Why China Keeps the First Emperor’s Tomb Sealed Despite the Famous Terracotta Army

Why China Keeps the First Emperor’s Tomb Sealed Despite the Famous Terracotta Army

Life-sized Terracotta Army soldiers stand in ranks within the excavation pit at Xi’an. Credit: kevinmcgill, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China, lies beneath a grassy mound east of Xi’an, a site that looks almost modest until you consider what is rumored to rest inside. Evidence suggests it conceals an entire buried city, complete with administrative, ceremonial, and landscaped elements, all design…