The Long and Loyal Vigil...a discovery that startled archeologists. (standard:non fiction, 1264 words)
Author: pjt	Added: Feb 16 2001	Views/Reads: 3770/2231	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
In March 1974 some Chinese peasants digging in a field near the ancient city of Xian made a startling archeological discovery. The history of what they found is a fascinating story.

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of the mausoleum other pits have been excavated there. The tally to 
date is that of more than six thousand statues of warriors, servants 
and horses standing in battle formation and interred fifteen to twenty 
feet underground. The roofed in area that I visited now extends seven 
hundred feet east to west and two hundred feet north to south. Experts 
expect that the bronze items in the west vault will at least equal the 
numbers in the east vault which houses the terracotta army. 

Now it was time to visit the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. I had
been excitedly looking forward to this visit. He must have been quite a 
character. As ruler of the Qin dynasty he conquered the rival states in 
China over a period of several decades and thus made a significant mark 
in history by being the first to bring about unification of China. He 
took the title “Shi Huang-ti” or “emperor” to describe his new status. 

Under his rule some important decisions were made: he standardised the
currency and the system of weights and measures. He also brought about 
the unification of a series of defensive barriers, which gradually 
evolved into the Great Wall of China. 

Still, there is a dark side to the story. Apparently he had the habit of
burying alive anyone who disagreed with his policies. Another policy 
designed to eliminate dissent resulted in book-burnings. However, all 
things eventually come to an end, even dynasties. It seems that Qin Shi 
Huang (according to historians) thought that his dynasty would last for 
many centuries. In fact, his rule lasted for less than a decade and the 
Qin dynasty came to an end only four years after his death in 210B.C. 

These historical facts circulated in my mind as we approached his
mausoleum. Accordingly, I had been expecting that I would descend into 
a fabulous vault arrayed with all the trappings of a powerful ruler. 
This expectation was reinforced by some other historical facts 
concerning his preparations for the after-life: historical records 
indicate that Qin Shi Huang envisaged a tomb of incredible size and 
magnificence. He commenced work on its construction when he became king 
of the warring state of Qin at the age of thirteen (this was twelve 
years before he unified China and declared himself emperor). 

When I arrive at the site (which has not yet been excavated) I am
surprised to see a steep hill covered by a flight of many steps leading 
to the top of a mound beneath which (a guide informed me)) is the 
emperor’s burial chamber. Running the gauntlet of a lively souvenir 
market, I climb the steps and eventually arrive at the top of a mound, 
about fifteen stories high, called Mount Li. The green hill on which I 
find myself stands unimposingly to the middle of a millet field 
belonging to a commune in a county known as Lin Tung. Yet, despite the 
unexpected simplicity of this ancient monument of earth, I feel a sense 
of awe at being in the presence of the spirit of the man who unified 
China all those centuries ago and whose spirit remains intact, thanks 
to the long and loyal vigil of his terracotta guardians. 


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