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

Abstract Figurine No. 28, which was excavated from Pit K9901 of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, has a stance that clearly demonstrates contortion. This study examines the physical shape of Figurine No. 28 and follows the evolution of such imagery in order to shed light on the origins of its movements and of Chinese contortion. It contends that Western acrobatic traditions influenced the development of Qin-Han contortion techniques, which were then progressively adapted to regional cultural contexts through continuous innovation and enrichment. This study interrogates a significant gap in the archaeological research on Chinese contortion acrobatics. By deepening our understanding of early Western contortion traditions and supplying fresh evidence for the thesis of Western cultural exchange at the Qin Mausoleum, these findings hold considerable significance for understanding the development of ancient Chinese acrobatics, early East-West cultural encounters, and the interrelated entertainment burial belief systems in Qin-Han society.