TheTerracottaArmy(兵马俑),isacollectionofterracottasculpturesdepictingthearmiesofQinShiHuang,thefirstEmperorofChina.Itisaformoffuneraryartburiedwiththeemperorin210–209BCandwhosepurposewastoprotecttheemperorinhisafterlife,andtomakesurethathehadpeopletoruleover.
Thefigures,datingfrom3rdcenturyBC,werediscoveredin1974bysomelocalfarmersinLintongDistrict,Xi'an,Shaanxiprovince.
Thefiguresvaryinheightaccordingtotheirroles,withthetallestbeingthegenerals.Thefiguresincludewarriors,chariotsandhorses.CurrentestimatesarethatinthethreepitscontainingtheTerracottaArmytherewereover8,000soldiers,130chariotswith520horsesand150cavalryhorses,themajorityofwhicharestillburiedinthepitsnearbyQinShiHuang'smausoleum.Otherterracottanon-militaryfigureswerealsofoundinotherpitsandtheyincludeofficials,acrobats,strongmenandmusicians.