秦始皇兵马俑是当地村民1974年3月在田里打井时偶然发现的。经考古学家探测，认定为秦代兵马俑坑。后经勘探和试掘，共发现三处兵马俑坑，按发现时间把它们分别定名为兵马俑一、二、三号坑。三个坑总面积为22，780平方米。
Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses were discovered accidentally in March 1974 when the local farmers were digging a well in the fields. Archeologists believe that the terra-cotta warriors and horses were from the Qin Dynasty. After many explorations and test excavation, three pits have been discovered, covering an area of 22,780 square meters.
这一发现震惊中外。为了保护这些罕见的历史文物，1975年国务院批准在一号坑原址上建一座占地16，300平方米的博物馆。1979年国庆节博物馆正式对外开放。此后，兵马俑3号坑、2号坑国十大名胜之一，被联合国教科文组织列为世界文化遗产。
This discovery created a world sensation. In order to protect these rare historical relics, in 1975, the State Council granted permission to construct a 16,300-square-meter museum over the site of Pit No 1. The museum was officially open to the public on the nation’s National Day, October 1, 1979. Later, exhibition halls housing Pit No. 3, No. 2 and the Bronze Chariots and Horses were built and open to the public in succession. The Museum and the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuang have been listed as one of the country’s ten great historical sites and designated by the UNESCO as a World Culture Heritage Site.
一号坑呈长方形，东西长230米，南北宽62米，深5米，面积16，620平方米。一号坑内的兵马俑完全按当时的实战军阵排列。坑道的东端长廊里站立着三排武士俑，每排70，共210件。这些武士身着战袍，脚打绑腿，手持弓弩，面向东方，是整个军阵的前锋部队。其后是十道土夯的隔墙隔成的11个过道，里面排列着步兵与车兵相间的38路纵队。兵俑全部身穿铠甲，手持长兵器。他们是整个军阵的主力部队。另外，在主力部队的南北和西头，分别有一排武士俑，他们都面朝外，分别是主力部队的左右翼和后卫部队。在试掘的960平方米范围内，出土武士俑500多个，战车4辆，挽马24匹。据测量，一号坑共有兵马俑6000多件。
Pit No.1 is rectangular in shape. It is 230 meters from east to west, 62 meters from north to south, 5 meters deep, and covers an area of 16,620 square meters. Warriors in this pit are arranged in a practical battle array. In the long corridor at the east end of the pit stand three rows of terra-cotta warriors, 70 in each, 210 in all. Armed with bows and arrows, the soldiers are wearing battle tunics and puttees, and facing east. They are regarded as the vanguard of the battle formation. These are followed by 38 columns of troops, consisting of infantrymen and charioteers that are arranged in 11 corridors separated by 10 earth-rammed walls. The warriors all wear armors and carry long-shaft weapons. They make up the main body of the battle formation. Furthermore, at the north, south, and west end, there is one row of terra-cotta warriors respectively, all facing outward. They are the flanks and rear guards of the entire battle formation. From the 960 square meters testing trenches, some 500 warriors, 4 chariots, and 24 drafting horses have been unearthed. According to the density, 6,000 pieces in all can be excavated from Pit No.1.
二号坑呈曲尺形，面积6000平方米，是一个由四个独立的单元、四个不同的兵种编制而成的混合军阵。第一单元是由334个弩兵组成的小方阵。第二单元是由64乘战车组成的方阵。每乘战车有三个军士。第三单元是由19乘战车和100个兵俑组成的方阵。第四单元是由6乘战车、124个骑兵和鞍马组成的方阵。四个单元既是一个互相紧密相连的大军阵，又是四个独立的、灵活机动的、能攻能守的小军阵。据估计，二号坑可出土兵马俑1，500多件。
Pit No.2 is “L”- shaped, covering an area of 6,000 square meters. It is actually a mixed battle formation consisting of military forces in four separate arrays. The first array is composed of 334 archers， the second of 64 chariots with three warriors on each. The third array includes 19 chariots and 100 warriors. The fourth array consists of 6 chariots, 124 cavalrymen and saddled horses. Together, the four arrays constitute a large battle formation, closely connected with one another. At the same time, each of the four arrays is an independent division, flexible and capable of both attacking and defending. It is estimated that altogether 1,500 pieces are expected to be excavated from Pit No.2.
三号呈凹字形，面积520平方米，仅有4马1车和68尊陶俑。三号坑内的兵俑是环绕周壁面对面夹道排列。他们手持一种专门用于仪仗的无刃长兵器。同时，坑内还发现有用于战前占卜和祈祷的动物骨头和鹿角残迹。因此，考古学家认为3号坑可能是整个军阵的指挥部。
三个坑呈 “品” 字形排列, 形成一个庞大的军事场面：8,000 兵马，浩浩荡荡，待命征战，显示出一幅气势磅礴，雄伟壮观的动人场面。这是秦始皇为自己所造的一支守陵的卫戍部队。
Pit No.3 is “U”-shaped, taking up 520 square meters with only 4 terra-cotta horses, one chariot and 68 armored warriors discovered. Warriors here stand in two rows, opposite to each other along the wall. They carry a kind of long weapon, which has no blades and are believed to be used by the guards of honor. Remains of animal bones and deer horns probably used for sacrificial offerings and war praying are found in this pit. So archeologists believe it is the headquarters of the underground army.
The three pits are arranged in a triangle and form an enormous battle array, consisting of 8,000 warriors and horses. Vast and powerful, they give us a grand view of a mighty army in full battle array. They are the garrison army molded to guard Emperor Qin Shihuang tomb.
三个坑内的陶俑都仿真人塑造，全身彩绘。兵俑的队列布局按将军、武官、武士等不同级别和步兵、车兵、骑兵等不同兵种有序排列，他们容貌各异，个个神态逼真、栩栩如生，显示了中国古代雕塑艺术的高超技艺和民族风格。
All the pottery figures were modeled life-size and were originally all color-painted. The warriors in the formation are arranged in accordance with their ranks-----generals, officers and soldiers, and their functions-----foot soldiers, charioteers and cavalrymen. The warriors vary from one another in feature and facial expressions, looking lifelike and vivid. They reveal the high artistic skill and national style of the group sculpture of ancient China.
除了数以千计的兵马俑外，三个坑内出土了数以万计的各种青铜武器，主要有刀、剑、矛、戈、 戟、弓、箭、弩、簇。特别引人注目的一把青铜剑，虽在地下埋藏了2000多年，仍不生锈。至今光亮如新，锋利无比，一次能划透20张纸。经检测，这把剑为铜、锡合金，并含有十多种稀有金属，表面经过铬的处理，能防锈防腐。这表明2000多年前中国的铸造工艺和冶金技术已达到惊人的高度。
Together with the warriors and horses are thousands of bronze weapons, including broad knives, swords, spears, dagger-axes, halberds, crossbows, arrows and arrowheads. The most eye-catching among the weapons is a bronze sword. Though buried under ground for over two thousand years, the sword is rustproof, still bright and sharp, and it can cut through 20 sheets of paper piled together. Technical examination reveals that the sword has been cast of an alloy of copper and tin. It also contains more than ten other rare metals. The surface was coated with chromium that has prevented corrosion and rust. This shows that 2,000 years ago China’s technique of casting and metallurgy reached an amazingly high level.
1980年12月，考古工作者在秦始皇陵西侧20米处发现了两组大型彩绘铜车马，更是给博物馆增加了新的光彩。根据发现顺序，把这两组铜车马分别命名为一号和二号车。两组铜车均为单辕车，各配四匹马。一号车为“高车”，御手和乘坐的人均站立车上。 二号车叫“安车”，分前后两乘室，中间相隔。御手坐前乘室，主人坐后乘室。后乘室前面及左右两侧各有一车窗，后面留门，可能是供秦始皇灵魂出游时乘坐的。铜车马为真人、真马二分之一大小，由3,400多个零部件组成，并有1,720件金银饰品，显得华丽富贵。据初步研究，铜车马的制造采用了铸、焊、铆、镶、刻等多种工艺。
In December 1980, archeologists discovered two teams of color-painted bronze chariots 20 meters to the west of Qin Shihuang’s mausoleum. This has added more splendors to the museum. They are listed as No.1 and No. 2 chariot respectively according to the order of their discovery. Both chariots are single-shaft and drafted by four horses. No.1 chariot was named High Chariot. The charioteers and the passengers all stood in it. No.2 was named Security Chariot, which has two cabins; the front compartment is for the charioteer and the rear one is for the emperor. The rear compartment has a window on both sides as well as in the front and a door at the back. It is said that the chariots are used to hold the emperor’s soul for inspection. The chariots and horses are half life-size, consisting of more than 3,400 component parts and 1,720 pieces of gold and silver decorations and ornaments. They are luxurious and graceful. Test studies have revealed that the making of the bronze chariots and horses involve such techniques as casting, welding, riveting, embedding, and chiseling.
铜车马的制作工艺高超，造型艺术逼真，是我国历史上最早、制作最精美的青铜珍品，也是世界考古发现的最大青铜器，证明秦代的工艺已经达到很高的水平。
The bronze chariots and horses were manufactured with high technology and modeled vividly. They are the earliest and most exquisite bronze treasures made in Chinese history and the largest bronze ware ever discovered in the history of world archaeology. They prove that the technique of chariot manufacture during the Qin period was undoubtedly advanced.
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