The overextension of the labor force during the
Qin Dynasty would result in a popular uprising
against the empire. In 206 B.C., Liu Bang, a Qin
official, led an army composed of peasants and
some lower nobility to victory and established his
own Dynasty in place, the Han. However, unlike
the Qin, the Han would unify China and rule
virtually uncontested for over four hundred years.
It is during this time that much of what is now
considered to be Chinese culture was first
actualized. The bureaucracy started under the Qin
was now firmly established. The vast lands of
China were now under the firm grip of a central
authority. Confucianism became the state ideology
although the worship of Taoist deity remained
widespread, both among the peasants and the
aristocracy. Ancient histories and texts were
analyzed and rewritten to be more objective while
new legendary myths and cultural epics were
transcribed.
The Han era can also be characterized as one of
the greatest artistic outpourings in Chinese history,
easily on par with the glories of their Western
contemporaries, Greece and Rome. Wealth
pouring into China from trade along the Silk Road
initiated a period of unprecedented luxury.
Stunning bronze vessels were created, decorated
with elegant inlaid gold and silver motifs. Jade
carvings reached a new level of technical brilliance.
But perhaps the artistic revival of the Han Dynasty
is nowhere better represented than in their
sculptures and vessels that were interred with
deceased nobles. Called mingqi, literally meaning
“spirit articles,” these works depicted a vast array
of subject, from warriors and horses to ovens and
livestock, which were buried alongside the dead for
use in the next world, reflecting the Chinese belief
that the afterlife was an extension of our earthy
existence. Thus, quite logically, the things we
require to sustain and nurture our bodies in this
life would be just as necessary in our next life.
The great influence of the horse throughout the
history of China cannot be underestimated. In
fact, the ancient expansion of the Chinese Empire
was due in large part to the horse. The rapid
mobility of horse allowed for quick communication
between far away provinces. Likewise, the military
role of horses aided in the conquest and
submission of distant lands. The importance of the
horse in the history and culture of China can be
viewed, in part, through the artistic legacy of this
great civilization. In sculpture, painting, and
literature, horses were glorified and revered.
Horses were believed to be related to mythological
dragons, reflecting their sacred status within
society. During the unification of China under the
Han Dynasty, bands of mounted nomadic warriors
from the north threatened the country. In order to
thwart their attacks, the Chinese sought to import
stronger, faster steeds from Central Asia (as
opposed to the Mongol ponies used by the
invaders), eventually leading to the creation of the
Silk Road.
This highly unusual sculpture of a horse combines
various features typical of regions from Shichuan
to Gansu and Shangdong. Most unique is the
brightly colored paint that decorates the head and
body of the horse. Red, blue, white, and green
lines and dots create lovely patterns that seem to
represent the horse’s saddle and harness.
Furthermore, the horse’s mouth, teeth, and ear are
all highlighted in red, as are individual hairs of the
stiff, arching mane. This sculpture also features an
attached arching tail that fits into an iron
mounting. The upright ears and tail give this
creature an alert, attentive manner. This creature
provided security and strength, allowing the
empire to secure its borders and expand its
influences across Central Asia. This remarkable
sculpture is a creation of immense cultural and
historical significance that attests to the critical
role of the horse in ancient Chinese civilization.
