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Primary sourceSculpturec. 210 BCE (photographed 2013)

Qin Terracotta Acrobat Figure No. 1 from Pit K9901

c. 210 BCE (photographed 2013)

A headless terracotta acrobat figure excavated from an attendant pit within Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum complex.

This acrobat figure was buried in an attendant pit of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum complex, part of his afterlife court.

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A headless terracotta figure of a man in a short tunic, arms folded across his chest, standing in a glass display case with a museum label and lighting above. Its feet rest on separate square bases.
Qin terracotta acrobat figure no. 1, excavated from Pit K9901, mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. Photographed 2013.

About this source

What it is

This terracotta figure of a man with folded arms was excavated from Pit K9901, one of the attendant pits within the mausoleum complex built for Qin Shi Huang. It is now displayed in a glass museum case, though it has lost its head.

Why it matters

Pit K9901 is one of many pits surrounding the emperor's tomb, filled with figures beyond the famous soldiers — including acrobats and strongmen. These finds show that Qin Shi Huang's underground world was meant to recreate an entire court and its entertainments, giving historians insight into the culture and craftsmanship of his reign.

Look closer

  • Why would an emperor's tomb include performers as well as soldiers?
  • What can the pose of the figure — arms folded, standing — tell us about what it once depicted?
  • Why do you think the head is missing, and what does that suggest about excavation or time?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Emperor Qin Shi Huang on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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