The Twelve Metal Colossi were twelve bronze monumental statues cast after 221 BCE by the order of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. After defeating the other six Warring States during Qin's wars of unification, Qin Shi Huang had their bronze weapons collected and melted them down to be recast as bells and statues. Particularly noteworthy among them were twelve human statues, each said to have weighed a thousand dan [about 30 tons]. The Emperor displayed them in the palace. Sima Qian considered the casting of these monumental statues as one of the great achievements of the Emperor, on a par with the "unification of the law, weights and measurements, standardization of the axle width of carriages, and standardization of the writing system". The statues were destroyed in the 4th century CE. No illustrations have survived.
The Twelve Metal Colossi are said to have adorned the Imperial Palace of Qin Shihuang in Xi'an (remains of the western wall).
Naturalistic caryatids upholding bells from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, about 80cm tall. 5th century BC. Suggested by some scholars to be predecessors of the Twelve Golden Men.
The Twelve Metal Colossi, as depicted in The First Emperor of China (1989). The monumental colossi are shown bordering the avenue leading to the main gate of the Palace.
Image: Qin Terracotta Acrobat (9897907493)
Qin Shi Huang was the founder of the Qin dynasty and the first emperor of China. Rather than maintain the title of "king" borne by the previous Shang and Zhou rulers, he assumed the invented title of "emperor", which would see continuous use by monarchs in China for the next two millennia.
Posthumous depiction of Qin Shi Huang, 19th century
A portrait painting of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, from an 18th-century album of Chinese emperors' portraits
Jing Ke's assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang; Jing Ke (left) is held by one of Qin Shi Huang's physicians (left, background). The dagger used in the assassination attempt is seen stuck in the pillar. Qin Shi Huang (right) is seen holding an imperial jade disc. One of his soldiers (far right) rushes to save his emperor. Stone rubbing; 3rd century, Eastern Han
Sculpture of Qin Shi Huang during his imperial tour.
