Decoding the shoes of Terracotta Warriors: in terms of restoration technology and functional performance

Abstract

The shoes of the Terracotta Warriors hold significant historical and cultural value as an important legacy of ancient Chinese shoemaking craftsmanship. However, there is a dearth of research on terracotta shoes. Therefore, this study aimed to restore the Terracotta Warrior’s shoes from the perspectives of clothing engineering and archaeology, and then to assess the critical function of the restored shoes. Finally, we will explore why the soldiers of the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC) were so successful in the military. In the restoration process, we utilized Augmented Reality ranging technology to conduct field investigations in museums, obtaining the basic form of the shoe of the kneeling archer figurine No.05438, and based on this, we studied its techniques and materials. Further, a quantitative analysis of the structural functionality of the Qin Dynasty shoes was carried out. Results show that: (1) the shoe soles of the Terracotta Warriors were adorned with neatly arranged circular patterns; the shoe sole was divided into three sections, with a ratio of 8:13:6 among the three sections; (2) the production technique of the shoe sole was consistent with the Thousand-layer sole, and the material used was red ramie; (3) we compared the replica shoes with two similar modern shoes and found that the replica shoes not only exhibited excellent flexibility but also demonstrated better slip resistance in wet conditions. Overall, we successfully reconstructed the shoe and evaluated its functionality using advanced archaeological techniques. Our finding unveiled notable advantages in flexibility and slip resistance in the Terracotta Warrior’s shoes, enhancing our understanding of ancient shoes. Additionally, this study also provides valuable practical experience and methodology for archaeology in restoring ancient shoes.