Human martyrdom sprouted with the disintegration of primitive public ownership, and it is a cruel and barbaric funeral system that prevailed with the establishment of slavery. The most prosperous era of human martyrdom was the Yin and Shang Dynasties, and there were martyrdom in the tombs of nobles in Shang Dynasty. In the mausoleum area of Yin Ruins in Anyang, more than 5,000 people have been martyred or killed in more than a dozen tombs that have been excavated.
The Zhou Dynasty drew lessons from the tyranny of Yin and Shang Dynasties and emphasized the importance of protecting the people. The birth and implementation of Zhou Li greatly suppressed the phenomenon of martyrdom, but it was not eradicated. During the Spring and Autumn Period, countries competed for hegemony, the times were turbulent, and others were killed. During the Warring States period, the vassal states abolished the system of human sacrifice. In the first year after his death, Qin officially abolished the system of human sacrifice.
Social changes in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period prompted changes in funeral customs, and there was a sacrifice of figurines, that is, pottery figurines replaced human sacrifices. The original intention of the figurines is human sacrifice. When human martyrdom gradually faded out of people's sight, figurines became proper terms for pottery, stone carving and portrait in tombs.
The Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Qin Dynasty are typical and the peak of human sacrifice figurines. The reason why the Terracotta Warriors and Horses reached such a high level in scale and fidelity was not only the wisdom of craftsmen, but also the will of the first feudal emperor Qin Shihuang in history.
Characteristics of Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Qin Shihuang Mausoleum
The shaping of Terracotta Warriors and Horses is basically based on real life, with delicate and vivid techniques. Every clay figurine has different clothes and manners. There are many kinds of hairstyles, different gestures and different facial expressions.
From their costumes, expressions and gestures, we can tell whether they are officers or soldiers, infantry or cavalry. Generally speaking, all the faces of the Qin figurines reveal the unique majesty and composure of the Qin people, with distinctive personality and strong characteristics of the times.
Terracotta warriors and horses sculpture is a combination of painting and plastic. Although it has a long history, when it was first discovered, the colors painted on people's faces and clothes were still faintly visible. The technique is vivid, the composition is ingenious, and the technique is flexible, which is both authentic and decorative.
Because of this, Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses occupy an important position in the history of sculpture in China. From the unearthed 1000 pieces of pottery figurines and pottery horses, almost none of them are the same.
The above contents refer to Baidu Encyclopedia-Terracotta Warriors.