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Ancient China (Many headings and sections)

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Ancient China (Many headings and sections)

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Ancient China Facts For Kids - World History | Savvy Leo

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Biography for Kids: Emperor Qin Shi Huang

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Kids learn about the biography of Emperor Qin Shi Huang of Ancient China. The first emperor of China he was buried with an army of terracotta soldiers.

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The Terracotta Army is the buried army of Qin Shi Huang, an ancient Chinese emperor. These ancient sculptures were built and buried over two thousand years ago near the city of Xi'an. They were discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well looking for underground water. Over a thousand terracotta warriors and horses have been uncovered since then. At least 6,000 more are thought to remain buried still.

According to the Chinese historian Sima Qian, Qin Shi Huang ordered this army to be built long before he became the first Emperor of all China in 221 BC. Work started when he was King of Qin in 247 BC. They were constructed to protect him in the afterlife. He died in 210 BC. Over 700,000 workers were needed to build the underground city where he was buried. It is thought to be filled with riches and decorated beautifully. The Chinese government has no plans to uncover the underground palace.

Each terracotta warrior is made of clay. They are around 2 meters tall, with commanders in the army being the tallest. The sculptures are so detailed that it is possible to guess the age, rank and personality of each one. None of the soldiers are the same. Some carry weapons such as daggers, bows and arrows, swords, spears or axes.

Assembly line

The terracotta army figures were made in workshops. The head, arms, legs and torsos were created separately and then assembled. Studies show that eight face moulds were most likely used, and then clay was added to provide individual facial features. Once put together, features such as facial expressions were added.

It is thought their legs were made the same way that terracotta drainage pipes were made at the time. This would make it an assembly line production, with specific parts manufactured and assembled after being fired, as opposed to crafting one solid piece and subsequently firing it. In those times, each workshop had to write its name on items produced. Once they were completed, the terracotta figures were placed in the pits in precise military formation according to rank and duty.

Images for kids

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The Terracotta Army is the buried army of Qin Shi Huang, an ancient Chinese emperor. These ancient sculptures were built and buried over two thousand years ago near the city of Xi'an. They were discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well looking for underground water.

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1: They were discovered completely by accident

The Terracotta Army was discovered on 29 March 1974 when farmer Yang Zhifa uncovered fragments of pottery when digging a well. This pottery led to the discovery of the first warrior of the famous Terracotta Army. Quite the find!

2: There were no historical records of them existing

The discovery of the Terracotta Warriors was a complete surprise to everyone because there are no historical records of them, or of an underground army. They had sat untouched underground for more than 2,200 years. This only adds to the mystery, as it is now the largest and most important tomb site in China.

3: The scale of the discovery is immense

Since the discovery of the Terracotta Army, more than 2,000 warriors and horses have been excavated from three different burial pits with an estimated 6,000 still buried underground. It is perhaps the enormous scale of the discovery that has added to the mystery and captivated the world, leading people to start describing the warriors as the 8th wonder of the world.

Qin Shi Huang, China's First Emperor

4: Amazingly, no two figures are exactly alike

Incredibly, despite the vast number of warriors, each warrior has unique facial features and styles. The warriors of different ranks were buried in battle formation to represent a real army and are split into infantrymen, archers, generals, cavalrymen, charioteers, officers, and guards of honour - all different in their expressions, clothing, and hairstyles.

5: They were part of the First Emperor's search for immortality

China's First Emperor Qin Shi Huang wanted to live forever. He spent a huge amount of resources building a magnificent underground empire, equipped with everything he would need for the afterlife. He had palaces, an army to protect him, chariots for travelling in, stables full of horses, entertainers and even his concubines. Covering an area of 56 square kilometers, it is the biggest burial site on earth. In 1987 the site was given UNESCO World Heritage status and is a major tourist attraction in Xi'an.

6: It's not just soldiers

More recent discoveries include terracotta acrobats and strongmen. Another pit contained 15 terracotta musicians and 13 bronze water birds to entertain the Emperor in the afterlife. There was also a pit full of stone armour and several pits full of horse skeletons. You can see some of these amazing objects in the exhibition.

7: The figures were an early feat of mass-production

Government labourers and local craftsmen created the warriors in workshops. The warriors have the stamps or names of their makers, including administrators, craftsmen and foremen. Each warrior was built from the ground upwards using different body parts made from thick coils of clay and the head was made and fired separately. Sculptural details such as hair, facial features and costume were added by hand before the figure was dried and eventually fired in a huge kiln.

8: The warriors were actually painted

Example of paint on a terracotta warrior © Mr. Ziyu Qiu

Originally the warriors were not the terracotta colour that we see today but would have been painted in bright colours. After firing, each terracotta warrior was covered with lacquer before various bright pigments were applied with colours indicating different ranks. You can see traces of paint on two of the warriors in our exhibition.

9: The warriors carried real weapons

After the warriors were painted, they were then placed in military formation in the pits and were equipped with real bronze weapons. More than 40,000 weapons have been found in the partially excavated warrior pits including swords, lances, spears and arrows. Recent studies have revealed they were never used in battle but were produced specifically for burial with the terracotta army.

10: The greatest mystery is still to be revealed: the First Emperor's tomb has never been opened

Emperor Qin Shi Huang's actual tomb remains a mystery to archaeologists and historians as it is still sealed up. There have been geophysical surveys of the tomb mound, but the mausoleum itself has not been excavated. The tomb was written about by Han dynasty historian Sima Qian, who describes 'palaces and scenic towers for a hundred officials', as well as many rare artifacts and treasures. In addition, the two major rivers of China, the Yangtze and the Yellow River, were simulated in the tomb using mercury and the tomb ceiling was decorated with the heavenly constellations. From here, Qin Shi Huang could continue to rule over his empire even in the afterlife.
This article was created alongside our 2018 landmark exhibition 'China's First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors'.

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Top 10 facts about the Terracotta Warriors

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How were the terracotta warriors discovered? What did they originally look like? Discover more about these fascinating figures.

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

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Learn a little about the amazing Great Wall of China with your children, and tie in your learning with our activity suggestions, printables and stories.

Great Wall Of Friendship
A mix between a craft and an activity, this "Great Wall" encourages children to think about what they value in their friends and family.

Facts about the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China was built over 2000 years ago and is the longest man-made structure ever built. It is an instantly recognisable structure which many people are familiar with, though often know little about. We have gathered below some of the most interesting facts about the Great Wall including when the wall was built, how long the wall is, and if it is visible from the moon.

How long is the Great Wall of China?

The Great Wall of China is approximately 6000 kilometre long. However if you were to measure all the individual structures and changes to the wall made over the centuries, it is believed the final measurement would total over 50000 kilometres!

When was the Great Wall of China built?

The Great Wall was originally built over 2000 years ago, around 221 BC. Most of the current Great Wall was built during the Ming dynasty (between 1368 and 1644.)

History of the Great Wall of China

It is thought that the earliest wall was built under the rule of Emperor Qin, who successful unified parts of China around 221 BC. Previously, individual states had built their own wall defences, but now Emperor Qin sought to connect the walls to provide defences against northern invaders. He ordered the building of the "Wan Li Chang Cheng" as it was known in China. This translates as "the ten thousand li Great Wall". A "li" is a Chinese length unit. 2 li are equal to 1 km.

Read (or print) the famous story Meng Jiangnu Weeps.

Most of the original wall no longer exists. Over the centuries that followed each dynasty did more work to maintain and develop the wall. The Ming dynasty (1368-1644) carried out a major rebuilding project extending the Great Wall, which resulted in a 6000 kilometre wall which is what is mainly in evidence today.

More Pictures of the Great Wall of China

Can you imagine how difficult it was to build the Great Wall of China? Look at the terrain that it covers! How did the workmen transport the stone? What techniques were used to build on such steep hillsides?

This photo, taken in the early morning, shows how beautiful and astounding the Great Wall can look, and what a marvellous feat of building it was.

Why was the Great Wall of China built?

It is believed that the main purpose of the Great Wall was to protect China from invasion or attack by northern tribes (such as the Mongols).

The Great Wall of China from Space (or from the Moon)

It is actually a myth that the Great Wall can be seen from the moon. However, it can be seen from space, and images have been returned from low-level space vehicles including the space shuttle. The photo on the left is from NASA, and clearly shows parts of the wall.

Who built the Great Wall of China?

The original wall was ordered by the Emperor Qin over 2000 years ago. The wall was constructed by labourers comprising soldiers, common people and criminals. The wall was built of different materials over the centuries. The earliest wall was largely made of compacted earth, surrounded by local stone. Much use was made of local material to keep costs down and enable building to continue quickly. The later Ming wall was largely made of brick. It is estimated that up to 1 million people died while constructing the Great Wall!

How tall is the Great Wall of China?

In places the Great Wall is 25 feet tall. It ranges from 15 to 30 feet wide.

Map of the Great Wall of China

This is a map of The Great Wall of China as it was in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when the wall was rebuilt and extended. Most of the Ming Dynasty wall can still be seen today.

How was the Great Wall of China defended?

The Great Wall included a series of watch towers and forts which could house soldiers, grain and weapons. Beacons could enable the passing of messages quickly along the wall. Special weapons were developed to enable the wall to be defended against attack, replicas of which are on display on the modern day wall. At one time it is thought that up to 1 million soldiers were stationed along the length of the wall!

How long did it take to build the Great Wall of China?

The Great Wall was built over many years. It is believed the original Great Wall was built over a period of approximately 20 years. The Great Wall which is mainly in evidence today was actually built during the Ming dynasty, over a period of around 200 years.

When was the Great Wall of China finished?

The original Great Wall was extended and developed until the rule of the Ming Dynasty. When the Ming rulers were overthrown in 1644, no further work was done on the Wall until recent years in attempts to preserve parts of the structure.

Today many tourists visit the Great Wall of China, and walk along it. You can see some in the photo above.

How many people did it take to build the Great Wall of China?

Many thousands of people were involved in the building of the wall. From records it appears that 300,000 soldiers and 500,000 common people were involved in constructing the original Great Wall under Emperor Qin. Many people lost their lives during this work and archaeologists have discovered many human remains buried under sections of the wall.

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Learn a little about the amazing Great Wall of China with your children, and tie in your learning with our activity suggestions, printables and stories. Great Wall Of Friendship A mix between a craft and an activity, this "Great Wall" encourages children to think about what they value in their friends and family.

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Clothing in Ancient China Facts For Kids | Savvy Leo

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The style of houses in Ancient China remained fairly similar throughout each dynasty in some ways. Although houses did vary depending on whether you were rich or poor, the basic layout of everyone's homes was the same.

This is because there were important reasons for having certain buildings in particular places according to Ancient Chinese beliefs.
Layout of Ancient Chinese houses
All houses in Ancient China were rectangular or square, with a courtyard in the middle. If you were poor, you would share a courtyard and live in one of several houses built around it. Rich people would have their own courtyard with three buildings attached to three sides and a gate on the fourth side.

It was very important that different parts of the building faced certain directions. For example, it was essential that the main doorway faced south. This was the same for small houses, palaces and even temples. The main house was always on the north-south axis (line facing from north to south).

The layout of a Chinese house in a quadrangle (a shape with four sides, like a square or rectangle) dates back to the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC). Houses in this layout were called Siheyuan houses. In Siheyuan houses, the layout is also symmetrical (the same on both sides).
Inside the home
Kitchens were normally in an area slightly separate from the house. Eating a family meal was very important but there was not a particular space to eat. If the weather was nice, people would eat outside. If the weather was cold, people would eat inside. Most people used portable screen with a bamboo frame to divide the house up.

The most important place inside the house was an area where ancestors could be honoured. The ancestors were family members who were no longer alive. There would have been a shrine in a particular area where you would honour family members who had died.

Living family members would take food and gifts to the shrine. After this offering, the food was shared among the living. The ancestor shrine was normally placed in the hallway.
Furniture
Chinese houses had very little furniture. Many houses did have beds called "kang beds." These beds were an elevated (raised) platform with rooms for a fire underneath. Some of them had pipes filled with hot air or water.

The richer you were, the more elaborate your furniture would have been. If you were lucky enough to have fine furniture, it would have been built in mahogany, red sandalwood and blackwood, which are all different types of wood.
Construction materials
A normal farmer's house would be made from wood, mud and bamboo, whereas an emperor's home would be constructed with wood and brick.

For most people, houses were built with a mixture of sand, clay and gravel. They pounded it (hit it down hard) to make rammed earth.

It was a good material to build with because it was very durable. Durable means it lasted a long time. The floor might have been made of compacted earth too, but some people had clay tiles on the floor. The roofs were thatched.
Ancient China

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Houses in Ancient China - Facts For Kids | Savvy Leo

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The style of houses in Ancient China remained fairly similar throughout each dynasty in some ways. Although houses did vary depending on whether you were rich or poor, the basic layout of everyone's homes was the same. This is because there were important reasons for having certain buildings in particular places according to Ancient Chinese beliefs.

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During the reign of the thousands of years of ancient Chinese dynasties they remain the only civilization that continued without falling.

This gave them the time, initiative, and power to be able to devote to inventing many things that we take for granted today.

The influence of the ancient Chinese extends beyond just the few areas that make our lives convenient, and enter into those that have allowed our own Western civilization to prosper and grow.

The ancient Chinese proved themselves to be exceptional inventors, engineers, designers, artists, philosophers, astronomers, medical experts, and scientists.

Silk

The production of silk was only known to the ancient Chinese and sharing the methods of creating silk was against the law, upon penalty of death.

The material was light and soft and desired by many of the wealthy people throughout Europe and the Middle East.

Silk became in such demand that the Silk Road was created to transport the material through trade. The Chinese made silk from the silkworm cocoons.

Paper

The ancient Chinese valued their art form of Calligraphy and through experimentation, they developed paper.

Once the invention was discovered, they used paper for their currency and even playing cards. Paper was first invented around the 2 nd century BC and they Chinese perfected the manufacturing process around 105 AD.

Printing

Once paper was invented, the ancient Chinese wanted a method to change the single product creation to more of a mass production.

They invented wood block printing around 868 AD and then 200 years later they invented moveable type.

This was hundreds of years before the invention of the European Gutenberg press.

The Compass

Using a lodestone, the ancient Chinese invented the magnetic compass as a way to figure out the correct direction that they were traveling in.

People in the Western world were still using the stars to navigate. The compass became an important technology for both ship navigation and map makers.

Gunpowder

The ancient Chinese were in search of a product that would bring about immortality. They accidently discovered gunpowder while they were researching.

This is probably one of the most important discoveries as it led them to use gunpowder for fireworks and even small rockets.

Today's military around the world use gunpowder for all types of explosives.

Boat Rudders

This might not seem like a big deal, but when you consider that the boat rudder allowed ships to be steered properly, it suddenly becomes a major invention.

The ancient Chinese built huge ships as early as 200 A.D. and the boat rudder allowed them to travel far.

Other Cool Inventions

The list of inventions by the ancient Chinese is pretty long, but a few of the others include: iron casting, porcelain, the wheelbarrow, the umbrella, hot air balloons, matches, a seismograph for earthquake measurement, acupuncture, and stirrups for horses.

Known as the "Four Great Inventions of Ancient China": Paper, Printing, Gunpowder, and the Compass.

The ancient Chinese used kites as a way to signal warnings to their armies and also to scare off invaders.

The Chinese used umbrellas to protect themselves from both the rain and the sun.

Chinese doctors had studied the human body enough to know the importance of the heartbeat for the health of an individual.

The ancient Chinese doctors knew the importance of eating healthy foods and had a selection of herbs that could help with good health and as treatments for illnesses.

One of the ancient Chinese beliefs that remains today is the philosophy of Feng Shui. They used compasses to build their homes so that they could face the proper direction for harmony with nature.

The ancient Chinese developed the first calculator with the abacus in the 2ndcentury B.C. The system used sliding beads to help them figure out complex math problems.

At over 1,100 miles long, the Chinese Grand Canal is the longest manmade river or canal in the world.

To preserve works of art, wood, and furniture, the ancient Chinese created a clear coating called "lacquer."

Q&A:
What was the punishment for sharing the creation of silk?
death
What 2 major inventions did the ancient Chinese create that changed the world of sailing?
boat rudder and compass
What are the two types of printing that the ancient Chinese invented?
wood block and moveable type
What is the name of the liquid that the Chinese invented to preserve art and wood?
lacquer
What invention did the ancient Chinese create that is used by the military today?
gun powder
How did the ancient Chinese use kites?
to warn their armies of danger and to scare off attackers

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During the reign of the thousands of years of ancient Chinese dynasties they remain the only civilization that continued without falling. This gave them the time, initiative, and power to ... Read more

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The Great Wall of China is an ancient wall in China. The wall is made of cement, rocks, bricks, and powdered dirt. It was finished in 1878, and it was built to protect the northern part of the empire of China from enemy attacks. It is the longest structure humans have ever built. It is about 13,171 mi (21,197 km) long, 30 ft (0.0091 km) wide and 50 ft (15 m) high. The earlier sections of the wall are made of compacted (squished closely and tightly together) dirt and stone. Later in the Ming Dynasty, they used bricks. There are 7,000 watchtowers, blockhouses for soldiers, and beacons to send smoke signals.

Nineteen walls have been built that were called the Great Wall of China. The first was built in the 7th century BC. The most famous wall was built between 226-200 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang (Qin is pronounced as Chin.), during the Qin Dynasty. Not much of this wall remains because people have been stealing from it. It was much farther north than the current wall. The current wall was built during the Ming Dynasty.

The First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, also called Shihuangdi, started the Qin Dynasty. The Xiongnu tribes in the north of China were his enemies. The land in some parts of China was easy to cross, so Qin Shi Huang started building the Great Wall to make it more difficult for the Xiongnu to invade China.

Other dynasties in China worked more on the wall and made it longer. The Han, Sui, Northern, and Jin Dynasties all repaired, rebuilt, or expanded the Great Wall. During the Ming Dynasty, major rebuilding work took place. Sections of the wall were built with bricks and stone instead of earth. It took more than 2,000 years to complete the Great Wall.

Construction and rebuilding of the Great Wall

Builders used materials that were nearby. Some parts of the wall were made of mud, straw, and twigs. Thousands of workers died from giant falling stones, exhaustion, disease, animal attacks, and starvation. Workers dying and being buried in and under the Great Wall is a myth.

Visibility from space

Rumors about astronauts being able to see the Great Wall from the Moon are not scientifically proven. The Great Wall has shown up in radar images taken from space, but scientists are not sure that astronauts can see the wall with the naked eye. One astronaut who talked about being able to see the Great Wall from space was Neil Armstrong. He said that on the Moon, it was very clear that the wall was not visible. However, astronaut William R. Pogue said he was able to see the wall from a 185 to 330-mile height, but only with binoculars and with lots of practice.

Interesting facts about the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall covers 15 regions in northern China.

It attracts 50 million visitors per year.

The most visited section of the wall is known as Badaling and is near Beijing.

The altitudes of sections of the Great Wall vary from just above sea level to 4,722 feet.

Sticky rice was used as mortar in the Great Wall.

The builders of the Great Wall included soldiers, forcibly-recruited peasants, convicts, and prisoners of war.

Arsenic was used to prevent insects from eating parts of the wall.

Part of the Great Wall protected the route of the ancient Silk Road.

One of the many legends surrounding the wall tells of a helpful dragon who drew out the tracks for the wall, which the workers then followed.

Each May, the Great Wall Marathon is run on the Great Wall.

The Great Wall is wide enough in some places to drive a car over it.

Images for kids

Huayi tu, a 1136 map of China with the Great Wall depicted on the northern edge of the country

In Spanish: Gran Muralla China para niños

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Learn Great Wall of China facts for kids

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Many new things happened during Han times.

One of the most important was the trade that had begun with ancient Rome via the " silk road". There was a demand in the Roman Empire for Chinese silk. That brought new wealth into China, along with gold, silver, and precious gems.

Another was the invention of paper. Paper changed everything! Scroll painting began. Things began to be written down again. So much was lost during the book burnings ordered by Emperor Qin. When the Han took over, people tried to remember and write down the literature and the teachings of Confucius.

Art was encouraged. Craftsman made gold ornaments and jade jewelry. A gorgeous glaze in vivid colors was invented for pottery. Pottery was brightly painted with dragons and trees and scenes and charming glimpses of life during Han times. Chinese paper lanterns first became popular during the Han Dynasty.

There was a massive public works project to build canals for better movement of goods. When the canals were put to use, some merchants became rich. They bought a title from the emperor, built mansions, and planted beautiful gardens. This made the nobles furious.

In the sciences, great strides were made in medicine.

Education was important in Han times. Public school was started. It was only for boys, but it was free. Schools were started in every province. The Grand School was the big one in the capital city. At one point, the Grand School had an enrollment of 30,000 students! People wanted to learn new skills because jobs were given to people who qualified for them, not just given to the nobles. And people were paid for their work.

The rich did not send their kids to public school. Most were tutored at home, or in small groups. The rich imitated the behavior and clothing worn in the imperial palace. The wore silk robes with belts. They built beautiful homes and wore furs. They had cashmere carpets and richly colored drapes. They ate wonderful foods. They furnished their tombs with golden items and gorgeous fabrics. Many of the rich ordered stone lions to be placed inside their tomb to guard it.

Most people in Han times were peasant farmers. But some people lived in the city. Cities were laid out with main streets and little alleyways. Each city was surrounded by a wall made of earth and stone for protection from bandits and other invaders.

In the cities, the poor lived in crowded tenements. They had little food. Gangs roamed the streets in the cities. They were often at war, which made walking in the city rather dangerous.

In the countryside, the poor were much better off. They did not own the land they farmed, but they each had their own home, and ample food. They had drapes on the windows. Their clothes were simple, woven from a rather scratchy plant fiber. They worked very hard.
Wang the Peddler The Silk Road Chinese Paper Lanterns Ancient Chinese Dynasties

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The Han Dynasty (Han Times) - Ancient China for Kids

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Many new things happened during Han times. One of the most important was the trade that had begun with ancient Rome via the " silk road". There was a demand in the Roman Empire for Chinese silk. That brought new wealth into China, along with gold, silver, and precious gems. Another was the invention of paper.

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The Han Dynasty was the fifth major dynasty of Ancient China. It was also one of the longest-running: it lasted approximately 426 years, from 206 BC – 220 AD. The ... Read more

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Kids learn about the art of Ancient China including poetry, painting, calligraphy, silk, and porcelain.

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History Of Ancient China | Dynasties, Confucius, And The First Emperor