Where are the weapons used to be in the hands of Terracotta Warriors?
If you look closely to Terracotta Warriors, you will find that the hands of the Terracotta Warriors are all the gestures of holding something. According to archaeologists, they used to hold weapons. Where are they? There are two possibilities of these disappeared weapons.
Why did archaeologists speculate Terracotta Warriors once held weapons?
Possible reasons for the disappearance of weapons
1. The weapons were corroded.
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2. The Weapons were stolen.
Secondly, observing the existing warriors with weapons, some weapons have been obviously moved. It’s possible that the terracotta warriors have seized the weapons too firmly, and the tomb robbers couldn’t pull them out. In addition, steal holes and some scattered weapons were found in Pit 1, which further proves that the loss of weapons in the hands of the Terracotta Warriors is caused by human beings.
Who did on earth stole those weapons?
Besides the peasant soldiers, experts speculated that it was Xiang Yu - a leader of Chu State (740 - 223 BC). Xiang Yu hated Emperor Qin Shi Huang who defeated his state, and according to Chinese historical records, Xiang Yu burned the imperial palace of the first Emperor Qin Shi Huang and stole his mausoleum. Besides, after the Qin Dynasty’s demise, Xiang Yu fought against Liu Bang - the founder of Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD). In this process, weapons were in demand, and these weapons in the Terracotta Warriors had a great attraction for Xiang Yu. However, these are only the experts’ conjectures, and there is no actual evidence.

Besides the peasant soldiers, experts speculated that it was Xiang Yu - a leader of Chu State (740 - 223 BC). Xiang Yu hated Emperor Qin Shi Huang who defeated his state, and according to Chinese historical records, Xiang Yu burned the imperial palace of the first Emperor Qin Shi Huang and stole his mausoleum. Besides, after the Qin Dynasty’s demise, Xiang Yu fought against Liu Bang - the founder of Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD). In this process, weapons were in demand, and these weapons in the Terracotta Warriors had a great attraction for Xiang Yu. However, these are only the experts’ conjectures, and there is no actual evidence.
See also: How did the Terracotta Army get burnt and destroyed?
Where are the existing weapons of the Terracotta Army preserved?
Although the weapons in the hands of the terracotta warriors had disappeared, in the Exhibition Hall of Historical Relics of Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum, tourists can still appreciate many weapons unearthed from the pits of Terracotta Army, mainly including bronze swords, spears, dagger-axe, crossbows, halberds and battleaxes.
- Last updated on Aug. 04, 2025 by Alex Jin -