Xian, called Changan in ancient times, is situated in Shaanxi province, southwest of Beijing. Xian is one of the six ancient capitals of China. In fact, it served as the capital city for a number of dynasties including the Zhou, Qin, Sui, and Tang for a total of 1,000 years.

Except for its rich history, Xian would not be noticeably different from any other large city in China. That all changed in the spring of 1974 when peasant workers first located evidence of a stunning archeological find that had remained undiscovered for 2,200 years. There, semi-buried in the reddish soil of China's Yellow River valley were hundreds of battered but beautiful terra-cotta statues of armed warriors, servants, and horses pulling manned war chariots - the retinue of unified China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi.

Less than a mile from the emperor's tomb is a large subterranean vault holding clay soldiers and horses. Qin Shihuang unified China, built the Great Wall, burned books valued by Confucius, and declared himself China's first sovereign emperor in 221 B.C. From the momemt he became emperor at age 13, Qin Shihuang ordered building to begin on his tomb. History tells us that some 700,000 conscripts worked 36 years on the project. Apparently the emperor wanted his grave to be guarded for all eternity by a replica of his own army.

It was only after considerable excavation that archeologists realized the magnitude of the project. Perhaps as may as 8,000 clay figures are buried along with real swords, spears, iron farm tools, silk and linen fabrics, and rare animals. Several beautifully detailed smaller bronze chariots were also found.

Ready to march into battle, 38 columns of soldiers and horses in Pit 1 face east to counter enemy attacks. One thousand of the more than 6,000 soldiers in Pit 1 have been restored to standing position, four abreast. Skeletons found in the royal tombs of the Shang Dynasty show that live warriors, women, servants, and horses had been buried alive with kings. Although the practice of live burials had been stopped for centuries, Qin Shihuang revived it symbolically on a scale befitting his ego.

Ravages of floods, fire, and time have erased original paint from the statues. Ancient pigments made from minerals were mixed with a binder such as animal blood or egg white to color them. Charcoal may have once tinted their hair. Each of the clay soldiers appears to be modeled on an individual face, some proud, others ferocious, a few even close to a smile. The figures are the earliest life-size clay sculpture in China. Their amazing realism and attention to detail startles art historians who had believed that such naturalism only appeared much later there.

Excavation in Xian is expected to continue for years. The exhibit hall, built to protect the site from the elements and air pollution, opened in October of 1994. Two million visitors view the terra-cotta army yearly. Qin Shihuang, the man who standaridized weights and measures, the written language, and currency, died at the age of 49 while on a journey - ironically enough - in search of the elixir of life.