Standing guard around the tomb of Qin Shihuangdi, the ranks of a terracotta army bear silent witness to the vast power of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, who unified China in 221 BCE. Six thousand warriors and horses make up the army, while chariots, a military guard, and a command post complete the host. A new look at one of the most spectacular finds in the annals of archaeology, this book also considers the historical and archaeological context of the Terracotta Army, as well as the extensive research and excavation carried out since its discovery in 1974.

Originally published in 2007 by The British Museum Press ... London ... This book is published to accompany the exhibition at the British Museum from 13 September 2007 to 6 April 2008.

Sponsor's foreword -- Director's foreword -- Acknowledgements -- Chronology -- Introduction : the First Emperor : the making of China / Jane Portal -- 1. The rise of Qin and the military conquest of the warring states / Robin D.S. Yates -- 2. The First Emperor and the Qin empire / Michael Loewe -- Qin coins / Helen Wang -- Qin palaces and architecture / Hiromi Kinoshita -- Qin gold and jade / Carol Michaelson -- 3. Imperial tours and mountain inscriptions / Martin Kern -- 4. The First Emperor's tomb : the afterlife universe / Jessica Rawson -- 5. A two-thousand-year-old underground empire / Wu Yongqi -- The terracotta army / Lukas Nickel -- Armour for the afterlife / James Lin -- Entertainment for the afterlife / Duan Qingbo -- Appendix : scientific analysis -- Glossary -- List of exhibits -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Illustration acknowledgements -- Index.