enough to rhyme!

More and more deflated I get,

I scrunch up the poem and jump into bed.

A big grey statue appears in my bedroom,

A Terracotta warrior- I know I am doomed!

It wears a thick armour suit made of stone,

Holding a crossbow (I try not to groan).

My crumpled up poem in one of his hands,

He smiles at me kindly - I’m now in a trance.

‘Why did you give up?’ he asks with a grin.

I whisper, ‘I know it’s not going to win.’

The Terracotta warrior pauses to think.

He remains so still my heart starts to sink.

He raises his head as if an idea has clicked.

He begins to speak as the clock starts to tick.

‘Since farmers discovered us digging a well,

There’s been an amazing story to tell.

Your unfinished poem will have the opposite fate.

It will remain unheard, no matter how great.’

‘Winning or losing – they are not relevant factors.

You’ve done your best and nothing else matters.

Cheer up my child; you have nothing to fear.

Give it your best shot and finish my dear.’

I thank the warrior for his very wise words,

And frantically write down what I’ve just heard.

So here I am sharing my work with you.

I enjoyed my achievement and hope you did too!

Winning is no longer an ultimate goal.

Each one is a winner as stories unfold.

We should stop worrying if we’ll win a prize,

And simply share our work with dignity and pride.

The Poem about the Terracotta Army Victoria Shanghai Academy, Wong, Austin – 10

Hear the tale of the army

Whose flesh is made of stone,

Stiff and strong, and silent and still

The emperor’s splendid clones

They stand beneath the ground

Their bodies as strong as bricks

The strong sense of culture

Which makes us feel the ticks

About the skin that covers their eyes

They all have single eyelids

Or because the king has single eyelids

That is what the maker decided

Buried for many centuries

Their purpose remains a mystery

Key to China’s history

The Qin Emperor’s legacy

Since ancient China’s union

The army lay in a hidden zone

It was 1974,

When it first became known.

Every man is unique

Every rock is different

They may all look the same

But only from a distance

8000 soldiers standing straight

waiting bravely at death’s gate

They protect the emperor

And will never forfeit

In forty years

The army would not wait

It will not be late

Until they are all made

If I were a Terracotta soldier

I would fight at our best

I will never rest

Nor forget about my quest

The greatest mystery is yet to be stolen:

the emperor’s tomb, which has yet to be opened

Know the tale of the army

The Emperor’s splendid clones

Terracotta Warriors Victoria Shanghai Academy, Wong, Denzel – 9

Once upon a time there was an army who stood

In a line one at a time

They would stand strong together and forever

They protected an emperor who had a bad temper

These terracotta warriors were confident and brave

They would never move on without one or another

They would never give up and always fight together

The warriors would always wait for each other

As if they were all brothers and sisters

The terracotta warriors were stone so less likely to be hurt

As they won’t bleed to death with an arrow through their shirt

They were always ready for battle

They would protect the emperor together

They would always work together as a team

And always defend every battle

When a warrior makes a mistake all of them would always forgive

So that is why they always succeed

Every opponent now knew that the terracotta warriors were very strong

No one would dare challenge them to a fight never and forever

So the emperor could now have some

peaceful time underground and the warriors could now have a rest

The whole of China celebrated their victory and they would all peacefully dine

Even without the emperor there, he was still so happy

Now everyone in China was finally safe

Thanks to the warriors for the amazing save

Now you know the story of the terracotta warriors and how they saved the emperor and china

And why this story was a really important one and how famous the terracotta warriors are

Terracotta Warriors Western Academy of Beijing, Han, Angela – 10

Warriors!

Who protect the tomb,

of an emperor

who ruled

a long time ago.

Three pits!

In which they stand,

all sculpted differently.

None two

alike.

On display!

In Xi-An

with chariots,

but no

weapons.

Architects!

Are still discovering

more history,

and many secrets

await.

Standing Silently Yew Chung International School. HK. Primary, Alvaro, Rosemarie – 10

Long, long ago,

There was a terra cotta army.

They won all their battles,

Being praised by many.

The Qin emperor,

A tyrant as he was,

Feared by his enemies,

For his war would receive no end.

How many lives sacrificed,

To rule a nation in vain?

When the victory is celebrated

will the warriors share the fame?

Fashioned as an army,

Warriors made of clay,

To accompany the emperor,

On his final judgement day.

Statues standing silently,

Still on guard today,

In misguided loyalty,

Never to betray.

One Forgotten Hero Yew Chung International School. HK. Primary, Lau, Erin – 10

Born from the earth, out of the dust

Came the most admirable, one of the most famous warriors

Dressed in terracotta, accompanied by chariots and horses

We stood in awe to guard the Qin necropolis as an unbreakable barrier

Two thousand years ago, I was asked to depict the armies of Qin Shi Huang,

I had no name to call myself, no friends to call my brothers

As a warrior, I was destined to protect the emperor in his afterlife

Fight for him, honour him and ready to die for him

No one knows what lies underneath the heavy, rugged armour

I used to be a scholar leading a peaceful life

Until one day the dragon came

And burnt all my books and dreams... I was drafted to fight as a warrior

The great Emperor Qin was powerful but full of fear

He was scared of being murdered in the life to come

He constructed eight thousands of us to demonstrate his rule

He built us to continue his dream of immortality

I felt so helpless, utterly despair

I was incapable. I am unable to move a finger or walk an inch

I am not made of flesh and blood, only of brown and reddish clay

I can only wait, hope and pray...

Days, months and years passed by

The army grew bigger, my faith grew stronger

We were always ready, always primed

We would live like this for a long time

But the Emperor slowly aged. We did not.

He weakened, we strengthened

The place grew passive, he did not visit much

I knew the unthinkable was about to happen… it did

After the Emperor’s death, all was quiet, all was still

Dust was light at first, drizzle came

Dusty grey was our new colour, loneliness was our company

We were forgotten!

Until one day, I saw a ray of hope

I met a soldier, young but discouraged

If only I could touch his heart, regale of great wonders

See the bitterness of hostility and sorrow of people

He could then understand the insanity of war

He could help to correct history, make a new future

He could build a world of peace and hope

I could be a real hero.

Still Yew Chung International School. HK. Primary, Lee, Hannah – 10

Armour flashing, Swords clashing.

As Generals’ commands make houses rattle,

As warriors lay down their lives in hundreds of battles.

Crimson steaks leaking off their blades,

The troops attacked and began their raids.

As lifeless combatants journeyed into a stony lair,

They searched for their Emperor, They searched for their Heir.

Silence swept over them, still many years to come,

They stood still.

Their colour faded, turning into nothing but dust,

They stood still.

Their memories were swept away, along with the wind,

They stood still.

Until now, the Terracotta Warriors stand,

Still.

The Terracotta Warriors Yew Chung International School. HK. Primary, Ting, Andrea – 9

Terracotta warriors, made of clay,

They are in position, ready to slay.

Their weapons - arrows and bows,

Can kill a thousand flying crows.

They are thousands of protectors,

Protecting the king,

They will fight till glory,

When the war-bell rings.

If they were unfrozen,

Their arrows they would fling,

They will fight till sunset,

When they hear the nightingales sing.

They beat every army,

As they’re hard as stone,

And they have special talents,

They don’t stand alone.

For years they have watched us as humankind,

Through our wars where our swords did grind

Through peace have they still lived on,

Now in a museum where people have watched, come and gone.

The Stone Awakening British International School Shanghai, Puxi, MacKenzie, Leila – 12

Around the corners,

through the maze of mighty

the sense of evil spreads.

Mystical spirit haunts the army

awakening the terracotta from their death.

When the sun becomes the moon

and everything becomes silent

they charge through the villages destroying everything in their way.

Merciless of the lives they are taking away

As the sun ray shines over the mountains,

the warriors retreat to their tomb

leaving the villages ravaged.

Leading the last lives to starvation

The emperor will turn his army to stone once again.

They will stand stone faced

until the spirit awakens them once more,

for the need of more villages to be ruined…

The Memoir of the Terracotta Warrior Chinese International School, Sun, Adrian – 11

I have been guarding this tomb for the past two thousand years,

No sunlight, only darkness.

Around me stand thousands of shadows just like myself.

I am the protector of Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.

I was carefully crafted by the most skillful craftsmen,

They created me with clay, glued my body parts together

And colored me with red, green, blue, pink and lilac lacquer.

After laboring for 10 years,

They finally made me and the warriors surrounding me.

I am the protector of Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.

I was put into a tomb which was surrounded by one hundred rivers of mercury.

Pearl, silver and gold covered the ceiling.

Traps all around were set up to fire poisonous arrows at anyone who dared to enter.

I am the protector of Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.

Wives, concubines, workers and craftsmen all sealed up together

With my fellow terracotta warriors and me.

Cries of panic resonated through the tomb

As people wailed, but there was no way out.

I am the protector of Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.

I have been untouched for over two thousand years,

Only silence,

Blackness at every corner,

Until one day, the tomb was opened.

And a ray of light appeared in front of me.

Curious faces looked down on me.

I am the protector of Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.

Now I have become a tourist attraction.

People from around the world come and visit me.

It is said that I am one of the wonders of the ancient world!

How about the wives, concubines, workers and craftsmen?

Only ashes remain while I stand tall.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Diocesan Girls' School, Gunawan, Gwyneth – 13

I saw it in the mist

It was swift

I wonder what it was

As I step into the woods

There were thousands

I did not bowssen.

I quickly walked

As quiet as a mouse

I slither like a snake

And spot it

As stiff as a stone

Just standing there

It had its hair in a bun

With checkered clothes

Holding an everlasting grimace

Like a statue

But suddenly it moved

It went towards me

I ducked behind a tree

And saw it move past me

I followed him

Dodging obstacles

Trying to be quiet

And not attract attention

There were thousands with it

All trumping towards north

I trailed them all

And they suddenly bawled

The tears were piercing

Making my ears hurt

But when it has been cleared

Nothing was there

I gasped

And tried to catch them

But nothing was there

A sound was behind me

I turned around

And was face-to-face

With the 6-foot-tall men

I screamed

But my mouth was covered

By them

I fainted into oblivion

I woke up

Hands tied

In a black room

With nothing surrounding me.

“Hello?”

No one answered

My voice echoing

The black walls

A man walked in

With several Terracotta warriors

Beside him

As if to protect him from me

“Who are you?”

I asked, fearless

I do not know where I am

But I do not care

The man stared at me

Trying to see if I am dangerous

Or not

Guess he was wrong

He said in Chinese,

“You must bow to me.”

I spit at him

And replied

“In your wildest dreams, sir.”

He was beyond livid

And order the warriors，

To make me bow

With force

I bow

But there was no respect

Between us

“Who are you?”

“I’m Qin Shihuang.

You are going to help me

To get the city back

With the aid of the Warriors."

I didn't move

Just kept of staring

His eyes in a weird colour

Demanding to do what he wants

He slapped me

I woke up

In a sudden shake

And it was all just a dream

But what if

That was the

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors?

The Terracotta Warriors Diocesan Girls' School, Yuen, Candace – 12

A terracotta army, made out of clay,

With fraying edges, and shades of grey.

Delicately sculpted, with tough armor,

Though I’m sure they won’t be a charmer.

Their thoughts have probably been dashed,

As they aren’t afraid of being smashed.

They won’t leave because they took a vow,

I’m uncertain when, but certainly not now.

They don’t laugh and they don’t cry,

Yet they sure aren’t shy!

They stare at you with a stony face,

Emotions left their faces without a trace.

They don’t dodge and they don’t budge,

They simply stare and judge.

If you’re a threat, if you’re a danger,

They don’t know you, as you’re a stranger.

They protect their emperor, whom stands in the centre,

So they stare to see if you’re worthy enough to enter.

Once you’re in you’re in for a surprise,

Visiting the whole army surely makes people wise.

The Eight Thousand

ELCHK Lutheran Academy, Sadie, Noah – 15

Warriors…

Always loyal to their leader.

Draped in the toughest protection.

Armed to the teeth,

Advanced to the point of looking inhuman.

Sweeping through cities,

Annihilating enemies like a plague.

Bringing death to anyone

That stands in their way.

Brought up from the ground,

Casted,

Dried,

Implanted,

Into an enclosure of fire.

Cold,

Lifeless rock.

Shaped in the image of their human creators,

Christened the Terracotta Warriors.

They survived,

Longer than any fighting force before them.

To fend off not a living enemy,

but the enemy to come.

To safeguard the Emperor after death,

From souls,

Longing for vengeance.

An army of eight thousand,

To fight and to serve.

A stone army assembled to defeat the dead,

Was no match for the living.

Raiders decimated the stone soldiers,

Shattering them into pieces.

As their comrades were reduced to rubble,

The remaining stood still,

Powerless,

Unable to end the siege.

But being made out of the Earth itself.

Allowed them to outlast even the Empire of China.

As wars and famine ravage the country,

The Terracotta Warriors wait and wait,

And waited underground,

For years and years.

Until they saw the sun again,

But in a different China,

Very different than the one they were fabricated in.

War still goes on,

Everything changes,

Man’s reach is still broadening

Empires and nations are rising then falling

But the Terracotta Army will always be

The last one standing...

The Army That Waits Harrow International School Hong Kong, Joseph-Hui, Katherine - 15

The long dark room is cold and quiet,

The warriors silently guard the emperor’s grave.

Strong, still, and awake,

Their alert eyes detect every move, of every ant that creeps along the dusty floor,

Each man’s armour firm and strong, their horses wait alongside them patiently,

Whilst waiting to poach and attack.

Safe and sound the emperor sleeps,

Protected from evil, his spirit lies awake.

A military force of thousands,

Each soldier ready for battle, lingering deep underneath the ground.

As they wait, ageing creeps into their solid exterior.

One soldier, then the next. Cracks emerge in their sturdy amour,

Weakening them by the years.

Gallantly, the ghostly force of men guard his tomb

Clattering music plays as singers and musicians pierce the frigid air.

Acrobats now invade. Leaping and dancing, they dust flashes of colour and a magical yet haunting,

chiming tune plays.

It feels awake for some moments, until, the last chime echoes into a long, stony, silence.

From Qin Shi Huang Di Harrow International School Hong Kong, Law, Mei - 13

Let me paint for you a story so vivid and rich.

Let me create a mosaic so beautiful I guarantee.

Let me spin my story, intricate silk to stitch.

Let me bring words to life, legend to energy.

And here I recall my army’s pride.

Their strength, courage, dignity.

their inspiring way to guide

our country: China, to victory.

Shall I gather canvas and paint to stain

the figures and soldier’s infinite youth?

And stroke my brush over the words so plain

so my painting bleeds truth?

Or should I collect my colourful tiles

and design a mosaic with my army?

Can I include the patriotic smiles

and the winding river Yangtze?

Can I make the thread so thin

the fabric, silk and satin?

And tell the story of our glorious win

through detail and exquisite pattern?

But our land’s unique materials I choose

to tell our story for generation next.

Raw elements sacred to China I use

for descendants pay their utmost respect.

We come from native land

my story shaped in local province

my art, my soldiers to command

formed from organic ground ever since.

I bring my tools and clay

and sculpt an army in line together.

Manipulating shapes my way.

Building each man his own character.

Retrieve the earth and mix with water.

Bake in fire and dry in air.

The mighty elements join to confer

China with an everlasting flair.

With honour and immortality they prosper

my noble terracotta warrior.

Frozen in Time Harrow International School Hong Kong, Leong, Avellina – 13

We stood.

Our heads held high and fists clamped shut.

Our fingers curl tighter around our bronze halberds,

The air, stagnant and humid enveloped our skin,

Yet we can’t complain,

Can’t talk,

Can’t think.

We focused.

Our thumping armor stuck to our skin like soot,

Our weary eyes seek the life that yearns for light,

The troops, discouraged and bitter,

Are tired of waiting,

Of staring,

Of hoping.

We remember.

Our armor was as bold and bright as the one’s who made us,

Our eyes were vivid, unafraid, almost happy,

The creators, now erased and free,

Are finally content,

Finally peaceful,

Unlike their creations.

We now understand.

Our minds were never made to think,

Our eyes were never meant to see light,

The king, simply selfish,

Simply lonely,

Only wanted our lifeless company.

The Emperor's Warriors Harrow International School Hong Kong, Thomassen, Isabelle – 11

Decaying faces, shattered souls,

Peering through the rows of holes.

Sun shining through the shaft of light

Contrasting with a starless night.

The Emperor’s ghost shifts and roams,

Searching and searching for his lonely throne.

His life is gone. He is now just dust;

The soldier’s weapons have begun to rust

Statues stand silently still,

Waiting to fulfill, the Emperors will.

The Emperor will be entombed in his dome,

And forever that will be his home.

With his Terracotta warriors, strong and bold,

They will stand through the hot and cold.

In their order, row by row

Facing forwards; their duty they know.

Made once to be the Emperor’s pleasure

Now these warriors are a glorious treasure

To the people who discover

The history that is there for us to uncover.

A piece of history, now they stand

Guarding their precious land.

Days and Nights will pass us by,

But the Emperors Warriors will not die.

Flourishing faces, shining souls,

Curiously looking through the rows of holes.

Sun shining through the shaft of light

Contrasting with a moon filled night.

The Emperor smiles knowing he is home,

Since he has found his holy throne.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School

(Secondary School Section), Cheung, Yik – 12

They are from China

They are made of terracotta

Even though they are made of sand

But they are still so grand

Some of them are broken

So none of them is stolen

Now they are not colorful

But they are still wonderful

They are now so old

So they have become gold

They are in the old history

But still they are tidy

They are all in line

So they are fine

The Terracotta Army Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School

(Secondary School Section), Lam, Pak Yin – 13

Oh, the famous terracotta army,

Lined up orderly in columns and rows,

Apt to strike any foreign enemy,

Sneaking in to have a peek from below.

Oh, the famous terracotta warriors,

Buried in the pits of Shaanxi province,

For as long as anyone remembers,

Staying in the vast darkness in silence…

Oh, the famous terracotta horses,

Each one with its own unique appearance,

Strings tied to chariots, lying await,

All filled with courage and perseverance.

Oh, the famous terracotta army!

Endeavour to protect Emperor Qin!

Replete with power and tenacity!

Much admired for its pride that lies within!

The Terracotta Warriors Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School

(Secondary School Section), Ngai, Ting Wai - 12

The Terracotta warriors

everyday are standing still,

ready to fight,

ready for victory;

actively anticipating,

commended and celebrating their VICTORY,

on their motherland.

They deserve a better life,

they wish for a better day,

and a brighter future for the country.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School

(Secondary School Section), Shuen, Tsz Hin - 13

They helped China to fight the enemies,

Eventually they won the war, after

Restless fighting. They

Remained undiscovered until 1974, and represented the

Army of Qin Shi Huang, who was

China’s first Emperor.

Originally, the figures were painted in different colours,

To protect the Emperor.

Tomb mound at Mount Li was an

Art of funerary.

Warriors, chariots and horses protected the

Afterlife of Qin Shi Huang.

Roles in different height

Remain buried.

Investigation were carried out by the archaeologists.

Over 120 objects were displayed at the British Museum in 2008.

Relics of the Qin dynasty.

Soldiers of the Great Emperor.

Frozen In Time Hong Kong International School, Chan, Melanie - 13

There once was a ruthless emperor

Who concocted to rule forever

His mausoleum filled

With a fierce army stilled

Alas, who can be more cleverer?

The Terra Cotta Warriors Independent Schools Foundation Academy, Chan, Pui Pui – 12

“Left, left, left right left,

We are the best warriors,

We are the best!”

Hiding underground,

There are treasures to be found.

Dry wind blows down deep,

Revealing treasures that are asleep.

Hundreds, thousands of years in the soil,

Bugs, digging, disasters and oil,

It’s a miracle the clay didn’t spoil.

After years and years of neglect,

Good quality of terra cotta the weather didn’t affect.

Horses, warriors with their weapons,

Marching inside their emperor’s tomb.

Safeguarding their king,

Protecting the empire of Qin.

While marching they sing:

“Left, left, left right left,

We are the best warriors,

We are the best!”

The warriors that we can see,

Is an army for eternity.

They are loyal, they are strong,

History will judge them right or wrong.

Every day they sing this song:

“Left, left, left right left,

We are the best warriors,

We are the best!

We are better than the rest!”

The "Terracotta" Warriors Independent Schools Foundation Academy, Chun, Rita - 13

I once visited the terracotta warriors during the summer

I wondered if the summer heat made them hot,

or if they didn’t feel anything at all.

I once visited the clay warriors during the summer

I wondered if the summer heat reminded them of the time

they were fired inside a scorching kiln.

I once visited the terracotta warriors during the summer

I wondered if the summer heat made them revisit the time

when the emperor enclosed them in clay

and baked them in fire.

I once visited the clay warriors during the summer

I wondered if the summer heat reminded them of the time

they were charred,

bones and all,

to dust.

I wondered if they were made of earth at all.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors: Army of Clay International College Hong Kong, Chan, Felice - 13

Wanderers wander around

The secret chamber of Xi’an

Whispers of a insistent emperor

Demanding thousands of unreal brothers

They rise in glowing confidence

Stance firm, aggressive

Built is stocky and impenetrable

A wave of fury and wrath

They watch for ones who disobey

Each face is uniquely crafted

But the soulless orbs are shared

Eyes display no fear or tears

They glare ahead in stoic silence

Loyalty is an unmoving asset

Trained under the Emperor’s eyes

Assured to defeat the rest

Clomp clomp clomp…

Hooves pounding

They advance in chariots

Signalling terror across the grimy battle terrain

Stampeding over those who dare defy

The Emperor watches in unsaid admiration

Bold and brilliant

Brothers side by side

Awaiting the frequent failures of attacking foes

Is the Emperor’s clay army

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors: True Sons International College Hong Kong, Kwan, Tiff - 14

A legendary art,

Unfazed by the harsh cold,

Its color fading over centuries,

But sculptures remain

Standing with ambition

And courage.

A formidable art,

With lifeless eyes focused ahead,

Body stiff and tense.

They have a halo of strength,

Loyalty radiates from

The army.

An ancient art, created

With Yellow Earth and grit.

Thousands of hands

Molded, textured, shaped

Materials into fine, sturdy

Warriors.

The true sons of

Sweat and blood.

A funerary art,

As eight-thousand staunch

Soldiers,

With chariots and horses,

Protect His Majesty,

The almighty, powerful

Emperor Qin Shi Huang,

White he rests eternally.

The Terracotta Army Island School, Broad, Anya – 13

Somewhere there under our feet

Frozen in motion standing still

Rages a battle in full heat

Created by the dead king’s will

Stone swords ready

Archers let fly

Chariots steady

T’was all burned to the sky

Collapsing in flames tripping and falling

Yelling in silence

The stone mess is appalling

Yet some escape this violence

To protect the high emperor

Now king of the dead

Who tried to live forever

But died drinking lead

Scarecrow like horses charging to battle

The stone is rogue

In the hushed underground intensity crackles

All for one “ATTACK ON FIVE”

Silent yelling and frozen deaths

Sight is deadly yet astoundingly beautiful

All armed soldiers hold their breaths

Warriors as brave as a lion is dutiful

Clashing bashing silent battle cry

Charging like stampeding buffaloes they advance

To defeat the approaching ally

Dancing their frenzied war dance

Somewhere there under our feet

Frozen in motion standing still

Rages a battle in roaring heat

Created by the dead king’s will.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Island School, Jain, Ravi – 13

The gods, draped

In the turquoise colors of the ocean and the golden flakes of the sun,

Sat in their

Elaborate thrones.

As the wide sun sets,

Swaying tunes waltzed through the wind,

As erhu’s,

Pluck their horse hair strings,

Amplified against

The raspy, ornate skin of

Snakes.

Standing up from the

Lavish feast, the gods,

Entranced by the soothing melodies,

Started to waltz across the golden floor, full of bliss.

The rays of the sun rose, trapping the

Rural countryside of Xi’an in serene warmth,

Shining onto the elaborate terracotta tiles of palaces,

And onto the cracking bricks of the great wall, like a

Decaying dragon, littering the grass with brown scales.

The farmers and the workers, slowly rose from their

Intoxicating slumber.

Swiftly, the workers,

Wearing only their loincloths,

And their interwoven bamboo hats, set off for their

Duty on the green fields of Xi’an.

With the foreboding clouds vanquished,

And the sly rain nowhere in sight, the day was

Like the fair of a thousand countries.

Even so, shrouded in cruel deception, the

Death, andgrief showered upon this day,

Like a deadly snake,

Coiled up underneath the prettiest of flowers.

Suddenly, thunder

Rang from out of the sky, arousing those

Clad in bamboo hats from their scattered fields.

Ceasing only for minutes, the workers slowly resumed their work,

Like a factory, their backbones the routine of many.

The carnival of colors in the landscape of Zhao

Were dulled by the agonizing tears, and woe of China.

A river of misery

Eroding the cracking streets,

A mahogany chariot danced loudly on the cobblestone

Carrying the dead body of the emperor.

Grasping in his cold hand were pills of mercury,

The magical elixir of immortality

Concealed under a white guise of death.

Held in mourning, the people,

Glancing at the deceased emperor, wept tears of agony,

While hunched court officials, dragging behind their feet

Cried farewell to their emperor.

Full of woe, the gods stopped their dance, and all of

Heaven wept in sadness, except one, in the farthest corner.

Jammed in the middle between heaven and hell,

The lone Sculptor, loyal to his deceased Emperor,

Performed his duty as a demigod to guard the

Green fields and villages.

The highest peak overlooking the clouds, the Sculptor was bent over,

Molding a clay warrior, clad in terracotta armor.

With the carnival of anger and sorrow bellowing through their eyes,

The gods descended upon the Sculptor.

Surrounded by a wall of looming statues,

With the gods by his side, the Sculptor resumed his job, adding faces to his

Terracotta Warriors.

Erecting a mound of clay, carefully

Slicing away at the terracotta with

Needle sharp knife in hand, the Sculptor

Swept down onto the terracotta mounds with outstretched hands,

Raining down red clay onto the green lands below.

Suddenly, the sculptures were lost again in a flurry of speed, as etched Engravings appeared on still faces.

Swift, like the fastest hawk, the wind swept away the hanging statues,

Falling to the green fields like clay angels, to vanquish the venomous spirits lurking below.

Taken by surprise, the poor

People, wandered around to take a look at the angels of clay.

Workers curiously patted the statues with their rusted digging forks and

Their dirt-encrusted sickles, eroding slowly like old humans.

Wondering what the commotion was, flurries of soldiers on gallant horses

Clad with metal armor, interlocked with string,

Slowly treaded through the wide fields, only to find

Statues, covered with dirt, half buried into the green of the grass.

Demanding for the statues, the bundles of armor slowly heaved the

Terracotta Warriors from their resting place.

Dragging the red warriors on their majestic horses,

The plated soldiers trundled their way through the fields,

Not noticing the glancing eyes of the workers, still holding their sickles and tools.

The mausoleum, the foreboding and dark chamber of the dead

Silently loomed over the plated soldiers.

The horses, dead by the never ending exhaustion fell down,

The young energy flowing through them all drained out.

Then, as the pack of soldiers wandered off slowly, a dark shadow

Fell to the ground, slowly digging into the deep mausoleum,

Scattering around the Terracotta Warriors into the abyss, preparing the clay warriors for battle.

Evil spirits, entangled in revenge and anger lurked through the dark

Mausoleum of the emperor’s head.

Lurking in the shadows like a snake,

Lunging out to strike with its deceitful fangs, filled with venom.

Waiting and watching for the time to strike.

Born of dark catacombs of fears,

A man appeared, wearing grey robes and holding a

Red box, dripping with velvet blood.

The man’s skin slowly charred and peeled off,

Revealing underneath a stone cold demon,

Holding in his claws,

An obsidian dagger, tinged with the poison of revenge and murder.

Shrieking out loud, the demon

Lunged at the emperor, frozen in pure horror,

A war cry erupted from the statues of clay,

As a warrior, armed with

Steel sword and wooden shield,

Charged at the Demon.

Howling loud, the

Dagger and sword, enemies of each other connected,

Sending stray sparks as they fought and stabbed at each other.

The Terracotta warrior,

Ran his screaming sword through the Demon.

Dropping its soulless dagger,

The Demon shrieked and ran, leaving a trail of

Blood and poison running.

His blade now tinged with ghostly blood,

The warrior slowly returned to his set place,

Warding off the inner demons

Of Qin Shi Huan Di, the Great Emperor.

Terracotta Warriors- Again Alive Island School, Jauhari, Aryan – 13

Strong and ancient,

hard to defeat ever,

brave but patient,

Terracotta Warriors.

China is in war,

Qin Shi Huang is in trouble,

it is time for the fast-as-sound warriors to come and brawl,

The king wished they were double.

It is time for the army to come back to life,

the first few soldiers twist their head,

they take out their bows and arrows, swords and knife,

now they shall charge ahead,

The enemy has been informed,

they are gasping in fright,

the enemy sends out a combining storm,

but Qin Shi Huang’s faithful warriors won’t go down without a fight.

The massive army charges down the alley strong and bold

the enemy’s army take out their bow,

but, the warriors won’t stop, with brave hearts of gold,

it is time for the enemy to reap what they sow.

“Clang!” go their swords,

“Slam!” go their power-packed punches,

the Terracotta Warriors are leading like lords,

while the enemy ducks and hunches,

The war is finally over,

the Terracotta Warriors have won,

proving what they wanted to, they have taken over the world,

Even, when it comes to saving their maker, it’s all for one.

Now, it’s time for the army to return back from life,

the last few soldiers twist their necks,

as they put away their swords and knife,

they shall rest in peace once more, laying down their heads.

Strong and ancient,

old but firm,

brave but patient,

Terracotta Warriors.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Island School, Lung, Aidan – 14

Qin Shi Huang was the first Chinese emperor,

And he rules and rages with war.

For wisdom never slithered into his mind,

The peaceful times are now far behind.

Nothing was simple about the man,

For he leaves nothing but rubble to the land.

One day the people shall slowly rise,

Snatch the throne, and cause his demise.

He ruled,

He had a fiery soul.

Men with swords and spears,

To his command.

To war he shall go,

Away with his spirit,

To heaven with the warriors.

Death was brought tonight,

Men and blade shall pierce armour.

To win the war,

for his majesty.

For the man didn’t have much sight,

But even now he has to fight,

And warriors that thrive in heaven, filled with might.

The warriors shall wage on with war,

And his body will finally soar.

In the tomb,

Fire shall bloom.

And armour and weapons shall break away,

And dissolve into dust, ere break of day.

They swiped their blade,

But they’ll eventually fade.

Beneath the earth,

Beneath the moon.

The flesh rots,

Off the bone.

The steel of skin,

Broken.

Bloodshed,

As deathly battle cries echo throughout the hoard.

Neither side shall lose,

Satan will come for those who fall.

The king is next,

Scar throne with blood.

Twisted heart,

Molten soul.

He shall reap,

The hope of all.

And take them to his lair he shall,

No more light.

Just blackness in hell.

The throne fades to blood today.

Lives are lost,

Faded away.

For all the patriots will fight long and hard,

And sword shall break, shard by shard.

Death will be brought upon them all,

The king shall flee to dying fall.

And as he fell, he’ll drop into hell,

So peace shall roam in heaven again.

The devil shall bleed, blister and burn,

The emperor.

The fiery trident,

Penetrates the skin.

The king in the hellish throne,

Is yet to reawaken again.

Terracotta Warrior Island School, Montinola, Victoria – 14

I stand. Caked in mud made for war,

in darkness, Stillness and silence,

thoughts swirl in my head, frustrated,

no words can be spoken, I am frozen in time.

I work. brush in one hand rasp in the other,

in the fiery heat all day, in the numbing cold all night,

raw earth at my fingertips,

longing for freedom and liberty.

I rule. Country after country, province after province,

Ruling China with my right hand,

controlling armies with my left,

with endless power and undying wealth,

I Weep for eternal life.

The Dead man rises! Island School, Rasool, Hani – 13

As dark as death,

as black as night,

the emperor rose

from his bloody tombstone.

Gathering his army night after night,

gathering his army without a single tardy.

As soon as they rose they felt thirsty for blood,

so they went overseas and blood is what they drunk.

Asia, Europe, Africa, America he stole it all in a single day.

blood was everywhere men had fallen but in the end his head was held high. Buried alive gasping for air,

they saw a emperor, the emperor of emperors.

TERRACOTTA, TERRACOTTA, TERRACOTTA!!!

FLASH! BAM! CRASH!

the warriors had fallen, but the emperor went back to his Tombstone for he was all alone.

As light as life

As white as a knife.

The emperor fell

Back to his cell.

Trapped for eternity

For it was his destiny.

Terracotta Warriors Island School, Yam, Larry – 13

The Terracotta Warriors guard their greatest treasure

They will defend it even in the greatest pressure

Although some of them might be fat

You might just not tell them that

Their Emperor, Qin Shi Hauangdi, was in the coffin

Surrounded by creatures, from animal to goblin

He was guarded by 80,000 stones

Which were all muscle and bone

The Terracotta Warriors were merciless and cruel

They guarded their King, because they were no fool

The Terracotta guarded day and night

That gave theives the grand fright

They might look rusty, they might look ancient

But you can’t attack them because they are patient

They are mighty, they are strong

If you think you can beat them, you are wrong

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Island School, Yap, Ethan – 13

He sat there quietly on his throne,

he thought about the decomposed bones.

He was the greatest emperor,

and his works will be remembered forever.

But his red temper was a disgrace,

They people wrong to put him in place.

His simple orders could turn insane,

he did it to expand his large domain.

When finally the solution came,

it was something for the fame.

“I want an army made of clay!”

Then the court all became grey.

“It will be known as the Terracotta, it will be the greatest!”

The slaves then wanted to quit when they heard the latest.

He wanted protection for when he’s dead,

which was what he had dread.

It was a lightless, damp tomb,

this made everyone feel depressed and gloom

The slaves and workers started the tiring work,

they thought the emperor was a big, fat jerk.

The wet, muddy clay blocks had to be crafted.

And for those who rebelled, they were drafted.

Most of the workers starved had to death,

sadly everyone could see their last breath.

Day after day, night after night.

And finally things were no longer tight.

The officials were very impressed

while the emperor felt blessed.

He knew he will be greatly protected,

And of course, no one objected.

He thought he was a God,

and no one found it odd.

But he still didn’t feel the great power,

This made him very very sour.

He asked the gods to make him immortal

because didn’t want to be no mortal.

He would order something crazy

as he was very lazy.

“I want pills to make me the best”

This made everyone very stressed.

Years later, the special pills came,

The emperor had felt no shame.

He put the pills down his throat

but then he felt like a sick goat.

He walked to his room feeling faint,

he thought he was a beloved saint.

He layed down on his bed,

he knew he wouldn’t be dead.

The news is out! The emperor’s had died!

This was karma for his gloated pride.

People mourned his over his great works,

while the officials lost all of their perks.

He would be buried with his treasure,

for while he’s gone, it’ll be his pleasure.

The coffin was brought around all the towns,

as everyone had their head down.

BAM! THUMP! PING!

The tomb door has been shut tight.

Everyone was full of fright.

Meanwhile in the dark cave,

inside his magnificent grave.

“Who dares put me in a carton?!”

“I’ll send them to the spartans!”

He loudly shouted and screamed

and it sounded as if he was very steamed.

But sadly no one knew,

as they were all too blue.

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

The Story of the Stone Soldiers Maryknoll Convent School, Fung, Tiffany – 14

We stand in line through history,

For how long exactly we don’t know.

I shall reveal our mystery,

From the underground below.

We were once living, protecting our country,

Our King, our kingdom, our rule.

To strengthen and lengthen our dynasty,

To serve a leader who’s oh so cruel.

He created punishments and tortures,

We all have witnessed his merciless.

He swears to kill every living creature,

Who dares to offend his highness.

We were made to guard his body,

After his death which was so grieved.

Replicas of the original army,

We stand with those who believed.

Those who believed in the good of our king,

That he’s worthy of our protection.

Battle cries in my ear they ring,

Those which we once yelled in unison.

I shall end our life story here,

But that’s not all I remember.

You can ask me when you come near,

As I stand in this tomb forever.

Terracotta Warriors Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School, Lam, Owen – 12

Bold, unerring and unmoving,

Silent sentry holding fort.

Grimness, its essence; unsmiling, uncaring,

Terrible foe, beautiful solace.

It provides with its poised grandeur

Unblinking eyes knowing and fierce.

You protect the weakness, my weakness,

You envelop me with security, your brazen nature,

Defending my softness.

Lies! Illusions!

False sanctuary.

Hopes dashed, peace violated,

You failed… I’ve been attacked,

Innocence lost, ignorance removed,

Bliss no longer mine. Slips out.

Your consecration shattered

As you crumble to dust.

The Return of the Terracotta Warriors Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School, Lee, Elise – 12

Does the army fill you with shock and dismay?

Does it hold you with marches of sluggish clay?

Yet they trail their rags through ashes and dust

As they shatter their armours to crust.

Does the army clasp you with glow and flare?

Does it grab hold of fear with a glare?

Yet they never get hurt,

As they defend with their wise alert,

And bleed with no blood in their grave.

Does the army troop fight in a violent race?

Does it stun you a pause in a pace?

Yet a lost in the thought,

They’d be dashed as they fought,

In beyond of all spirits and shots.

The army is here, the army is here,

It circles the fire of death.

In beyond beneath bullets,

In beyond the chalk bones,

In beyond of the little calcined ribcage.

Dawn of the Dead School of the Nations, Allan, Phoebe – 16

Once cheered with lion roars

Feasted on roasted boars

Till today they hold their heads high

Never once saying goodbye

Made of clay

Hidden away

For the emperor wanted them for much longer than a day

But our men were alert and never lead astray

After their secrets were at stake

But their backs ached for sciences sake

These men persistent

And stayed consisted

Finally the warriors were erected

Eight thousand men were once more accepted

The Spell of the Terracotta Warriors School of the Nations, Cheang, U Sam – 14

A powerful country rises by the emperor and the help of his ministers and army.

The emperor as the ruler of the whole country, had everything he wanted, he wants to live forever, he

wants to live for eternity.

But he is ageing, he knows that life is not permanent, he cannot last forever.

The emperor is afraid of death, he is scared of the loneliness in his after life.

He wants every warrior to stay with him after death.

Although he had power to force the warriors to be buried with him, but he asked for any volunteers.

He could see that none of the warriors would want to be buried.

The emperor found a witch and wanted her to solve his problem.

She told the emperor to make terracotta warriors out of clay.

All of the terracotta soldiers should be made the exact same size as each of the soldiers.

The witch cast a spell on every single terracotta warrior that their souls would go back to the emperor’s

tomb.

The Terracotta army, stands under the ground

they fought the enemies of their countries, and protected their homelands

there is where all the memories of all the soldiers lay.

Again School of the Nations, Fong, Chi Ioi - 13

For the Emperor,

We are chosen to serve again

For Eternity.

Called back to the mortal layer

Into bodies of the ground itself.

For the Emperor.

Donning the sword and shield

From days past, battles long lost

For Eternity.

Thousands of us, yet silence

Entering the cavern, weapons alongside

For the Emperor.

Years pass, all born and dead

Dust collecting, yet not a sound

For Eternity.

For thousands of years, left undisturbed

Covered up, soon forgotten

Until the opening, the light and the discoverers

For China.

The Story of the Terracotta Warriors School of the Nations, Kwok, Yukie – 14

They asked if the terracotta warriors

could be sold,

The guards were furious,

And they aggressively said “No!”

This is how the story unfolds.

Emperor Qin ordered that when he died,

Buried with him were his soldiers,

His soldiers knew when they were thrown aside,

They thought their life was over.

But then one of them said,

Let’s make statues of ourselves,

So none of us will be dead!

Of all the tedious, hard work

Proved that Emperor Qin was too controlling,

On every single statue’s face, there was a gigantic smirk

We should learn to be Terracotta Warriors,

Learn to be confident, and strong hearted,

Always learn to find another way to solve a problem,

When hard work comes, don’t ever make a fuss!

Rise Again School of the Nations, So, Katherine – 14

As the emperor was buried into the maze that he built for himself, lined with gold and pearls and precious

stones, an army was buried with him-

The terracotta warriors, standing in razor straight lines,

An impenetrable wall around the emperor's legacy.

But as time went by, the emperor never left -

He couldn't leave behind the ten years of hard work,

The ten years of puzzling pieces of his great nation together,

The warring kingdoms that were pulled into one by his hand.

He commanded his Warriors to let him out, but they stood ever so still-

Eyes dull and backs stiff, their mouths sealed with dirt, they remained silent.

How were they supposed to obey if they were made with bodies now brittle as old paper

and heavy as stone?

Inside his chamber, the king started to doubt his loyal soldiers.

An eternity passed before any of them heard a reply.

The warriors felt what was left of the great empire scrape open, and light spilt onto one of the many

cracked, worn faces,

blank and exhausted after waiting battle-ready for thousands of years.

A farmer thought he had found a supply of free jars from a disused kiln.

To his surprise, the ground soon sounded with the footsteps of another army;

With shovels and brushes and pickaxes in hand, they set to meticulously unearthing the forgotten warriors

And legions were carried out of crumbling earth into sweet, cold air,

Across stretches of teeming land,

Conquering nations that they wouldn’t have dreamt of stepping foot on when they were alive.

They were hoisted from metal-clad cargo ships and rumbling planes

Their bodies wrapped in thick layers of crackling gauze,

And mounted on their own thrones

Raised in the spotlight for all the world to see.

Thousands of others still stood in the solid straight lines they would be in if they were alive;

Back in the now partly uncovered tomb,

They stood guard over the king

No longer encased in a suffocating prison of dirt and sand.

And like their brothers overseas

They were surrounded by millions every day;

It was like the empire had been rebuilt.

The clay soldiers had never felt more alive.

The emperor would feel so powerful, they thought,

But all he felt was anguish.

He was too well hidden,

Trapped in the maze that he built for himself.

Terracotta Heart School of the Nations, Tagliabue, Mattia – 14

You, Terracotta warriors armed, and ready for the fight

Never surrender

You died in agony for the first emperor and heiress

leaving nothing but emptiness,

standing on vengeance would be your fate.

You left your cognate

To fight for your country.

But now you gaze in the vanguard

armed and ready, for eternity.

You will never surrender.

You have our admiration,

You who had fought for your nation,

never terminating.

Death was what you ended up paying for

You didn't die because of sickness

but you sacrificed yourselves for China.

You, Terracotta warriors armed, and ready for the fight

You stand tall and proud

from your grave behind your sword

You stand enlisted for eternity

with your chariot, horses and secrets

A warrior will always be a warrior

Throwback - A Message from the Revived Warriors School of the Nations, Theng, Kai Zen – 14

Throwback to the old Chinese days;

when you were always the ‘best’, so

you wanted everything to stay.

We rose from stones we shouted hooray,

we came to spread a warning message – you suffered because

you wanted everything to stay.

Please understand if you may,

powerful potent emperor, try to

throwback to the old Chinese days-

That time when selfishness led you astray-

it surrounded your thoughts, therefore

you wanted everything to stay.

Throwback to the old Chinese days -

when you couldn’t make your greediness disappear.

Obsessed with making your end delay -

We came to make people learn from your mistakes-

don’t think you can escape your misdeeds, just

throwback to the old Chinese days-

when you wanted everything to stay.

The Stone Warriors School of the Nations, Yau, Henry – 15

The Terracotta warriors, rise from the ground,

standing side by side, always ready to battle.

The cracks on their bodies represent the memories of history,

from them we recall the orders of the Emperor.

Their colour of the armour has faded into dust,

as history had forgotten everything about them.

The serious manner on their face,

reminds them of the duty,

that forced them to leave their home.

The Terracotta warriors, they have strong wills,

nothing can destroy them, they will always stand still.

The stone warriors, made to be strong,

always following their commands, as if it shall never be wrong.

Holding their positions, always ready to fight,

they will never give up, until they make things right.

The Terracotta warriors, misses their family,

but they have to honor their king and show their loyalty.

Awaiting for their heroes to comeback is a must,

but million of hopes have all turned into dust.

Every little one of their memories,

had all became their misery.

The Terracotta warriors, their tales will last forever,

nothing can stop them, and they will never surrender.

Each great warrior, holding their weapons tight,

even if they will be buried, under the city of light.

All the strong warriors, they are prepared to sacrifice,

They will give up anything, even if their hearts will become ice.

The Terracotta warriors, their spirit never dies,

thousand of years under the light doesn’t kill their will.

Time has forgotten about them,

but yet they’re still standing strong.

No matter what, they will never back down,

because after all, they will always protect the Emperor’s crown

We, Eternal Guards Sha Tin College, Ghosh, Arushi – 12

Eyes on our master,

Guarding him for ever more,

We will not let go.

Giving all our souls,

He will rest in peace with us,

We act as a shield.

Centuries in there,

Many more till he may rise,

We will not give up.

This is what we please,

We were built for a reason,

We will bring him back.

Guarding death’s chamber,

We have found where we belong,

In the land of Qin.

Many years will pass,

We will still be firmly fixed,

Our eyes serpent wild.

One day when he comes,

All the mayhem will dissolve,

In this great kingdom.

Where we are hidden Sha Tin College, Hyde, Isabella – 12

Where we are hidden,

We guard our emperor with no rewards,

In our armour we await frozen,

Ready to unsheathe our swords,

To protect and fight until we depart.

Standing tall and firm as can be,

The first emperor the great Shi Huang Di,

He united the land to be one country,

From the written language to the currency,

We owe our life to the one and only.

Unblinking eyes knowing and fierce,

Holding bows that will pierce someone’s heart,

Not smiling; Not caring we wait in silence,

And when we are found,

You only find us crumbling to dust.

They are the ones who told us about Ancient China Sha Tin College, Imoto, Atsushi – 12

People say that the Terracotta Warriors are made of clay,

Builders were not paid and worked all day,

The builders gave the Emperor Mercury pills to eat for eternity,

But eventually died eternally,

Each Terracotta Warrior’s face is unique,

Every Terracotta Warrior is an antique,

Two thousand years old,

Now turned into a soggy, mucky mould,

What was left behind can lead to something,

The scientists are analyzing,

To learn about China’s history,

It must be a big mystery,

Many evidences were found,

While loads of other clues are somewhere underground,

Qin has fought in many wars,

He used spears and long, sharp, swords,

And treated people violently,

Now they all rest silently.

The New Tale of the Terracotta Warriors Sha Tin College, Yip, Ryan – 11

The Terracotta Warriors

Are made of fine clay.

They protect Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife

And help him save the day.

Oh yes, they were made

Before Emperor Qin’s dead.

The craftsmen discussed what should the Warriors be made of:

Clay, wool, iron or lead?

Years after years, a long time passed.

The Warriors were forgotten.

They were covered in dust for many years

(and the people assumed they must’ve turned rotten).

At last, they were found in 1974

By farmers in a farm.

The farmers were overjoyed

And luckily they did the Warriors no harm.

The Warriors were brought to a museum

Where they could be seen.

The Warriors (I think)

Have been happier than they had ever been.

So that’s the tale of

The Terracotta Warriors.

They would have never been known so well today

If not for those farmers.

[THE END]

Forever They Will Be Shanghai Singapore International School, Vasantharao, Meghana – 13

Serene and still have these warriors stood for 2200 years,

Guarding a tomb for eternity.

All lined up in their army positions,

Some on majestic horses, some standing on their sturdy feet.

Carved with distinct features,

Every statue unique and extraordinary,

In their own charming ways.

Days and weeks and months pass by,

Brave and tall the soldiers stand,

Without a care in the world.

Existing only to protect their master Qin,

Gallant and fearless they shall be.

Loaded with arrows, spears and swords,

They will attack anyone who dares to come closer.

Ready to defend the emperor, forever they will be.

However, these fearsome warriors have a grave secret:

They come to life at night.

As soon as the museum closes,

Crackle and crackle go their noses.

The statues start to tremble and shake,

Like in a mild earthquake.

They twist and stretch their bulky but fragile bodies,

And finally…

They can move.

They are as agile as the breeze,

And sway as

It is a mystery that is known to very few,

So please do not spread it to the news.

They would never believe you anyway.

Why waste your time all day?

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors St. Joseph's College, Cheng, Siu To – 14

About 2000 years ago

In an ancient sovereign nation,

There was a king called Qin Shi Huang

Who loved his occupation

He burned books and murdered people

To secure his throne

But he dreamed that he would never die

And no one would find his bones

He ordered the creation of

A terracotta army

Just in case he went and died

(He fed them with clay barley).

In 1974 three witless farmers

Discovered the tomb by accident

They almost broke an archer then

(Their lack of skill was evident)

They excavated the tomb

And made it an attraction

A tourist trap for rich westerners

The terracotta were distractions

The humidity and CO2

Had unprecedented effects

Some terracotta crumbled to dust

But one opened a vortex

For 760000 workers

Had died during construction

They were cursed to be security

(Cheap labourers have many functions)

Those many men rose from death

They began an attack on humanity

They blew up half of Xi’an

And drove the rest to insanity

The cries of fear spread across the land

The army was deployed

The spectres massacred the PLR

The army was destroyed

The air force tried to bomb them

They blew them to high heaven

They just respawned like nothing had happened

And resumed battle right there and then

The ancient army trekked for days

(9 and one-third to be exact)

They took the G107

Neighbouring cities were sacked

They marched right up to the Forbidden City

And tore its red walls down

On the many rooms of the ancient palace

The soldiers went to town

Damage and destruction raged across China

The country was in peril

The CCP trembled in their bunkers

Oh so white and sterile

It seemed like nothing could stop this ‘plague’

The people had given up

Even nature seemed to be losing hope

Wilting every buttercup

Just then the terracotta warriors rose

And riding at the front

Was the powerful Qin Shi Huang

Going on the hunt

The armies met in battle

And while the ghosts were strong

The terracotta were even stronger

And the ghosts didn’t hold for long

They freed Beijing from the ghosts

And had a tactical meeting

With what was left of the PLR

They gave the ghosts a beating

They lured the ghost army into talks

And while they were distracted

They executed the leaders and

The terracotta acted

They scattered over the country

Rooting out survivors

They even traversed into the sea

With the help of scuba divers

The people were elated

To have been freed from daily terror

But they had overlooked a fact

They made a tactical error

They had assumed that the warriors

Were completely on their side

They had forgotten what Shi Huang did

When he had been alive

But that is a story for another day

Enjoy your rest for now

Look out for the terracotta warriors

They might get you somehow...

The End

Qin- The One Who United St. Joseph's College, Lau, Yiu Chun – 12

The famed king from the wide, far west,

But not for those who were oppressed.

Set the goal to take more space,

And found the way to a larger place.

‘The time has come!

Go and battle, so others will run!

Bring the army, march and go,

Defeat and destroy; no one can say no.’

Invaded the north and conquered the east,

Seized the south and captured the west.

Assaulted the opponents and crunched their fingers,

So that they were hungry and their food was meager.

With the country united, the people were still furious,

Yet still, the roars from the crowd, he was not curious,

He killed; he burnt; he did whatever he wanted,

And this was the situation that nobody expected.

Haunted by death,

He worked out the math,

Creating thousands of Terracotta Soldiers

To safeguard his rest.

The strong and the intelligent had started to fight;

The agile and the diligent had worked at night.

The emperor felt the time was tight,

Making the army; the choice was right.

The Qin Supremacy didn’t last for long,

It ended once the Emperor had gone.

Though Qin had united all as one,

His pride was over after his reign was done. .

The Terracotta Army St. Margaret's Co-Educational English Secondary and Primary School (Secondary Section), Chan, Emily

– 12

Row by row, they stand so still

Stood up strongly on their own

Placed to protect their emperor

Who conquered China alone.

Each with its own special face

Massive army, eight thousand strong

Faithfully standing in place

Beside their emperor's for so long.

Surrounding the precious tomb

Fulfilling duties to which they are bound.

Under fullness of footsteps, in the gloom

Without any complaints or sound.

Row by row, they stand so still

To fight for the future wars

Placed to protect their emperor

The Terracotta Warriors!

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors St. Margaret's Co-Educational English Secondary and Primary School (Secondary Section), Fernandes,

Andrik – 12

An army of nine thousand men,

Preparing for their master’s death.

Cold as ice they stood so still,

As they awaited their call to face death’s cold chill.

The potter sculpted the statues for one reason,

To protect the emperor through every season.

Once painted bright red, green and gold,

Now they stand scarred, plain and old.

Their battle was not against Death himself,

But their greatest enemy was Time herself.

As their armour turned to dust and crumbled bits of stone.

They were forgotten by men and left alone.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors St. Margaret's Co-Educational English Secondary and Primary School (Secondary Section), Ho, Sam –

12

The Men of the Terracotta

They stand,

still as stone,

solemn like a holy temple,

watching the years go by.

It was 2200 years ago,

where the body of the earth,

given shapes of life,

looked at the crackling roar of the fire,

and sent to stand guard

for the great emperor,

for all centuries to go by.

They stand,

still as stone,

silent as the skies

watching the years go by.

They stayed underground,

with a wary eye,

until a fateful day,

6 decades ago,

they breathed their first gulp of air.

They stand,

still as stone,

Numerous as the sands of the desert

watching the years go by.

They look at the hordes of men,

from the pits of earth.

They stand guard for the tomb,

a place that never shall be found.

They stand,

still as stone,

solemn like a chapel,

watching the years go by.

The Terracotta Warriors St. Margaret's Co-Educational English Secondary and Primary School (Secondary Section), Leung,

Nixon – 12

Warriors standing proud and bold,

Surrounded by jade and gold.

In a chamber, dark like the night,

Waiting forever to show their might.

Warriors of stone and clay,

Made to guide their master’s way.

Armed with crossbows, spears, and swords,

Sculpted to fight the Death King’s hordes.

An army of eight thousand men,

Waiting forever to fight again.

To stab, to slash, to slice, to strike,

To battle through the endless night.

Warriors standing proud and bold,

Under the ground, sun or snow.

Deep beneath the earth, behold,

The Terracotta Warriors!

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors St. Margaret's Co-Educational English Secondary and Primary School (Secondary Section), Li, Ernest –

13

Warriors made of clay,

hiding beneath the day.

Standing tall and mighty,

being big and heavy.

Frozen in position,

void of operation.

Playing hide and seek,

alas thay were seized.

Legacies of the emperor,

thousands of thousands.

Exposed to the sunlight,

reflecting of their rind.

Once again,

to see the sun.

As they returned,

to the modern world.

TERRA COTTA The Mission Covenant Church Holm Glad College, Ip, Wing Yan – 15

Touristy scenic spots

Entertaining for them

Really rare

Really surprising

Admirable soldiers

China’s diverse history

Oriental cultural relic

Too grand

Too bold and powerful

Ancient testimony

A Callous Emperor The Mission Covenant Church Holm Glad College, Lai, Tsz Huen – 14

Abandon oneself to have a long life

Capricious person

Acquisition of authority

Love to be at the top of the world

Lose all the hope of people

Oh my goodness

Unique Terra-Cotta Warriors

Specific description of him, do you want to know?

Example

Mysterious thinking

Provide nothing good to people

Elaborate plan on how to build the Terra-Cotta Warriors

Ruthlessly killing the builders

Oh! How callous was he!

Remind you, when you have a chance to visit the Terra-Cotta Warriors,

remember who built this, how callous was he and also why did he build this?

Standing, Standing by Him for Eternity West Island School, Lam, Winston – 12

ATTENTION! Line up to greet Him

HALT! Prepare to meet the man who reign our regime

Stomp, stomp, stomp

Hordes of troops and harras of horses

Marching in to protect Shi Huang Di, the first emperor of China, in another world, despite him being a

corpse

Would he have grown old gracefully?

Would he have passed away quietly?

Holding on to his majestic power

Attaching to his glorious wonder

What he has on earth

He has prepared for the underworld of the same worth

The stone soldiers looked too real

Power, strength and courage their faces reveal

Never his empire will be diminished

As his story will never finish

Merits or demerits, life or death

Generations and generations will study them in depth

In the current capital Beijing we see his Great Wall

In his capital, there stand his terra cotta warriors who will never fall

Flesh and bones can never last long

Influence and presence in our mind will never be gone

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Ying Wa College, Cheung, Long Yin – 12

Emperor's warriors,

Protecting the emperor,

Soundlessly...

Quietly...

Standing still on the ground,

Looking straight ahead,

Fearlessly...

Strongly...

Warriors standing 2000 years,

No matter if raining heavily,

No matter if shining horribly,

Standing there silently.

Warriors fight against enemies,

Prevent tragedies.

Bringing peace to the emperor,

Bringing hope to the emperor.

The Terracotta Warriors,

Protecting every area.

The Terracotta Warriors,

Threaten enemies in any corner.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Ying Wa College, Jim, Man Yui – 12

Unsmiling, Frozen, Grave Unmoving

Zealously guarding the Emperor’s tomb

Silent Servants doing what they do best

Zealously guarding the Emperor’s tomb

Brave, Confident, Dignified, Triumphant

Protecting their King from all kinds of harm

Hordes and Hordes, threats of all shapes and sizes

Protecting their King from all kinds of harm

Brazen, Terrifying, Bold, Cataclysm

Envelops us with a false sense of security

Empowers us with a sense of grandeur

Envelops us with a false sense of security

Fierce, Raw, All-Powerful, Spectacular

Marching Ahead with an All-Mighty Courage

Into a new era, a Hopeful New Dawn

Marching Ahead with an All-Mighty Courage

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Ying Wa College, Li, Chun Yin – 12

Up on the hill,

Down on a barren land,

There were thousands of men.

Holding their brave with their own bare hand

Down at the sea,

Go ahead was what they saw.

Blowing their horn,

At their hostile foe

Never ever turn around,

Stay focus for they done

Die is their pressure to hunt

Up on the Great Wall,

Down at the street

There were bodies

There was blood

But there wasn’t a life.

No longer thousands men

2200 Years Worth YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College, Amani, Shafa – 12

2200 years,

The pain inside her alone,

Tears and her fears,

Though they were not her own…

A woman of decades ago,

Loving hand interlocked,

But when loneliness replaced so,

It was her world that rocked.

You must think I’m crazy!

Where or what is their link?

But, reader, can’t you see?

It might be beyond what you think!

Here I stand,

To tell you a tale so bold,

Opens in a big, great land,

As we see it unfold.

Hair colored auburn,

Right in the summer sun,

Our protagonist saw a major turn,

In which nowhere she can run.

Because these emotions were lost,

They were not where they belonged!

If there was a day we face sudden sadness,

“What has really wronged?”

Those were the thoughts,

Protagonist in her own head,

Was this a sort of condition?

It was definitely not in the books she read!

Which was unfair, this she did not come across!

“I’ll curse them in their rest!”

It seemed all the light was at loss.

When the blue made her clutch her chest.

Protagonist sighed,

The loneliness ran in a whirl,

For the guilt you felt when you had lied,

How much sobs did that lure?

-~-

A small sin cannot compare,

The woman clad in shabby clothing,

When the love seemed to tear,

Romance enough to have her sing…

Her man was a fine one,

Masculine, poor boy was sent for war,

Soldier was one of many sons,

In a time that is now so far…

Oh how she remembers the scene in great,

The smile she saw on his face,

As if even a sacrifice was too late,

Yet it still made her heart race.

Under the soothe of silence in right,

Delicate leaves a show in the dark sky,

Those two held each other tight,

Time still had to pass a frozen time by.

When the two held choked cries,

Tears in eyes that were so doe,

When the sun was at it’s high,

The joy held low.

The woman cried till’ no more,

She doubted her eyes could see!

Slumped against the plant of their core,

She stayed leaning against the tree.

-~-

Pages flipped through,

More than Protagonist could count,

Here smiles in a puddle of goo,

The sharp still inside to taunt.

Books strewn across the passenger seat,

Even the stewardess warned in a tone,

Protagonist threw an emotional fit,

That should leave her alone…

When the country came to view,

A busy place of work and work,

Xi’an, China

Is where our girl lurked.

A study trip that came in the most mad of times!

No matter what anyone say!

Her voice still as sour as limes,

Who’d visit the other side of the globe anyway?

The tour list was light in her hands,

Blue with angles of pictures scattered around,

Xi’an of many bright lands,

Gave her what needed to be found.

“The answer is never placed conveniently”,

A thing she pieced to fit,

But no matter what you believe,

Curiosity made a seat.

And so her footsteps lead,

With a transparent shove,

She forgave the words she read,

And filled with sweetening love.

-~-

If there was a time,

When the moon did not shine,

The stars mattered like a dime,

For she was “un-fine”.

When the day she wed,

All the ceremony ran,

The rain poured on the flower beds,

Hand in another man.

When the day she danced,

Her feet chained and heavy,

When her eyes yearned another,

She still loved unconditionally.

The woman from centuries ago,

Had happiness behind a locked door!

The key lost years ago,

And even longer before.

When her arms became frail and old,

She pondered the grim reminder of that day,

When the story-book comes to close,

She sees the love buried in clay.

When she was a maiden,

Young and naïve,

The hair on her neck stood,

Her lover ready to leave.

The fights lasted long,

The men shedding skin,

The voice couldn’t sing a song,

Humanity lights dim.

It was the day life stood still,

It’s always been since they left,

The fear and worries became real,

When the land cries over death.

The soldiers that finished their breaths,

Were summoned to lie in clay,

She hadn’t seen his lifeless eyes yet,

Back in that swaying day.

8,000 faces to see,

8,000 corpses dressed in gowns,

8,000 feeling that even thee,

Could not imagine her knees crashing down.

2200 years,

The hate and sad climbing in mist,

In the present ticking,

It had swallowed the Protagonist.

-~-

Protagonist jumps back,

In confusion, oh so sudden,

The information had only lacked,

The crashes her mind ridden.

When now her tears exploded,

In the face of many buried men,

Clay encasing their souls,

The woman’s emotions she’d lend.

Yet Protagonist couldn’t find the answer,

One that would let her rest,

And so had passed her mourning days,

With her soul depressed.

-~-

In a white hospital bed,

When auburn hair turned gray,

Sat a woman still,

A smile as she lay.

For the curse had now reached the skies,

For the words lacked bites,

For the pain missed the tides,

For Protagonist sees to peacefully lie.

And now we see a frame.

A painting of a woman in a frown,

The woman was soft and tame,

Clad in shabby clothes of brown.

Do you know when you feel blue?

With no reason that reaches the ears?

’Twas just a passing curse,

Ready to hit one for years.

Be careful when things are all in high…

Be careful for the love you’ve fallen…

Maybe these days you’ll sigh,

With the start of “A Grieving Woman”.

2200 years of fabrication,

The victim will face,

No more jolly laughs,

No more when the heart race.

But in the brink of death,

Anywhere across the earth,

A feeling of eternal love and relief come crashing,

2200 Years Worth.

Living the Curse of the Terracotta Warriors Canadian International School of Hong Kong, Chan, Nicole - 15

I sit on a nearby rock and I watch baba(1) with six other farmers dig a well,

Happy as they work in the field, singing despite the drought.

The chipping sounds of the shovel ring out as baba digs through the dry stones and soil.

Looking at the clear blue sky, I slowly fall asleep.

“Ah!” a shriek from baba, wakes me from my nap.

I see the men jump back and look down at the freshly dug hole,

A cold chill sweeping up my spine,

As my baba raises an object on his shovel,

And I stare down to see lifeless clay eyes glaring into my soul.

I spring back in horror, as baba gasps, “Xie e!”(2)

With trembling hands, the men brush off the mud to reveal a head of clay.

Hushed whispers spread through the group,

“Zu zhou! Zu zhou!(3) We have unearthed a Buddha!”

My baba covers my face, but I can still feel the eyes burning into my heart.

Within a week, we are visited by very important people.

Men dressed in dark uniforms who ask many questions about the evil object.

“A terracotta warrior head,” they say, “a very ancient one.”

Shortly after, the shocking announcement comes.

We are to move from our land, from our home in Yang village

To a far away place, to a small, concrete three-room flat.

Instead of looking out to our beautiful rippling crops,

I now see high concrete apartment blocks and grey clouds.

Everything we love has been taken away from us.

Why have they thrown us off our own land, the land of our ancestors?

But I know the answer- the curse has already started.

Now I am an old man myself with a son of my own

yet the curse is still here after 42 years.

Built on our beloved piece of land where our family once lived,

is a museum, housing row upon row of terracotta warriors.

And in the little souvenir shop tucked in behind,

a very elderly man sits signing copies of “Qin Dynasty Terra-cotta Army of Dreams.”

His face is wrinkled from suffering and old age,

his eyes are haunted with disheartening memories.

Earning only a few dollars a day, he signs from morning till night,

Mr Zhifa Yang, my baba.

(1) Father

(2) Evil

(3) Curse

Stand By Your Side Canadian Trillum College, Pan, Vermonth - 17

You lived under the dirt

Baptized for a millennium

The martial attire on you faded

Your stature was still stalwart and faithful

Severe cold arrived to the land

Brought with dirt from former ages

I walked close to you

Could hardly bear to stare at you

Time bedimmed the color in your armour

I walked close to you

Could hardly dare to touch you

Your wound seemed yet recovered

Let me just stand by your side

See you treading at the tiles

Expressions in your eyes were firm and resolute

Did your smile expect a peaceful future

HE Canadian Trillum College, Ye, Mandy – 17

I met a man thousands years ago

We met each other in a battle

A man that I was unfamiliar with

He wore a red suit of armor, holding bronze weapons

I called him

He yelled back

I meet the man today

We meet each other in a space underground

The man I am familiar with

His suit of armor turns to black, with decayed weapons in his hand

I call him

without responses

He had stood for thousands of years

loyally and silence

Never cried when his families fall apart

Never ran when a rifle is resting on his shoulder

Never surrender when his country collapses

Never complain even if he is meant to be nameless

One of the Terracotta Warriors Canadian Trillum College, Lin, Luna - 17

He is one of the Terracotta Warriors

He just stands there, without a word

He is silent, hiding in somber ground for thousand years

His body is fragmented, his heart is fading away,

but his soul remains

He uses his crestless and vulnerable soul to feel the world

He is famous and nameless

He is respected and ignored

He is one of the Terracotta Warriors

His duty is to protect his leader

or he just stands there as a toy, a decoration，

a model for people to appreciate, to take photos of, to research

We want to read his history, his life, his soul

But our interests are only ours

Not his

He is one of the Terracotta Warriors

The damp and bloody ground full of his emotions

He laughed at this pedantic society,

full of fake faces, drama and performance.

He is a chessman on a huge chessboard,

control and power is in the people' s hands.

He is played, destroyed, tormented

Now is a time for him to shout out! To express his strong emotions!

He is angry, his mind is a thunderstorm, he wants revenge！

Finally he stands on the center of the theater,

he has the privilege to verbalize, to express, to burn everything

He is one of the Terracotta Warriors

The flashlight stops on his body

The music is on,

the audience is coming,

the microphone is in his hands.

He can do everything he wants now, he is the center of the world!

But what can he say?

He shakes his hand, without a word, and leaves

But people see tear drops on the ground.

Is that his tear? Maybe, or is that my tear?

Terracotta Army Creative Secondary School, Chan, Jess - 17

When I first heard of the mysterious archaeological discovery of

The emperor’s powerful legion

The marvelous after-death army to protect the first emperor

As well as a show of his glory.

Who lives in the Terracotta town?

Everyone is silent, everyone is still;

With single-edge eyelids.

No one wears a frown

No one looks the same.

Someday I will go to Xian,

To find our terracotta heroes

Who protects our country

Who gives their dedication to his duties.

The Story of the Mysterious Soldiers Creative Secondary School, Chan, Joanne - 17

I am the soldier under the mysterious ground

Living in the hell of the terracotta town

A thousand ago, it is deeply pessimistic and lack of the righteous sound

The Qin emperor instructed the innocent weak to build up the town.

Do you know what was actually I made up of?

I was made of the immense public resentment

and the poor bloody perishment

under an unpleasant and disagreeable political environment.

The future of my friends and the army were not doomed

In time of Qing, our fate was not in the hands of ourselves

We were controlled by the terrible and ruthless court

Being noiseless and powerless in the darkness.

One day, the farmers found…

and today it becomes the tourist town

There are lots of marvelous and wonderful sounds

We are emancipated up from the ground.

The Silent Artillery Creative Secondary School, Chan, Vanessa - 17

Tis like an escape from the dispute of history,

Like coiled dragons hidden in the ground,

That hidden under many darkness and deaths,

Under the curtains of that cruel king of Qin.

Of violets that are at home in the earth,

Oh death,

The fairest child of hell

Casket sailing up the river of Chinese history,

Filled by the sound of death which is in silence

The Unspoken Creative Secondary School, Cho, Ellie - 16

Line by line

One by one

Built by blood, born in red

Unblinking eyes knowing and fierce

Bathing in countless treasure

Guardians in silence

Brittle but loyal

Defending the glorious past

The precious part

Pits by pits

Ash by ash

Walking on history

Entombed in dark with rusted pride

Timeless trove and treasures untold

How many wonders can one cavern hold?

Warriors

Reborn after timeless rest

Yet abandoned…

Frame of Battle Creative Secondary School, Chong, Ariel - 16

Historical discovery, the clueless Xian farmers;

Massive life- size of terracotta clay warriors.

Placed at the eye of the dragon

Emperor Qin prepared for his afterlife

Buried under the ground to guard the royal tomb.

History hidden, layered over their cold faces,

Unblinking eyes with fierce stares and solid frames.

Grey and stiff without the color of life

Masterpieces from the first emperor in China.

A symbol of glory past and power of Cruel Emperor Qin

These warriors escaped from the past to the future.

Coming back to life

To remind us to fight.

The Terracotta Marvels Creative Secondary School, Lee, Kristal - 17

Glory under the ground

The truth, shrouded

Filled with silence, soundless, and noiseless.

Those soldiers, slowly enduring like turtles, waiting

They dedicate themselves to the emperor.

Those soldiers, calm as doves, signaling peace

But threatened, they seethe silently.

They are speechless, how can they pray?

They have no sight, what can they see when coated with thin layers of clay?

They have no feeling, where does their pain lay?

The ancient emperor was cruel, constructing this army to protect himself

Like them, building benefit for themselves

Years passed, people change, but faults remains.

Here we come to the dark side of society, people are forbidden to speak out

We are speechless, prohibited from taking action

Heartless human beings, nowhere to express pain and emotions

Humanity seldom learns from the past, we repeat mistakes that history made

Just like the soldiers in the terracotta,

Voiceless, speechless, soundless

Yet, we are alike, not the same, we are not heartless, we feel

Painfulness, hopeless and helpless

Now, the ancient marvelous terracotta warriors;

The sign for society to wake up.

The Sorrow of the Terracotta Warriors Creative Secondary School, Lee, Sharon - 17

Over ten years of dictatorship

They rose from the mud

They stood there

With glory and might

While

The men lay down

With sweat and blood

Situated in pits

In eternal darkness

Hufft hufft falump

A season gone

Boom bang blast

Graves built on

A hot tear rolled out of the

Cold stone eye

Souls of the innocents

Flow into the cold bodies

Turning plain mud

Into

A golden heart

Silent guardians

Looking at the past

And

Glancing towards the future

They witnessed a dynasty rise

And a dynasty fade

The army that never fought

They carried history to life

Emperor Qin Elsa High School, Amias, Ellie - 16

Thoughts of death worm in through cracks in the porcelain, through my open pores,

a disease consuming me from the inside

I choke down another bitter capsule,

though my hands now shake too violently to hold a glass of water

Mercury pills. For immortality.

Anything to cure me of this rancid impermanence

There are millions who lie in wait for my death. Peasants, rebels, conspirators

I will not succumb to this wretched mortality, I will not succumb to this acrid affliction

What waits on the other side?

My ancestors, perhaps. Endless oblivion. A labyrinth of torture. I lie in earthly limbo, living only to

anticipate death

My single solace is a legion of my men, immortalized in stone, who stand ready to serve me even as my

soul ascends

They alone will accompany me into the abyss

My terracotta army with no mortality to fear, they will carry me triumphantly into Tian

If the gods will it, they will drag me screaming through the hellish gates of Diyu

Yet

I shall remain their eternal emperor

Though I still swallow every chalky pill, though my vision begins to cloud over, I know that if I must

succumb to this vile disease

if I do succumb…

I will not be alone.

Warrior Carved in Clay Fanling Rhenish Church Secondary School, Law, Hiu Ning Emily - 16

5 am - a new day of war slowly dawns,

A makeshift cot, a wasted soldier’s yawn.

One aching, broken warrior prepares for the blistering ranks,

The seething, dead-littered battlefield,

Another nameless, agonising day of war. A day at war.

Musty, worn tools at the ready,

Grey-flecked iron sword armed, steady,

This loyal, steady soldier prepares herself,

Awaits the final call from the close-ranked,

Deadly tension.

The first shout into this mourning,

This morning of dreaded, never-ending war.

The soldiers are all hushed

They follow the shout and then the silence.

They are searching for any sound,

But nothing can be found: no rumble, no thick drum.

And a strange wind has paved through. A cue.

These warriors were first to rise and last to fall.

China has become one.

And what did all this stand for? What did it mean?

This must be the total end, the end of all war.

This was the last day.

Maybe it is the end of what we were here….what we were here on this battlefield.

The air is slowly filled with the warriors’ triumphant, congratulatory shouts:

Joy, relief, happiness! "We did it, we won!

They are all gone. Let this be Year One!

Six long years, six long, dreadful years of savage, blind killing

Now that it is once finally over, a necropolis.

The indescribable smell of freedom and stench.

Home, such a nostalgic, inquisitive term.

Home: was time to return?

This army is stiff, and slowly turns round and marches back.

Line by line, row by row,

A ragged, slightly triumphant glow.

And at midnight on that famous night, the luminescent moon completes the starry night sky.

One woman, a true soldier, stares into the abyss.

On her face are the memories of the horrific years at war,

Upon her face, the silence, and rest,

Carved in clay.

Shao Qiang, A Craftsman Hangzhou Chinese International School, Lai, Charlotte - 14

My chisel lay against the hardened clay.

I lifted my hammer in the air,

and struck the grey armor, worn by the clay beings.

The sound of metal clashing echoed in the empty room,

as I continued to shape the warriors.

I am Shao Qiang, a craftsman.

My general's booming voice filled the room,

“Zhe bu hao kan! Zai zuo guo!”

I pushed the clay horse into the pile of shattered clay.

As it fell, the horse crumbled and cracked,

not even a chance of being used.

I am Shao Qiang, a craftsman.

Paint splattered all over the floors,

as I glazed raw lacquer across the clay bodies.

I painted the faces pink and hands dark red,

as a symbolism of love, luck and fame,

to ensure happiness in the afterlife.

I am Shao Qiang, a craftsman.

The sound of marching echoed through the streets,

and the smell of abalone, used to conceal the smell of death, drifted through the air.

Qin Shi Emperor's cold body lay still in the carriage,

waiting to be buried and guarded by my warriors.

who stood strong and sturdy, ready to ward off evil.

I am Shao Qiang, a craftsman.

Thousands of artisans could be heard screaming and shouting,

as the fire slowly crept up their clothing.

Er Shi Emperor’s laughter filled the air.

The smoke overwhelms my lungs.

and I feel the flames inching closer and closer to my body.

Soon I too will guard Qin Shi Emperor’s tomb in the land of the immortals.

I am Shao Qiang, a craftsman.

Qin Shi Emperor : First Emperor in the Qin Dynasty

Emperor Er Shi : Qin Shi Emperor’s first son; second emperor in the Qin Dynasty

Zhe bu hao kan : This is not good enough

Zai zuo guo : Make it again

Ascension Heep Yunn School, Lau, Cheuk Wing - 16

The endurance

Locked away in millennial slumber,

We dreamed again of the glorious days

In golden halls of apotheosis.

The conqueror shall return the old ways,

And they shall kneel and sing the songs of praise.

All hail the first emperor

Of the great empire that would never fall!

Exalted among men, long may he reign.

We who on wintry mountains once stood tall,

‘Neath the earth now, humbly await his call.

The intruder

For centuries, we stood still in silence.

Curtains of darkness were the only light,

Behind the shut gates of the mausoleum.

Sealed in the abyss, not a soul in sight -

One strange voice rides on lonesome winds at night.

Silhouette of a stranger on the wall

Brings forth a light that would perish all.

Eyes on the throne of our supreme lord,

He sees not of the shadows of his steps.

Come forward, stranger who shall meet our swords.

Lied forgotten, but we will not forget.

We are the guardians of the emperor,

On war chariots, in both life and death.

Tread lightly, trespasser, to where you enter,

For this journey you should not have ventured.

Hark now, careless wanderer, eyes greed-blinded,

Who seeks to steal the treasures of our prime,

And slither away from our anger.

Thief, you have awaken the dragon’s sleep!

You have reached the point of no turning back.

You have brought corruption to the holy place.

Our master stirs, and commands us in rage.

We shall stop at nothing to cast his vengeance

Upon foul men and free him from his cage.

Witness the destruction and dawn of the new age.

The ascension

The intruder lies quietly on the ground.

From the ancient times, foes who crossed his path,

We promised to leave none of them unscathed.

He who commits this unforgiving crime,

Is bound to taste the dragon’s wrath.

Do not look into the abyss,

Or may the abyss look back at you.

We once rose as a great empire of might,

Now we rest under the light.

We shall rest no more, and linger no more.

Rise, Legion of the Afterlife!

We have waited.

We have weathered.

We have endured.

We have slept.

We have dreamt.

We have awaken.

The Only One Awakened Soul Holy Family Canossian School, Cheung, Natalie – 15

Among the eight thousand

I,

the only one awakened

have not gone to final sleep,

not in this creepy tomb of twenty-three feet deep.

I blow the dust off my armor and move on,

living a life I have once forgot.

But memories are always bitter,

I just can’t forget the cruelest emperor ever.

Here he hired me,

to be a soldier of Qin.

Instead of good deeds,

I only discovered his sin.

Beginning to rule at the age of thirteen,

he grew up with anger and became mean.

The devil buried opposing men.

People only praised him then

Even the grey-hair had to build the Great Wall

unless they were too tired to crawl.

Among the eight thousand

I,

The only one awakened,

Inside my body is an immortal soul.

Here comes the chance of my revival, achieving my goal.

I thought wars have ended –

but things have only worsened.

As people fight in submarines with powerful machines,

unlike the ages when we used only bows and arrows.

People and I sing psalms –

suddenly, there throws an explosive bomb.

Blood streams. People scream.

Violence is too extreme.

Defamation behind your back.

Thousands of parodies are seen on web!

Under a palm tree

where a baby is found floating in the sea

I rush into water, save him

Not realizing I cannot swim.

Sinking into the water,

I feel myself as light as a feather

My clayey body starts melting like snow

Here comes the destination of my life, I know.

Among the eight thousand

I,

The only one awakened,

created in Qin Dynasty. Died in the 21st century.

I see. Cruelty is a part of reality.

Weathered Eternity Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College, Azzahra Khairunnisa, Rosalin - 17

Being made from earth

with artisans’ labour together

they came to birth

they, the Terracotta Warrior

Piles of sweat were put into work

as they sculpt and mould

this very fine artwork

which are as valued as gold

Carved in sublime details

and with details so intricate

even down to its nails

they posed as a human duplicate

However…

Their blooming red

fade like the sunset

and while the moon sets ahead

their colours sweat

Yet, through any stage

only their exterior has fade

as if time rewinded back to the first page

to the moments when they were made

Unlike a flower that withers and blooms

they stay through the cycle of humanity

preserving their youth, unvisited by dooms

living life in continuous vanity

They relive new and newer dimension

from the moon to the sun

their existence is an extension

of a journey that can’t be outdone

A lone soldier stands Island School, Chui, Adrian - 14

A lone soldier stands

Reincarnated from fragments of the past

Skin of clay and face of ash.

A lone solider stands

Encased in glass panes

Held in an aura of light.

A lone soldier stands

Eyeing the wall with intent

Clutching a ghost weapon in his hand.

There is nothing here, solider

What do you stand for?

Not I, but We

The army of the Emperor.

We stand to fulfill

The will of the imperial.

We are the conquerors of the afterlife

The slayers of the supernatural.

Skin of steel and faces of iron

We are firm,

We are strong,

We are eternal;

Witness us, for We have conquered death!

None of his comrades remain

Just the remnants of an age long forgone

Crushed by the weight of time.

Terracotta Warrior Island School, Lung, Zeckie - 14

Terracotta Warrior Poem

Standing tall, silent and alone,

Stiff destroyers as cold as stone,

The paint chaffs and crumbles away,

Until all that shows is red clay,

Unique but same, among dark rows,

Dead to life, to be put on shows,

Here they stand, prodded and poked,

Doomed to fulfill a dead man’s hopes,

Till at last with no purpose to serve,

Crumbles away to heavens deserved.

Terracotta Warrior Haiku

Deep down in a well,

Warriors are slumbering,

Until their time comes.

Terracotta Warrior Story

The wind whistled through the rows of silent warriors, sifting the leaves that swirled and spiraled in the

wind. I stand tall and alone. Dead and yet alive, watching the children run around my legs laughing. Oh

how I wish could join them. If only my legs would move, if only my mouth would speak. But I’m

doomed. Doomed to stand forever in the darkness, forever longing for the light.

I can watch myself slowly crumble away, losing my reserve to stay. I was built to live for a thousand years.

I am coming to the end of my time. I make no sound, no warning. The only thing that gives me hope is

the children. They don’t poke or peer or flash strange, bright lights at me. They play and their laughter

fills my heart with warmth. What is to become of me, I don’t know. However, I know that my time is

ending. I stare at the children. I know this is my last night. I smile inside as I crumble away…

My eyes snap wide as I stare around the meadows. Where am I? I hear the laughter of children and I

smile. Then I realise my lips are twitching, I wriggle my fingers. Slowly and uncertainly, I move my arm.

I watch in joy as it hovers at shoulder height. I can move! I stand up on shaky legs. I feel small hands tug

at my own and I laugh in joy. I am free now, absolutely free and content. Free to spend the rest of my

days happy and content. I have never known such joy and wonder. I have never know what it is to be

free. But now, like a baby opening it’s eyes for the first time. I see life, I am life. I still miss the feeling of

being among many brothers and sisters, but soon they will join me. They will let go of their cruel

existence and join me. In this place of wonders. This is my home now.

On my deathbed I am living Island School, Ng, Karen - 14

Taller than I, assembly of faces;

Said greater than I – too is my vision:

Gather round me as I lift into grace;

With me, this unto there; companions

unchanged will secure my rule in bright bloom!

Bring me to dragons, I’ll prowl neath gold heaths;

Fell sinners, tear ’part quick my slow virtue:

Bedded I, sore stinged prick bleat to spry sheath.

King I am. All else is transient, SAVE I.

By stone and peach I am edged off my bed.

Friend that follows, that rids, nimbly closed my eyes

with careful, frenzied, bound blade I have wed.

Earthen army aboard to uncharted

Dew, time, faceless therewith, I was yearning...

Rows of you, helms of safety, you guarded

To be shepherd and sheep not returning.

Be still, I reached mourning; by last breathing

I hushed; lucid thunder: youth, embrace me.

New Tales of the Terracotta Warriors Maryknoll Convent School, Chan, Amelie - 15

As the night crept in

And darkness engulfed the sky

A canopy of stars gradually found their way to the night sky.

It was a peaceful and calm night.

But maybe a bit too quiet.

So quiet that it was peculiar.

Then something could be heard.

A sound of a footstep.

Then something could be seen.

A shadow of a man casted on the walls of the cave

His masked face faintly shone by the silvery moonlight.

The silence was shattered by the marching of an army.

An army of warriors deep in the cave.

They held their weapons and poised them

Towards the man.

The grave robber.

Shocked, the man stumbled

Off the cliff, far far down.

Then calmness conquered the night once more.

The emperor is safe in his tomb.

So are his treasures.

The warriors stood back against the stars,

Fearless.

And the night was clear.

Immortality Maryknoll Convent School, Chan, Rosaline - 15

Grey carpeted the entire sky,

and the sun could not break through the thick layer.

His eyes were in the color of a raven’s feather,

reflecting the song of a midnight sky,

so dark and deep, so calm and peaceful.

For the last time, I was lost in them.

My fragile hands reached out to his,

the feeling of his hands around mine was all

that I could ask for.

The strings that once kept us together

would be stretched, but still the same.

My delicate fingers touched his handsome armour,

the touch of the hard metal against my fingers

was fatal and deadly.

Our blacks found each other, they say

the goodbyes are not forever, I say

it was perhaps not the end.

But I knew, I saw it coming.

He climbed onto his horse with a small group behind

while I stood in front of our house,

seeing him walking to the gate of Death.

The sky opened up, revealing the red- orange haze,

bloody red, red like blood!

Like the flames spit from the Dragon’s mouth,

oven- like and stone- cold.

I see red, my eyes were also in reflection of the sky.

It’s desire for life and lives, immortality from mortals.

It stripped everything from me, until there was nothing left.

The ancient words I murmured, the spell I casted,

An honourable favour for the scared Dragon, it said

for the First Emperor.

I stood before the emptied holy chamber,

where I could imagine his corpse,

laying still, lifeless.

He will become one of them, with it.

The thought was like an arrow through my mind,

piercing into the most painful memories.

The spell sucked away their lives,

but their souls and memories remained, immortally.

As I said and swear in front of it.

The coat of red earth covered their lifeless corpses,

baked and processed like anything.

It had been done, and I could not prevent it.