.png)
By Connor Tracy
Class of 2016
While staying in Xi’an, our group of McConnell Scholars visited one of the most notable attractions of the region, the Terracotta Warriors. Discovered in 1974, the figures of warriors and horses were created during the Qing Dynasty under the future emperor Qin Shi Huang around 200 B.C. Today it is one of the largest tourist attractions in all of China, with millions of visitors each year, including President Clinton in 1998. After learning the history of these figures, I began to wonder about the value of one’s legacy, and what legacy I would like to leave behind.
Before considering the concept of a legacy, it is important to have a basic understanding of the history of the Terracotta warriors. Qin Shi Huang ascended to the throne at age 13, and soon began to consider the afterlife. This caused him to begin construction on his mausoleum and the warriors. He would later unify China at age 38, becoming Emperor. His main focus was strength and power, leading him to strengthen the army by offering incentives for lower class people to join. Along with unifying China, he also standardized measurements, coins, and language for the area. The warriors were constructed with the purpose of preserving his strength and success in the afterlife. Following their completion, the emperor had most of the workers killed in order to secure secrecy and protect his tomb.
At first thought, I was impressed with Qin Shi Huang’s accomplishments. However, as my train of thought shifted towards my own life, I couldn’t help but feel that he had been extremely selfish. Although he was a very accomplished leader, in the end, he focused only on himself, murdering thousands in order to preserve his happiness and strength in the afterlife.
These thoughts led me to focus on the idea of a legacy. Questions like “Will history remember me,” “What will people say about me after I die,” flooded my mind. After much contemplation, I realized that life isn’t about creating some great legacy to leave behind. Life is about impacting others in the most positive way you can. Whether history remembers, if you live each moment striving to live out your values and bring the changes that you feel will better yourself and those around you, you don’t need to leave behind a great legacy. True greatness happens in the maintenance, accomplishment, and survival of what is truly right. If you can contribute to this great cause in any way, then your life will have been worth more than any memory of a merciless ruler.
Connor Tracy, of Mayfield, Ky., is a senior McConnell Scholar majoring in political science and philosophy.