HUM FPX 1150 Assessment 1 Cultural Artifact Analysis
Capella University
HUM FPX 1150 Cultural Understanding in a Global World
Prof. Name
November, 2024
Cultural Artifact Analysis
Chosen Artifact
I have chosen the Terracotta Army as my artifact (Syed Abu Salaque, 2023). This is a great group of life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots from 2,000 years ago to protect China’s first emperor Qin Shi Huang from his tomb. Discovered in the fields of Xi’an in 1974, the Terracotta Army is one of the largest collections of thousands of exquisitely sculpted figures with different facial expressions, clothing, and arms, marking rank and position in the imperial army. This artifact has a vast scale and complexity that testifies to the technological as well as handymen of the Qin Dynasty, for which it was achieved over more than 70 years. The Terracotta Army tells us much about the Chinese after-life beliefs and an emperor who did not believe death meant he ended. More than this, it was a reflection of the cultural values of the people in ancient China where loyalty, power, and high regard for military strength were highly regarded. It gives insight into the greatness of the Qin Dynasty: the absoluteness of the emperor and the reverence of society toward those holding political power.
Historical and Artistic Contexts of the Artifact
The greater meaning of the Terracotta Army lies in its history and art cultural values. Historically, the Terracotta Army was an order of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who unified China and laid the foundation of the Qin Dynasty, the centralized imperial structure of China (Millward, 2022). This elaborate tomb complex, including the Terracotta Army, showcases the success and good aspirations of the emperor. He needed protection in death, as in life; the Terracotta Army was expected to guard him in death just as his actual army had while he was alive. The second aspect is in line with how the ancient Chinese believed the afterlife worked: that rulers would continue to exercise their rule till death, and one needed protection, wealth, and status to continue to exert one’s influence.
The Terracotta Army is an artwork of skill and ingenuity. This is a special collection because each figure is designed separately with other features, different clothing, and arms. This definition of one miniature reflects the great style of sculpting at that time and the uniqueness of individual positions and ranks in the emperor’s army. Sophisticated techniques applied in the manufacturing process of mass copies while including unique features for each soldier have been used by the artisans in the modular assembling and precise kiln firing process. On this account, the Terracotta Army epitomizes the union of reality and idealism in ancient Chinese art as it secures the military organization and cultural values of the Qin Dynasty (Liu et al., 2024). All these historical and artistic features create the importance of the Terracotta Army in terms of being a significant cultural and technological achievement in immortalizing the authority of Emperor Qin and the abiding legacy of the Qin Dynasty.
Cultural Values Conveyed Through the Artifact
The Terracotta Army is exemplary of many significant cultural values that stood at the center of ancient Chinese society during the Qin Dynasty (Zhu et al., 2023). One of the most overwhelmingly dominant values as demonstrated here is the great respect bestowed upon military power and loyalty. The dimensions of the army along with the minute details incorporated into its construction reflect how much importance soldiers received, who were at the heart of the establishment and protection of the emperor’s kingdom. The immense display of military force consolidates the ideals of discipline, unity, and loyalty where every piece of clay soldier is prepared to serve and protect the emperor after death, as they would have in life. Another important characteristic feature of the Terracotta Army is the importance given to authority and respect shown to the emperor. The construction of such an elaborate burial site, held to be made by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, shows he wanted to still rule over the entire empire even beyond death, therefore meaning eternal rule. The individuality that each figure conveys also shows an appreciation for hierarchy and the importance of the specific roles that individuals play in society, their respective ranks, and duties. Altogether, these values paint the picture of an ordered powerful empire built on loyalty, respect for authority, and the belief in the afterlife where these social structures continued.
Shaping Perspectives
That’s why the Terracotta army gives shape to the perspectives on ancient Chinese beliefs about the structure of society, authority, and what happens after a person’s death (Zhang et al., 2023). Emperor Qin Shi Huang commissioned such a life-sized army to protect him after death so that he would be an undying influence. He thought power could transcend earthly life. This concept of eternal rule after death underscores the fact that it was an emperor whose power was both incontestable and eternal; such would have impacted citizens’ perspectives on leadership as divine or absolute. Further, the peculiarities of each soldier, from facial expressions to weapon equipment, testify to the value of uniqueness in an effectively structured society. This implies a positive interpretation of loyalty whereby every individual performed their different duties within the unified totality. The elements combined outline our views on how the Qin valued strength, loyalty, and order and the relationships and roles that needed to be instituted to make those values operational roles that establish the view as one that balances interdependence with respect for hierarchy.
HUM FPX 1150 Assessment 1 Conclusion
In summary, the Terracotta Army is a profound testament to the cultural, historical, and artistic values of ancient China under the Qin Dynasty (Valipour et al., 2020). From this vast, highly crafted collection of warriors, horses, and chariots, insights into beliefs about the afterlife where the power of Emperor Qin Shi Huang would last forever can be seen. The army is the embodiment of what the Qin Dynasty believed in matters of military might, loyalty, and social order through which the empire could achieve stability and survival. Every soldier embodies unique features that reflect the role within an organized rank, signifying the value placed on every citizen in society as well as emphasizing the unity required when defending the emperor’s legacy. It is also artistically superb because it showcases the great skill and innovative capability of Chinese artists as they merge both idealism and realism to become a manner of paying homage to the emperor’s vision and the role of the soldiers. It immortalizes the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang but also encases the timeless values of loyalty, authority, and respect for structured roles, making it a window to the beliefs and achievements that characterized one of China’s most influential periods.
HUM FPX 1150 Assessment 1 References
Liu, X., Lei, D., Tan, G., Wang, Z., Zhao, B., Chen, G., Peng, X., Oliveira, L., & Rena, N. (2024). Comprehensive survey and heritage value evaluation of the Weiyuan settlement remains on China’s Jiang Han Plain. International Planning History Society Proceedings, 20, 359–376. https://doi.org/10.7480/iphs.2024.1.7618
Millward, J. (2022). Getting past old models of PRC diversity: understand the empire to understand the imperial nation-state. Journal of Chinese Political Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-022-09830-2
Syed Abu Salaque. (2023). Terracotta in architecture: overview on historical and contemporary practice in Bangladesh. MIST INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL of SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY, 11, 53–60. https://doi.org/10.47981/j.mijst.11(02)2023.412(53-60)
Valipour, M., Ahmed, A. T., Antoniou, G. P., Sala, R., Parise, M., Salgot, M., Sanaan Bensi, N., & Angelakis, A. N. (2020). Sustainability of underground hydro-technologies: from ancient to modern times and toward the future. Sustainability, 12(21), 8983. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218983
