Which empire commissioned the Terracotta Army near Xi'an?

The Qin dynasty commissioned the Terracotta Army near Xi'an.

The Terracotta Army was created to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor to unify China. Construction began after he became king of Qin in 246 BC and continued after he founded the imperial dynasty in 221 BC. The burial complex lies near modern Xi'an in Shaanxi Province and includes thousands of life-size clay soldiers, horses, chariots, and weapons.

The figures were arranged in military formations and originally had painted surfaces, many of which faded after excavation. Their individualized faces and varied uniforms provide evidence about Qin military organization and ancient manufacturing. The army was discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well. It is often incorrectly attributed to the Han or Tang dynasties, which ruled China later. The pits form only part of a much larger mausoleum complex, whose central tomb has not been fully excavated.