1980, two large painted copper chariots and horses were unearthed in a burial pit 20 meters west of the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum of Lintong, Shaanxi, China. The two copper chariots and horses were placed in a wooden coffin, one in front and one behind. Due to the decay of the wooden coffin, the soil filling on the upper part collapsed. The copper chariots and horses were crushed when they were unearthed, but due to the fact that they were not stolen, there was no major change in their original position, and the components of the chariots and horses were basically complete. Qin Tong chariots and horses were in groups of two vehicles. Due to their age, the two vehicles were broken into more than 3,000 pieces when they were unearthed. After nearly 8 years of careful restoration, they were on display and exhibited in 1989.
Qin bronze chariot and horse Picture source from the Internet
Qin bronze chariot and horse is the largest, most complex, and most complete unearthed ancient chariot and horse unearthed in the history of Chinese archaeology. It is the largest combined bronze ware seen in archaeology. It is known as the "Crown of Bronze". It is a national first-class cultural relic and is now collected in the Mausoleum of Emperor Shihuang of Qin. In 2002, Qin Tong's chariot and horse were listed as the first batch of cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad.
The main body of the copper carriage is cast in bronze, and some parts are gold and silver jewelry. Each component is cast separately, and then many mechanical connection processes such as inlay casting, welding, bonding, riveting, mother-child buckle, button ring buckle, pin connection, etc. are assembled into one. All the whole body is painted, and the horse is white. The pigments used for painting are mineral pigments mixed with glue, which use the concentration of glue to shape three-dimensional lines. The size of a cart, horse and figurine is about half the size of a real cart, a real horse, and a real person. It is completely meticulously made in imitation of real objects, and truly reproduces the style of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's carriage.
Two passenger cars, one in front and one behind, are placed in the same wooden coffin. The one in front is called car No. 1, and the one in the back is called car No. 2. Car No. 1 is also called a vertical car or a high car, and car No. 2 is also called an anti-car. Both cars have single shafts and double wheels, and four horses are driven in front.
Qin Tong Carriage and Horse Photo by Yang Xiaojun
No. 1 carriage carriage is four copper horses in front. The carriage is horizontally rectangular, the two corners at the front are arc-shaped, the carriage is 74 cm wide and the depth is 48.5 cm. The carriage (a wooden board on both sides of the carriage can lean against) is low and exposed on all sides. A high-bar copper umbrella is erected inside the carriage. There is a standing imperial official figurine under the umbrella. The carriage is equipped with copper crossbows, copper shields, copper arrowheads and other weapons. Although Car No. 1 has an umbrella, it is open all around and is equipped with weapons. In fact, it should be a military car.
Qin Tong Carriage and Horse Yang Xiaojun Photo
No. 2 Carriage single shaft double yoke, four horses are divided into two suits and two horses. The whole body is white, and only the nostrils, mouth, etc. are pink. The car is divided into two rooms in front and rear. The front room is very small and can only accommodate the emperor's hand. In the bronze carriage, the imperial official figurine wearing a double curly tail crown, a long robber and a short sword on the waist, sat in the front room of the car, holding a bridle rope in his hand. The rear room is the main occupant for the owner to ride, with a shielded surroundings and a door left and a door is left behind. The door is equipped with open and closed door panels; the front and left and right sides are opened, and the front windows are equipped with diamond-shaped hollow window sashes that can be lifted upwards, while the left and right windows are equipped with push-pullable diamond-shaped hollow window panels in a sandwich manner. The top of the carriage room is covered with an oval dome-shaped canopy cover, and the bottom of the carriage is covered with a copper plate painted with geometric patterns, symbolizing a soft green mat. The carriage is decorated with exquisite patterns inside and outside, among which the shielding body of the carriage chamber and the hood are mainly Kuilong and phoenix bird patterns. The perimeter of the carriage and the inside and outside of the front room are decorated with flowing cloud patterns, geometric patterns and other patterns.
Qin Tong carriage and horse structure is complex, the details are clear and realistic, the metallurgical casting technology is superb, and a variety of craftsmanship is adopted. The parts in the car are extremely difficult to make, with exquisite craftsmanship, accurate and realistic shapes, and vivid people and horses. The driving gear and horse decoration are complete, the driving relationship is clear, the painted patterns are exquisite, and combined with relief, showing the original materials, structure and appearance of different parts of the carriage.
Qin bronze chariot and horse Picture source from the Internet
This artistic expression technique of painting on bronze ware was a pioneer in the Qin Dynasty. It broke through the limitations of casting patterns on bronze ware in the Yin and Zhou dynasties and gold and silver rifts of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods, making the patterns on bronze ware more colorful. With white as the base, red, purple, blue, green, black as the auxiliary colors, the patterns are colorful. Although the milky white background color has fallen off after years, the patterns in the inside of the cover, inside and outside of the door, front window and outside of the cabin are still clear.
Qin Tong Carriage and Horse Pictures are from the Internet
This cultural relic has extremely important value for the study of smelting and bronze manufacturing technology, vehicle structure, etc. in the Qin Dynasty in China. The Qinling bronze chariot and horse can help people further understand the ancient car system, especially the way of driving the chariots. The bronze chariot and horse of Qinling are the reappearance of the chariot and carriage of the Qin emperor. For a long time, the academic community has regarded the Qin Mausoleum bronze chariot and horse as a symbol of the imperial carriage. Its extremely complex production craftsmanship and precise realistic shapes not only have extremely high historical research value, but also reflects the achievements of ancient Chinese culture and art, representing the height that Chinese civilization reached more than 2,000 years ago.
(The pictures are all from the Internet except for the signature)
Reporter: Yang Xiaojun
Editor: Gou Xiaoqing
