<P> The construction of the tomb was described by historian Sima Qian ( 145 -- 90 BCE ) in his most noted work Shiji , written a century after the mausoleum 's completion . Work on the mausoleum began in 246 BCE soon after Emperor Qin ( then aged 13 ) ascended the throne , and the project eventually involved 700,000 workers . Geographer Li Daoyuan , writing six centuries after the First Emperor 's death , recorded in Shui Jing Zhu that Mount Li was a favoured location due to its auspicious geology , `` famed for its jade mines , its northern side was rich in gold , and its southern side rich in beautiful jade ; the First Emperor , covetous of its fine reputation , therefore chose to be buried there '' . Sima Qian wrote that the First Emperor was buried with palaces , towers , officials , valuable artifacts and wondrous objects . According to this account , 100 flowing rivers were simulated using mercury , and above them the ceiling was decorated with heavenly bodies below which were the features of the land . Some translations of this passage refer to `` models '' or `` imitations '' ; however , those words were not used in the original text , which makes no mention of the terracotta army . High levels of mercury were found in the soil of the tomb mound , giving credence to Sima Qian 's account . Later historical accounts suggested that the tomb had been looted by Xiang Yu , a contender for the throne after the death of the first emperor . However , there are indications that the tomb may not have been plundered . </P>
<P> The construction of the tomb was described by historian Sima Qian ( 145 -- 90 BCE ) in his most noted work Shiji , written a century after the mausoleum 's completion . Work on the mausoleum began in 246 BCE soon after Emperor Qin ( then aged 13 ) ascended the throne , and the project eventually involved 700,000 workers . Geographer Li Daoyuan , writing six centuries after the First Emperor 's death , recorded in Shui Jing Zhu that Mount Li was a favoured location due to its auspicious geology , `` famed for its jade mines , its northern side was rich in gold , and its southern side rich in beautiful jade ; the First Emperor , covetous of its fine reputation , therefore chose to be buried there '' . Sima Qian wrote that the First Emperor was buried with palaces , towers , officials , valuable artifacts and wondrous objects . According to this account , 100 flowing rivers were simulated using mercury , and above them the ceiling was decorated with heavenly bodies below which were the features of the land . Some translations of this passage refer to `` models '' or `` imitations '' ; however , those words were not used in the original text , which makes no mention of the terracotta army . High levels of mercury were found in the soil of the tomb mound , giving credence to Sima Qian 's account . Later historical accounts suggested that the tomb had been looted by Xiang Yu , a contender for the throne after the death of the first emperor . However , there are indications that the tomb may not have been plundered . </P>
who ordered the terracotta army to be built
who ordered the terracotta army to be built
Emperor Qin
Emperor Qin