The Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, as the eighth wonder of the world, attract countless tourists and history buffs. However, one question has always puzzled: why are there almost only male figurines in the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, and few female figurines are seen?This article will reveal the truth of this mystery.
1. The reason for the lack of female figurines.
Social status: In the Qin Dynasty, men's social status was much higher than that of women, and women's roles in social life were relatively marginalized. Therefore, the terracotta warriors and horses of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang are mainly male, reflecting the reality of the society at that time.
War needs: After Qin Shi Huang unified the six countries, foreign wars continued. The terracotta warriors and horses were mainly used to show the fighting posture of men in war, highlighting the military authority of Qin Shi Huang. Comparatively speaking, the role of women in the war was smaller, so the number of female figurines in the mausoleum was limited.
Gender division of labor: In the Qin Dynasty, men were mainly engaged in activities such as agricultural warfare, while women were responsible for housework, textiles, and other work. The terracotta warriors and horses mainly reflect the contribution of men in social production, warfare, etc., while women are relatively less represented in these fields.
Cultural traditions: During the Qin Dynasty, Confucian culture gradually emerged, and the concept of male and female superiority and inferiority was deeply affected. The structure of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang also reflects this cultural tradition.
2. On the "protection of women".
Myth: In fact, the terracotta warriors of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang are not completely devoid of female figures. Among the terracotta figurines that have been discovered, there are female figures such as dancing figurines and maid figurines. These female figurines also show the majesty of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang.
Cultural inheritance: The statement about the "protection of women" in the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang may stem from the emphasis on the traditional concept of the difference between men and women, and the inferiority of men and women in later literary works. To a certain extent, this statement degrades the prejudice and restrictions on women in society at that time.
3. Other manifestations of women in the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang.
Murals: In the murals of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, there are some female figures, mostly maids, dancing figurines, etc., reflecting the status and role of women in the social life of the Qin Dynasty.
Funerary goods: During the archaeological excavations of the mausoleum, some female-related funerary items such as bronze mirrors and ornaments were discovered, further proving the presence of women in the mausoleum.
Fourth, summary. The lack of female images in the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang is mainly due to many factors such as social status, war needs, gender division of labor and cultural traditions. The statement about "protecting women" is more of a misunderstanding and exaggeration of the cultural concepts of the time by later generations. In fact, the image of women in the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang has not been completely erased, but relatively rarely.