The incredible history of China's terracotta warriors - Megan Campisi and Pen-Pen Chen 

It would have been nice if the video said how he died. Basically because of his pursuit of immortality, he drank a lot of a magical alchemical elixir, also known as mercury :)

I'm so pleased that the Chinese words are pronounced in the correct tone lol

The narrator has got both perfect and native English and Chinese speaking.

I appreciate the accurate pronunciations

Just imagine, you're in the afterlife and suddenly this Chinese dude shows up with a bunch of stone people and horses trying to build an empire.

When I die I wanna be buried with a Terracotta version of the Avengers so that if I see Qin Shi Huangdi in the afterlife I can challenge him to a battle. "I have a Terracotta Army." "I have a Terracotta Hulk."

In the end, the emperor who unite China is immortal after all. With his terracotta armies that amazes the world and his last act to fortify himself with rivers of mercury, his legacy will carry on through centuries. After thousands of years, we can't even open the tomb.

I'm pretty sure a RIVER OF MERCURY is enough reason not to open that tomb.

Great Chinese pronouncing

"contains palaces of precious stones..." woah. "...and artifacts." WOAH.. "...and even rivers of mercury flowing through mountains of bronze." *BRAIN STARTS PLAYING INDIANA JONES THEME

For once, a video about Chinese with good Chinese. Cool.

When Gilgamesh understood that he couldn't reach for immortality he realized that the immortality comes with the name. Your name, your actions, your works are as timeless as far as people keep talking about them. Today we sill talk about Emperor Qin Shi Huang. He is, indeed, immortal.

I saw the statues as a kid when they brought an exhibit of the terra cotta warriors (as they called it) to the US. There was only a rope barrier and being that close to something so old and yet very human I think was the first time I got some perspective on how long we’ve existed. They’re pretty awe-inspiring so I can only imagine how amazing the burial sites are.

Imagine being so powerful that you named a massive country with a huge population after yourself and the name still stands over 2000 years later. You achieved immortality in my opinion.

Fun fact: all the soldiers had monolids, known as "Phoenix eyes" as it was considered the most desirable and beautiful eye shape/type

Thank god they asked a person who knows Chinese to narrate this video... Or else the western pronunciations of Chinese words would be disastrous.

I really love how researchers decided to keep the actual tomb sealed. So many ancient relics destroyed by modern researchers in the pursuit of knowledge

People: Wow Chinese accent, Wow chinese pronunciation WWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!11!!!one Me: lol he have 6 fingers ( 2:22 )

the aside's accent when speaking the Chinese word like "秦始皇“is very standard, I guess she is ethnic Chinese

The terracotta soldier exhibit is an incredible sight. I highly recommend it. The sheer number that is on display (yet only a fraction of the total) and the clear differences in appearance of each soldier makes such an impression that cannot be explained through words or pictures. You really need to see it for yourself.

Fun fact: This guy also probably accidentally created another nation after sending one adviser and a crap ton of kids to a group of islands of the Eastern Coast, which we now know as Japan. We have no idea why he thought this would grant him immortality, or if there were other people on the Japanese islands already, but the Chinese influence on very early Japanese governments is unmistakable. Of course, Japan did diverge, and currently has a vastly different culture in part due to the Tang Dynasty obsession that medieval Japan had and the rapid westernization post WWII.

He literally brought an army to conquer the afterlife. What a legend

Maybe this is a dumb question, but how do we know these sculptures were meant to accompany the emperor into the next life? How do we know it wasnt just his version of a sort of time capsule, showing future generations what life was like back then? I mean, it had soldiers, artisans, entertainers, government officials, etc, and if the emperor was obsessed about his legacy, wouldnt he want future generations to know what he accomplished in his civilization? I know other cultures sacrificed servants when their masters died so their spirits would accompany him/her in the afterlife, but are we projecting their beliefs onto this Chinese emperor? After all, surely the man was smart enough to realize that mere statues dont have souls, right?

I went to see them and they're just as majestic as you'd imagine!!

I visited the site 2 years ago. It's awesomely huge.

Chinese history has been pretty interesting to me lately!

There's a manga and anime based on this dude's life called Kingdom, it's pretty dope, yall should check it out!

Anyone who may want to visit this, remember the food in this city is great you should try it. The city's name where the tomb located is called Xi-An.

People in ancient China at 13: becomes emperor and is incredibly rich Me at 13: dankhead still playing with mud

I'm amazed that they haven't figured out a way to safely open the kings chamber. God knows what they'll find.

It's great how they used two voices to make sure the Chinese words were pronounced properly. That's the first time I heard his named pronounced properly. Thank you!

what was so interesting to me was that this whole burial project was a secret. and in order to keep it a secret, everyone who knew about the tomb would literally have to be sealed in with the emperor when he died as well, so that no living soul would tell of the burial ground. like can u imagine that the construction workers that helped build the structure were building their own graves?

Very sadly, though, when one of the Terrecotta soldiers was sent to a museum in the USA (Philadelphia, I think) for exhibition a few months ago, an American took a thumb off the solider and took it home. Most Americans aren't aware of the event because US media was too embarrassed to report...

I came to see it more than ten years ago. Actually, the area of terracotta warriors is just a small part of the empire's tomb. I also believe the best way to protect those historical relics is never to unearth the rest of the tomb.

Would be a good basis for a knew Doctor Who episode :-)

ONE FASCINATING LEGEND SHE DIDNOT MENTION: In the actual tomb chamber, there would be six giants made from bronze stood guarding him. It is said after unifying china, he felt no more war will ever happen, swords would be useless. So he commanded, all the swords from enemy warriors of the six kingdoms he conquered to be melt, recast into six huge bronze statues.

The things people will do for immortality

As an ABC, never knew this famous feature of China had such a complex backstory. Thank you!

One particularly interesting, and disturbing thing about the site surrounding the mound that holds Emperor Qin's tomb is that it is covered with 800+ skeletons of women all lying in a way that points to the mound. Archaeologists think that they may have been royal concubines as they were buried wearing precious clothes and jewellery and apparently date back to around the period that the emperor died. This whole burial area of the emperor is not only a massive find, but a final testament to Emperor Qin's ruthlessness

The clarity of her voice in both languages is so pleasant to listen to

gonna use this in my animal crossing village

I went to China some years ago and visited the Terracotta army . I was told , when the local people were digging the well, that led to the discovery of the buried statues . If they had dig only 3 feet to the left, or 3 feet to the south , they would have miss it all together . As it was they dig was right in the bottom left corner of the site ! In our time the excavation too place . It was found that a grave had been started to be dug in the 17 th century . But when they found what they had dug into . They quickly covered it up and dig it else where ! Afraid they would lose their land . Which happened to the modern farmers .

Thanks to the great emperor of China Qin Shi Huang for leaving such an amazing things in modern world.

I saw some of these in San Francisco's Asian Art Museum. They were quite impressive. They are life sized, and each one looks like a different person. Some evan seem to have a degree of ethnic diversity from others.

I'm so os happy that TED-Ed has Pen-Pen Chen. Chinese history deserves a fluent Chinese speaker.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HAPPY I AM THAT SHE CAN PRONOUNCE CHINESE WORDS PROPERLY WITH THE RIGHT PING YING, USUALLY OTHER PEOPLE CAN EVEN PRONOUNCE 木 correctly, and that is sooo easy to pronounce

Is nobody going to mention that the emperor has 6 fingers?

This is my favourite RU-vid channel by far! I love the historical videos, you should do more of them.

It's so cool how there're in battle formation

WOW! BEST PRONUNCIATION EVER HEARD! VERY VERY IMPRESSIVE!

and to think before they found the army, everyone thought it was a myth ans doubted how there could every be an enormous army underground, well I guess there are always aspects of truth in every myths and legends

When I was 13 my school took a field trip to see a lot of the army. I think it toured 5 cities in the US. It was amazing! Each man had a different face. The horses were really cool too.

Can't really imagine the treasures that may be hidden in that sealed tumb. If it was on any other part of the world it would already been open and all stuff stolen to be sold in the black market. Pretty amazing they managed to keep it sealed.

More than 2000 years ago, a large number of Chinese elites and technical personnel sent by Emperor Qin. They moved to ancient Japan (including the ancient Korean Peninsula and ancient North Vietnam). There were also some Chinese nobles and officials who fled to ancient Japan because of the war ... For example: Emperor Qin's son. Yang Guifei of the Tang Dynasty. Of course they are not alone. Instead, they arrived in ancient Japan by a team. These Chinese elites moved to Japan. They are responsible for developing a very primitive place in ancient Japan (backward and lack of resources). Establish a local local regime in the local area. The Chinese emperor named ancient Japan as "東瀛 dong ying & 扶蘇 fusu & 倭wo". As one of the regions of China's power jurisdiction. It is closely related to the Chinese royal family and the official. For example: 卑彌呼 Himiko. She is the adoptive daughter of the Chinese emperor. She is a Chinese female official position. On behalf of the Chinese emperor, she is responsible for governing Japan. All funds are supported by the Chinese royal family. She knows Chinese Taoist ghosts and magic spells and divination. She is fluent in Chinese language (official language and Han dialect) and Chinese characters...... During the Tang Dynasty, Chinese national strength was more powerful. The navigation technology was stronger. The Chinese emperor sent a fleet to Japan. Some Chinese people followed the fleet and returned to China (there may be a small number of japan's indigenous slaves followed). This is almost 70 years apart. They asked the Tang Emperor to send more Chinese elite teams, high -tech personnel and a large number of Chinese products to go to Japan 倭. This is the " Tang ambassador 遣唐使 "recorded in history. They are ancient Chinese . After that, a large number of Chinese officials, nobles and elites also appeared on ancient Japan 倭 (Today Japan still has many ancient Chinese tombs and unearthed cultural relics ). Ancient Chinese architects built a Chinese palace in ancient Japan 倭. Exercise China's official governance system. Representing this place (ancient Japan) was occupied by the Chinese. The Chinese and a large number of Chinese culture naturally appeared in ancient Japan 倭. anicant Japan 倭 in this period. Chinese culture is an explosive growth. Including : Dragon Totem (representing Chinese imperial power), Chinese characters, Chinese scholars (recorded local history), Chinese architect (Chinese palace), Chinese physician, Chinese monk, Chinese martial artist, Chinese artist (music, painting, calligraphy, chess art, tea culture..........), Chinese growers, various technical personnel in China (cloth, iron, weapons ...), Chinese officers, Chinese coins, a large number of Chinese products and Chinese history books ....... all appeared in ancient Japan. These are used to use it to the local Chinese nobles and Chinese. They call Japan at that time "China 中國" and "Shenzhou 神州" (the Han people's named beauty to China). They have always been proud of the Chinese identity and the Han family. At that time in ancient Japan 倭. In addition to the Chinese regime, there are more than 100 indigenous tribes (including Japanese ancestors today). They often attack local Chinese. These contents are recorded in history. In the 13th century in Japan. Some of these indigenous people (speaking Japanese language. Hairstyle is bald in the top of the head) occupied the Chinese palace. Killing some senior Chinese officials. Control all Chinese technicians. Forcing them to join the "Japanese 日本人". And let these Chinese provide Chinese high culture and technology for their rule. Help and continue to develop "Japan 日本", a country that is performed by indigenous people. These indigenous people re -named this place is "Japan 日本". And protest and provocative to the Chinese royal family. Local Chinese scholars (forced to become Japanese) use Chinese Chinese characters to create "Japanese characters" that can be suitable for Japanese language. Later. Chinese emperor Wu Zetian 武則天 knew that China's "倭" was captured and occupied. She instructed officials to modify the ancient Japanese name of history. From then on, in the Chinese history book, the Chinese city "倭" was renamed "Japan日本". 《舊唐書》中有《倭國傳》，而且增加了《日本國傳》。其《傳》云：「日本國者，倭國之別種也。以其國在日邊，故以日本為名。或曰：倭國自惡其名不雅，改為日本。或云：日本舊小國，並倭國之地。其人入朝者，多自矜大，不以實對，故中國疑焉。」

Your pronunciation is pitch perfect!!

I’m Chinese so I’m very happy that you guys did this.

I would like to make a correction, when in the end you pointed out that at least he didn't bury real people with him, hence pointing out that he was not as insane as one could be, you forgot to take into account what he did to the workers. Emperor Qin killed everyone that helped to build the underground army. Millions of people were enslaved over the 38 years it took to build his self-indulgent monument and 700,000 people were killed to keep anyone from revealing its location. It was then buried and hidden from view. Some people were buried alive. His 3,000 concubines were forced to self-sacrifice and other people were just plain murdered. Nobody was left alive to tell anyone where the 8000 clay warriors and horses leading bronze chariots were buried. Also the mercury rivers you mentioned as exotic are the real reason for not excavating his tomb, the archaeologists are scared of the mercury gas that must have accumulated in the tomb. However, more figurines are not being unearthed because of the reason you mentioned.

as a kid, i went to the 1982 world's fair in knoxville tennessee. it was awesome! the china exhibit had a couple of the terracotta warriors! plus got to eat real swiss chocolate at the swiss exhibit. once in a lifetime experience!

A detailed history of the terracotta warriors! Really informative and good animation!

We're watching videos about him thousands of years later...he kind of actually found the elixir of life

"Fortunately, as ruthless as he was, Emperor Qin chose to have servants and soldiers built for this purpose, rather than sacrificing living ones to accompany him" But you forget all them workers had to get killed to keep his tomb a secret.

Thank you! My social studies teacher has been trying to teach us this stuff but has made no sense. This is a much easier way to learn.

When I went to the terracotta warriors site, the guide told us that each soldier carried a bronze weapon. The weapons were then stolen by the villagers who dug the well during a rebellion.

Im impressed. Very accurate pronounciation

that's only 1% of the tomb.99% not been opend.because of the limit of the current technoly

I am addicted to this channel and the mandarin pronunciation of words is pretty good. keep it up!

“Great Emperor! So glad too see you here in the afterlife” *bows* “Wait but why do you have a army with you” Quin Shi: “I don’t know. Wait did you just question me?! Army! Attack!”

My teacher told my class to watch this video cuz we’re learning about ancient China. Thx for teaching me a lot 😁😋😋

warning this video contains spoilers for the manga Kingdom

this was our lesson in history and it killed me so thank you!

I was surprisingly moved when I heard the final line; I think that the soldiers probably would have done well for their emperor.

Some other documentary mentioned that the soldier's faces ,clothing and features are based on real soldiers serving under the Emperor at the time.

Actually, dozens of people were sacrificed in his tomb. Walled up alive with him. Not sure why the video claimed this was not so. When they finally open the tomb, the first thing they will see are the skeletons of the poor souls desperately trying to open the door. Kinda fucked up.

Omg, someone that actually pronounces chinese names the right way ❤️❤️

Great lesson!

Wow even six years ago Ted Ed is still so good and entertaining.

One day, them mf statues gonna start moving and plotting battle strategies. Just you wait.

I saw the terracotta warriors in person and dang it was cool

Moral of the story? Emperor Qin was an Egyptian Pharaoh.

Well he might not have lived to see today, but his name did achieve some sort of immortallity and so did his achievements, ruthless yet great.

there are so many misconceptions about qin shi huang. first of all, he was heavily smeared by later historians because he practiced legalism, an adversary of confuscius teachings. second, he proposed the idea that aristocrats should follow the same laws as peasants, which angered many aristocrats (who were the ones writing those history books). amongst the books he burned many were false medical texts. i mean, if he really burned the good books, then where did all the confuscius and daoist texts come from? qin shi huang was a harsh ruler, but not an unwise one. his son, however, imposed some of those stricter laws. that led to internal disorder and brought the downfall of qin dynasty.

No matter how long it took to make those they turned out very well in design and technique.

That's really just incredible.

The end lines of this channel are better than any cliffhanger there is in this world

Many of you here are amazed by the correct Chinese pronunciation, which is understandable cuz the narrator has a Chinese origin! Her name - Pen-Pen Chen - said it all !!!

THANK YOU FOR SAYING HIS NAME PROPERLY AND NOT WIERDLY

must say it's uncommon to find people dedicated enough learn the proper pronunciations of the words they're reading from a script. your narrator must have respect for foreign cultures or at least Chinese, I'll assume the former.

very nice I am watching your videos every day and I am learning new things

Egyptian kings dies: Bring treasures to the afterlife. Japanese kings dies: Bring horses and houses to the afterlife. Chinese King dies: Bring army, now your treasures in the afterlife belongs to me.

This channel needs a release day

Weren't the craftsmen killed to hide the secrets of the tomb location?

He also had philosophers, early scientists and anyone that attempted to argue against the burning of all historical writings that differed from his ideals buried alive.

Angel:Welcome to the afterli- Yhing:CHARGE! Angel:FUCK

What a miracle! I can't believe we had the patience to keep his tomb closed! I hope that it is protected though, otherwise once we get there there will be nothing left inside.

This just shows how selfish and small a human mind is. The king didn't wanted to lose his luxuries after his death, so he battled.A great piece of history reflecting on the human conscience.

Interesting video of the Terra Cotta Army in Ancient China. The Chinese is pronounced correctly, which is educational.

What do you mean it hasn't been opened yet????

Thank you so much!!

I've been to xi'an to see these terracotta warriors and they're amazing! Definitely should see them at least once in your life time

Thanks for this great video