The terra-cotta figures of Qin and human representations from the 5th century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D.

The terra-cotta army of Qin Shihuangdi, discovered near his mausoleum in 1974, represents a significant advancement in human representation during the 5th to 3rd centuries B.C. These life-size figures, over 7,000 in number, were meticulously crafted with individual facial features and hairstyles, reflecting a newfound concern for realism and detail. While anatomical precision was less emphasized, the focus on surface clarity and uniformity aligned with bronze art traditions of the Eastern Zhou period. This study reveals that the Qin figures not only signified the ideological rigor of the Qin regime but also marked a shift in artistic priorities, where human figures were increasingly valued as independent subjects amid political and social changes.

Wong, S. S. F. (2010). The terra-cotta figures of Qin and human representations from the 5th century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D. University of British Columbia. https://doi.org/10.14288/1.0096318