Shortly after the emperor’s death, the Qin dynasty fell apart, to be replaced by the Han. In the turmoil of that transition, there is evidence that the pits were damaged by flooding and fire.

when the Qin dynasty unified China). It wasn’t the only honorific he received; the rulers of the Tang dynasty named him Taishang Xuanyuan Huangdi, that is, Mysterious and Primordial Supreme Emperor.