Origin and Development of Contortion in the Qin and Han Dynasties: Insights from Pit K9901 of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

A figurine from Pit K9901 of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor provides new evidence for the origin and development of contortion in ancient China. The study reveals that Western acrobatic traditions influenced Qin-Han contortion techniques, which were later adapted to local cultural contexts through continuous innovation. This challenges existing assumptions about the evolution of Chinese acrobatics and offers fresh insights into early East-West cultural exchange during this period.

Xue, C., Xue, Y., Yang, C., Gao, R., Chen, X., & Liu, X. (2025). Origin and Development of Contortion in the Qin and Han Dynasties: Insights from Pit K9901 of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8358595/v1