CHINA

XI'AN. SIGHTS OF INTEREST. Tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang
 

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang is located 35 kilometers to the east from Xi’an, at the foot of the Lishan Mountain. The lay of the land has a shape of a dragon according to the traditional Chinese geomancy. The tomb itself is just at the eye of the dragon. The tomb is lager than the Great Pyramid in Egypt. It looks like a hill overgrown with vegetation that can be seen afar. Although the tomb is not open for the public entirely it’s known that the tomb consists of an interior and exterior parts housing precious treasures buried inside. The exterior of it is a low earth pyramid with a wide base 515 meters long from south to north and 485 meters wide from east to the west. The original 100 meter high hillock has been weathered down to 47 meters high. Sima Qian, a great historian who wrote during the early Han Dynasty, wrote that the tomb was huge and originally decorated with gold, silver and pearls, the coffin of the Emperor was cast in bronze, underground palace was a gem-studded replica of imperial house in the life. It’s said that underground palace was brightly lit by whale oil lamps. 

More than seven hundred thousand convicts were conscripted to build this mausoleum. The artists constructed the tomb were buried alive with the Emperor. Many laborers died during this construction, the rest of them were entombed. All the barren royal concubines were also inhumed there. 

The tomb belonged to the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. He began to build a mausoleum ascended the throne at the age of 13 years. Emperor Qin Shi Huang, born as Ying Zheng in 259 BC, was the son of the king of the Qin State. He was very aggressive and ambitious. In 221 BC he centralized empire unifying and subjugating all the states such as Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan, and Qi by the powerful political, economical and military strength of the Qin State. It was the time known as the reign of Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC). 

Qin Shi Huang had a profound influence on Chinese history and culture. He abolished the hereditary vassal enfeoffment system and established prefectures and counties ruled directly by the emperor. Having the original rules of the Qin State as a base he adopted some regulations of other rival states and formed the laws of the Qin Dynasty. He claimed agriculture and commerce. Coinage and metrology were standardized. Tax system began to function. The emperor unified the Chinese characters in writing. But he also suppressed scholars who were not to his liking. 

Qin Shi Huang implemented high taxes to fund the construction of the Great Wall. He ordered conscript laborers to link together the defensive works built already by the former states against marauding nomads. That was the forerunner of the modern Great Wall.

Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses is just a part of the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang.

The emperor left this world in 210 BC while travelling. The Peasant Uprising broke out soon after Hu Hai, the second generation got onto the throne. Accordingly, the Qin Dynasty came to an abrupt end in 206 BC.