Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Xi'an, China

The Three Main Excavation Pits The Terracotta Army is an extraordinary archaeological complex created around 210–209 BCE to accompany Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, into the afterlife. Discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well near Xi’an, the site revealed thousands of life‑size clay soldiers arranged in precise military formation. Now recognized as one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The figures are housed today in the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses, where three main pits reveal different aspects of the emperor’s imagined afterlife army. Pit 1 contains the primary battle formation with thousands of infantry and chariots. Pit 2 showcases specialized units such as archers, cavalry, and elite troops. Pit 3, the smallest, appears to function as a command headquarters, housing officers and a ceremonial chariot. Together, the pits form a complete military system, reflecting the organizational brilliance and imperial ambition of the Qin state.

Cavalry figures in Pit 2 wear short armors, long tight pants as well as jackboots, with a crossbow and a bridle on the hands respectively.

The Terracotta Army of the First of the Emperor, Qin dynasty

About 8,000 warriors, 100 chariots, 400 horses, and more than 100,000 weapons have been unearthed from the three pits so far.

The Xi'an Terracotta Army is a representation of the Qin State's troop formation with soldiers and chariots strategically arranged in the pits.

Compared to terracotta officers, soldiers wore relatively simple armor coats which were made of plates only.

The plates on the armor are larger and the quantity is less. The armor worn by terracotta soldiers have front sides and back sides as well.

Platoons of Terracotta Infantry Warriors were buried with China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di, to accompany him during his eternal rest.

Almost all the terracotta officers were covered by armor with a smooth edge and colorful lace, which is used to protect them in battle.

The pits were found to hold about 8,000 exquisite figures and horses, including burly generals, resolute military officers, and vivid soldiers.

Terra-cotta Warriors The Terracotta Army includes not only infantry, cavalry, charioteers, and archers but also a full suite of non‑military attendants—officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians—indicating that Qin Shi Huang envisioned an entire imperial entourage accompanying him into the afterlife. Each figure was originally coated in lacquer and painted in vivid mineral pigments—reds, purples, greens, blues, blacks, and whites—though most color vanished within minutes of excavation due to rapid oxidation. Every warrior is individually modeled, with distinct facial features, hairstyles, armor types, and postures that reflect rank, role, and regional diversity within the Qin military. Scholars typically classify the figures into ten principal categories, including armored and unarmored infantry, kneeling and standing archers, cavalrymen, charioteers, mid‑ranking officers, high officers, and generals. This typology underscores the army’s organizational complexity and the emperor’s ambition to replicate, in clay, the full hierarchy of his terrestrial command.

Terracotta Warrior Armored General wearing the pheasant-feather crown, also called the He crown

Terracotta Warrior high-ranking officer, wearing a pheasant-feather crown

Terracotta Warrior middle-ranking officer, wearing a double-plate long crown

Headless Terracotta Warrior infantry armor

Terracotta Warrior Single-plate Crown

Terracotta Warrior middle-rank officer with a double-plate crown

Terracotta Infantry Warrior wearing a cone-shaped knot positioned on the right side of the head.

Terracotta Warrior wearing a flat, rounded cap, often identified as a “civilian cap” or “officer’s cap.”

Terracotta warrior wearing a soft conical cap, often referred to as a “knotted cap” or “pointed cap.”

Terracotta Warrior wearing a Single-plate Crown

Terracotta warrior wearing a soft conical cap, often referred to as a “knotted cap” or “pointed cap.”

Terra-cotta HorsesThe life‑size horses are rendered with striking anatomical accuracy—ears alert, nostrils flared, mouths slightly open. Symbolizing power and imperial authority, they appear as chariot horses in teams of four or as cavalry mounts paired with riders, completing the emperor’s fully realized afterlife army.

Terracotta horses fall into two main categories: saddle horses for riding and chariot horses for pulling chariots.

More than 600 terracotta horses have been excavated, each crafted to mirror the real war horses of the Qin Dynasty

Cavalries were very important for warfare, there were strict requirements to select a qualified cavalryman

The horses in the Terracotta Army have the average height of 1.72m (5.6ft) and the length of 2m (2yd)

Terracotta Cavalry Horse and Cavalryman

There are 116 Terracotta Saddle horses for Cavalrymen.

600 Terracotta horses are buried in the three pits of Terracotta Army.

Terracotta Horses for the Chariots

Terracotta horses

600 Terracotta horses are buried in the three pits of Terracotta Army.

Terracotta Horses for the Chariots

Terracotta horses

600 Terracotta horses are buried in the three pits of Terracotta Army.

Terracotta Horses for the Chariots

Terracotta horses

Discovered in 1980, Bronze sculptures of horses and chariots from the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor 3rd century BCE, in Xi'an,

Terracotta cavalry of the Qin Dynasty (211-206 BC) known for its well-developed horse breeding.

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