The emperor remembered to bring his civilian officials with him into the next life and a special burial pit for them. The pottery figures' costumes and headgear reveal they were Emperor Qin's high-ranking civilian officials. They do not carry any weapons, but each has a knife and sharpener at their waist which was used to scrape off incorrect writing inscribed on wood or bamboo in the days before paper was invented. Four yues (similar to tomahawks) symbolizing imperial power to punish disobedient workers were unearthed in this pit.

A newly discovered pit containing pottery acrobats and a bronze tripod tells us there was more to the emperor's life than political affairs. Clad in short skirts, the life-size figures vary in postures as if they were performing on the stage, and are more active and expressive than the terracotta warriors. They might be modeled after the acrobats who served in the imperial palace to entertain the emperor. The unearthed bronze tripod (ding), delicately shaped with rich, fluid and beautiful patterns, was probably a sacrificial vessel.

 

Thirty-one pits containing bones of rare animals have been discovered, indicating the emperor was also fond of hunting. Each pit contains a kneeling pottery figure with a pottery basin or jar lying in front showing they were attending these animals. A pit of bronze water birds is thought to be the emperor's underground amusement park.