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The T’ang Dynasty was an era of unrivalled
wealth and luxury. The country was successfully
reunified and the borders were expanded,
pushing Chinese influence into new lands.
Confucianism became a semi-religious
instrument of the state; yet Buddhism continued
to flourish, spreading into Korea and Japan. The
arts reached new levels of sophistication. Poetry
and literature flourished under the enlightened
rulers. The Silk Road brought fortunes into
China. Precious treasures were imported on the
backs of camels from far away lands and
bartered for Chinese silk, medicinal herbs, and
pungent spices. T’ang China was a multicultural
empire where foreign merchants from across
Central Asia and the Middle East settled in the
urban centers, foremost among them the
thriving capital of Chang’an (modern X’ian), a
bustling cosmopolitan center of over two million
inhabitants. Foreign traders lived next to native
artisans and both thrived. New ideas and exotic
artistic forms followed alongside. The T’ang
Dynasty was a cultural renaissance where many
of the forms and objects we now associate with
China were first created. Moreover, this period
represents one of the greatest cultural
outpourings in human history.
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
need to import stronger, faster steeds from
Central Asia (as opposed to the local Mongol
pony) led to the creation of the Silk Road. 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 T’ang Dynasty, the adoration of the
horse can be seen through their burial art. Horse
models excavated from mausoleums of the
period are among the most splendid and easily
recognizable works of Chinese art. This
gorgeous horse, caparisoned in a stunning array
of elegant molded medallions along his upper
torso and head and a stunning saddle blanket, all
painted in a three colored, or Sancai, glaze. The
Sancai glazing technique was first introduced
around this time, making this sculpture even
more impressive for the early refinement of such
a complex technique. Furthermore, the slightly
turned posture of the horse’s head and the open
mouth are both features highly desired by
collectors. Together, all these features combine
to produce a work of art of stunning beauty and
grace that successfully captures the admiration
the T’ang Dynasty felt for this majestic creature.
- (H.704)
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