What are the main artistic features of Qin Terracotta Warriors?

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.

Terracotta warriors and horses are a category of ancient tomb sculptures. In ancient times, human sacrifice was practiced, and slaves were accessories of slave owners before their death. When they die, the slaves will be buried with the slave owners as sacrifices. Terracotta warriors and horses were made into sacrifices in the shape of troops (chariots, horses and soldiers).

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Historical background

Social changes in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period prompted changes in burial customs, and human sacrifices appeared, that is, pottery figurines and wooden figurines replaced human sacrifices. The original meaning of "figurines" is human sacrifice. When human martyrdom gradually faded out of people's field of vision, "figurines" became proper terms for pottery sculptures, stone carvings and portraits 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.

Value influence

Terracotta Warriors and Horses vividly shaped various characters with certain personalities. Its style is vigorous, refined and full of touching artistic charm, which is a symbol of the maturity of China ancient plastic arts. It not only inherited the tradition of pottery and plastic sculpture since the Warring States period, but also laid the foundation for the prosperity of plastic arts in the Tang Dynasty, and played a connecting role. It is known as "the eighth wonder of the world" and "the treasure of ancient human spiritual civilization".

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