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Gilded bronze horse beloved by Emperor Wu of Han
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
China Bound
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Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) was famously obsessed with fine horses from the Xiyu (Western Regions). He even took one with him into the afterlife.
Discovered in 1981, this gilded bronze horse, modeled after the Ferghana horse, also known as the "blood-sweating horse", was unearthed from a tomb in Emperor Wu's Maoling Mausoleum. Standing calmly yet powerfully, it features a chest with taut muscles and sharply defined hooves – solid and strong, embodying the might of the Han Empire and reflecting the highly developed horse culture of the Han Dynasty. Collection: Maoling Museum, Xianyang, Shaanxi.
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