Chinese Horse Sculptures

The horse was first domesticated in China in the north-east region around 5,000 years ago. Since then, no other animal has had more of an impact on China's history as the horse and this is partly seen in the figurines that can be found in museums across the globe. In fact, some of the oldest clay sculptures found today depict the horse as seen through the eyes of Chinese craftsmen and artists. The animal has played a multitude of roles in this region of the world and was included in such activities as sport, war, art, travel and ceremony. For many, the horse was so important in everyday life that the animals were entombed with their deceased owners for use in the afterlife.

Various Dynasties have been recorded in Chinese history and each one used the horse to varying degrees. Many historians note that the very birth and survival of China's Middle Kingdom (c.1000 B.C.) was thanks to the horse. The Western Zhou Dynasty (ca. 1100-771 BC) relied on horses for warfare more than most and each army measured it's power and significance by the number of horse-drawn war chariots in their possession. Owning to the gigantic land mass that Chinese kingdoms covered and especially as the empire grew, the horses importance and significance increased as they become vital for the trading of goods, maintaining contacts and keeping control of the borders.

With these developments, the creation of Chinese horse sculptures became inevitable. The beautiful form, power and elegance of the horse also inspired many artists, more than with most other animals, except the mythical dragon. The Tang Dynasty (618-907AD) especially is noted for the sculptural forms of horses and these are on display in many notable museums and galleries on all continents. These were usually made from clay and have been discovered in various grave sites from the provinces of Ho-nan and Shen-si.

What is particularly interesting is that each province represented the horse in a different way. Some were portrayed in a realist pose whilst others were made in a more mechanical and/or stylistic form. However, all share one common feature and that's the harness. Many of these Chinese horse sculptures were made as accompaniments for a deceased ruler or nobleman's grave. The harness was thus portrayed on the horse statue so as to be ready for use in the next life. Many of these horses are also posed in a rather melancholy and reflective manner, echoing the sadness over the death of their master.

Much of what equestrians take for granted today originated in China during the periods when these horse sculptures were crafted. The stirrup is probably the most well known invention from this region as are two other items which have been vital in regards to the use of horses in work, warfare and sport. These are the breast strap harness and the horse collar. These Chinese developments meant the horse's raw power was harnessed without impeding on the animal's ability to breath. They also allowed for larger and heavier vehicles to be fixed to the horse without causing extra strain on the animal's manoeuvrability. All this many hundreds of years before the same advances arrived in Europe.