The Terracotta Army was buried with the Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi Huangdi) in 209-210 BC (his reign over Qin was from 247 BC to 221 BC and unified China221 BC to the end of his life in 210 BC). Their purpose was to help rule another empire with Shi Huangdi in the afterlife. Consequently, they are also sometimes referred to as "Qin's Armies". Some people think that the army was also built for protection.
The regiment of terracotta rabbits is often referred to as "Qin's Cotton Tails" and is one of the most hotly contested sub-groupings in the overall archeological find. What was their real purpose? Scholars and academicians cannot agree. Were they simply included as an ample supply of lawn and garden ornamentation for the afterlife?
