Twelve giants appeared at Lintao — each five zhang tall (about 11.5 meters), with feet six chi long, wearing barbarian dress. Qin Shi Huang took it as a favorable omen and cast twelve metal statues in their likeness from confiscated weapons.
Account
Twelve giants appeared at Lintao — each five zhang tall (about 11.5 meters), with feet six chi long, wearing barbarian dress. Qin Shi Huang took it as a favorable omen, and cast twelve metal statues in their likeness from confiscated weapons.
Debunked
⚠️ Reasonable conjecture: Modern scholars suggest these may have been legendary retellings of Western envoys or large statues. The "alien visitors" interpretation has no evidence.
Sources
- Records of the Grand Historian, "Basic Annals of Qin Shi Huang"