In China, they were ruled by a national leader known as Shi Huangdi, while in Egypt, they were known as ancient pharaohs. They were both respected, and once they die, they would be buried in special places known as tombs. In Egypt mostly referred to as Pyramids.
Similarities between tombs in Egypt and China
1.In both countries, they were both buried with their belongings due to life belief after death the so-referred to as afterlife. They believed that these leaders never meant the end of life; rather, it was a continuation of life after death. Shi Huangdi was buried with an entire fleet of terracotta warriors together with their horses. Shi Huangdi did this to have the same fighting spirit in the afterlife. They did this to have wealth and power in their afterlife.
2.The tombs were constructed in huge sizes. This building of tombs in huge size was due to craft men in both countries due to the late Neolithic Early Bronze Age. The ancient Chinese architecture contributed to building up huge spaced tombs. In Egypt, ‘the valley of the kings’ was one of the most collection of such tombs.
3.Presence of high security around the tombs and a law that forbids the opening of the tombs. This was to prevent rob of precious items placed in the tomb of Pharaoh and Shi Huangdi. The treasures hidden in the tombs were mostly kept in secret, and only the tomb builders had knowledge about them. Although in Egypt, some tombs were robbed up which led to the rich building up themselves pyramids, which were highly preserved.
4.The place of the burials of the Egyptian pharaohs and Shi Huangdi were carefully chosen so as to bring forth good fortune and wealth. They were in a discrete geographical position and guard was highly provided to keep the tombs safe.
5.They both planned most of their burials while still alive. For example; Terracotta warriors in China took more than forty years to be constructed just in case of the death of their leader all would be set since the tomb was ready. This was also the same in Egypt were the pharaoh had to build a pyramid before his death. In both countries, tomb building was a pre-requisite before one died.
Differences between the tombs found in Egypt and the ones in China.
1.The walls in pharaoh’s tombs were painted in pictorial form showing afterlife while in china tombs, the walls had no paintings they had only ornaments placed on the walls. The wall paintings in pharaoh’s tomb literally told the adventures found in afterlife. They explained the passage of life to death(afterlife).
2.The first and the last tombs were unique in that they were made above the ground unlike the Egyptian tombs which were made underneath then build upwards into a pyramid. This Chinese tomb was made up of mound of packed dirt.
3.The tombs in Egypt were build mainly with the idea of preparation of afterlife journey of the pharaohs while in China the tombs had a signal communication about the status of person.
4.Tombs in Egypt were build using dried bricks while in china wood was highly used. In Egypt, low class build tombs while the high class build pyramids. This had caused social stratification in Egypt.