As the year 2000 approaches, a unique terracotta warrior appeared in the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Pit of Qin Shi Huang, whose face is emerald green, which is completely different from the pink terracotta warriors and horses found before, so it is called the "green-faced figurines". The posture of this terracotta warrior is also very different from other terracotta warriors, it kneels on one leg and puts its hands on the right side of its body, as if it is in a kneeling state, so it is called "kneeling figurines". Due to their uniqueness and preciousness, the green-faced figurines became the most valuable terracotta warriors and horses, and were banned from being exhibited abroad by the state. To date, it has only been exhibited once in Taiwan, and is currently in the collection of the Shaanxi History Museum.
However, although it has been 23 years since the figurines were unearthed, the reasons for the green color of the figurines are still inconclusive among scientists, archaeologists and historians. Originally, experts believed that the green-faced figurines represented the people in charge of rituals and divination in the army, and that such people often had a layer of mystery, such as wearing strange masks and special costumes. They performed rituals such as blessings, prayers, and sometimes to ward off diseases such as plague before the war. Another speculation is that the green-faced figurines represent field soldiers in the army who painted their faces green to adapt to jungle warfare.
However, this speculation seems to be untenable, because ancient Chinese wars were rarely fought in the woods, mostly in the plains, and there was no record of jungle warfare in the Qin ** team at that time. Some experts believe that the green-faced figurines were actually a way for soldiers at the time to pray for their safety, but the way to pray for blessings by applying them to their faces does not seem to be credible. Although the green-faced figurines have become a mystery of ancient history, their uniqueness remains fascinating. After the green-faced figurines were unearthed, they were collected in the Shaanxi History Museum, attracting many tourists and people from all walks of life to come and see its peculiarities.
As to why its face is green, experts, historians, and social tourists have put forward their own opinions. One expert explained that the green figurines are green because when they are unearthed, the facial pigments come into contact with oxygen and undergo a rapid oxidation reaction, causing the original color to fade and turn green. This explanation seems plausible, as some experts who have been involved in the excavation recall that most of the terracotta warriors and horses quickly oxidized and discolored soon after they were unearthed, so it is likely that the same was true of the green-faced figurine.
However, this speculation does not explain why only this one is green after fading, while the other terracotta warriors are not. Other experts believe that the green figurines are green because they represent soldiers who may need to be painted green in battle to intimidate the enemy, create psychological stress and fear, and thus help their own side gain the upper hand. Others speculate that the craftsman responsible for the green-faced figurine may have been colorblind, which would explain why its face is green. However, these speculations also have problems that cannot be explained.
Some believe that the green color of the face of the green-faced figurines is actually due to the copper content of the pigments used, so the terracotta warriors gradually took on a patina after being buried in the ground for thousands of years. However, none of these arguments provides sufficient evidence to prove their correctness. Therefore, why the green-faced figurines are green is still a historical mystery. The origin of the terracotta green color has been a subject of much controversy. Some claim that this is caused by the patina produced by the chemical reaction of copper with oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. However, how did these terracotta warriors come to be, buried underground for more than 2,000 years and cut off from the outside air?
At the same time, excavation workers claimed that the green figurines had taken on a green color when they were found, suggesting that the green color may have been formed at the time of making or underground, questioning the explanation for the origin of the patina. These views are all speculations and insights given by experts and scholars based on their own analysis. It's not very convincing, but it's well founded. However, it will take time to find out the real cause. In conclusion, the presence of the Terracotta Warriors reveals that there are still many unsolved mysteries hidden in the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. Maybe they're quietly buried in some unknown corner of the mausoleum, waiting for us to discover.
It has been almost 50 years since the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang was discovered, but our exploration of it is still not complete, such as the underground palace. As the excavation progresses, we may find something new around the corner, and the mystery of the terracotta green may be solved.