Who were the terracotta warriors commissioned by

The Terracotta Warriors are a collection of life-sized clay figures that were discovered in 1974 in the city of Xi’an, China. The warriors were commissioned by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, in the third century BCE.

Qin Shi Huang, also known as Ying Zheng, became the king of the state of Qin in 246 BCE at the age of 13. He succeeded in unifying China and declared himself the first emperor of the Qin dynasty in 221 BCE. During his reign, he implemented a number of major reforms, including a standardized system of weights and measures and the construction of the Great Wall of China.

The construction of the Terracotta Army began in 246 BCE, shortly after Qin Shi Huang ascended to the throne. The purpose of the army was to protect the emperor in the afterlife. It was believed that after death, the emperor would continue to rule over his empire, and he would need an army to protect him.

The Terracotta Army is made up of over 8,000 life-sized clay figures, including soldiers, horses, and chariots. Each figure is unique, with different facial features and expressions. The figures were originally painted in bright colors, but the paint has since faded.

The construction of the Terracotta Army was a massive undertaking. It is estimated that over 700,000 workers were involved in its construction. The figures were made by hand, with each one taking several months to complete. The clay was first molded into rough shapes, and then details were added, such as clothing and armor. The figures were then fired in kilns and painted.

Qin Shi Huang died in 210 BCE, and was buried in a massive tomb complex that included the Terracotta Army. The tomb complex was designed to be a miniature version of his empire, with rivers and lakes made of mercury and a ceiling decorated with the stars and constellations.

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