Why does Terracotta Warriors have Distinct Facial Features?
This article focuses on the reason why Terracotta Warriors have different facial features. It provides detailed answers from three aspects: artistic creation, production techniques, and social culture as follow:
The Realistic Style of Artistic Creation
- Replicating the Real Army: The purpose of creating the Terracotta Warriors was to imitate the real Qin Dynasty army for burial. Craftsmen modeled them after real Qin Dynasty soldiers. Since each person has differences, a variety of facial features emerged, as if the real army was reproduced.
- Following the Realistic Concept: The sculpture art in the Qin Dynasty emphasized realism. Craftsmen used superb techniques to precisely depict figures, striving to restore reality from facial contours to expressions, thus creating the uniqueness of the Terracotta Warriors’ faces.
Exquisite and Complex Production Process
- Differences in Hand – Made Shaping: The Terracotta Warriors were hand – sculpted one by one. Each craftsman had different techniques and styles, and they would endow the Terracotta Warriors with different facial features according to their own understanding, increasing the diversity of facial features.
- Piece – by – Piece Production and Assembly: The Terracotta Warriors were made in sections and then assembled. Facial parts were made separately first and then combined. Different combinations and minor adjustments during assembly led to different final facial features.
Reflection of Diverse Social Cultures
- Soldiers from Diverse Origins: The Qin Dynasty had a vast territory, and soldiers in the army came from different regions and ethnic groups with diverse appearances and cultural backgrounds. Craftsmen reflected this diversity, presenting regional and ethnic characteristics through different facial features.
- Differences in Soldiers Ranks and Status: The Qin Dynasty army had a strict hierarchical system. Soldiers of different ranks differed in clothing, equipment, and possibly facial features. Craftsmen depicted different facial expressions and looks to reflect status differences, which is also a reason for the rich facial features of the Terracotta Warriors.
