Across the ages, swift and noble horses – galloping freely and surging forward – have embodied bold spirit and uplifting strength. Here is a remarkable assembly of Chinese horse artifacts, unfolding the rich and enduring legacy of China’s equestrian culture.

Bronze foal-shaped zun vessel

Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC)
National Museum of China

Jade horse

Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC)
Shanxi Museum

Bronze horses

Warring States Period (475-221 BC)
Handan Museum

Horse head-shaped bronze chariot shaft ornament with gold and silver inlaid

Warring States Period (475-221 BC)
National Museum of China

Bronze horse-drawn chariots

Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum

Gilded bronze horse

Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220)
Maoling Museum

Gold plaque ornament with twin horse motifs

Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220)
The Palace Museum

A Horse in a Stable

Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220)
Gansu Jiandu Museum

'Horse Treading on the Xiongnu' stone carving

Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24)
Maoling Museum

Bronze cowrie receptacle decorated with four oxen and a gilded rider on a horse

Western Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 24)
Yunnan Provincial Museum

Bronze chariot and horse

Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220)
Guizhou Provincial Museum

Bronze running horse

Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220)
Gansu Provincial Museum

Bronze horse

Three Kingdoms (220-280)
Xiangyang Museum

Bronze plaque ornament with design of two horses

Wei and Jin dynasties (220-420)
Qinghai Provincial Museum

Stone horse dating from the Great Xia

Sixteen Kingdoms period (304-439)
Xi'an Beilin Museum

Cavalry figurines unearthed from the tomb of Yifu Mogui

Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534)
Datong Museum

Mounted Processions from the tomb of Lou Rui

Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577)
Shanxi Museum

A Groom and a Saddled Horse

Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum

Sancai sculpture of a Hu rider on a galloping horse

Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Xi'an Museum

Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum

Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Xi'an Beilin Museum & University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Gilded silver kettle with a dancing horse grasping a cup in its mouth

Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Shaanxi History Museum

Sancai figurines of a horse and its groom

Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Shaanxi History Museum

Hunting Procession mural

Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Shaanxi History Museum

Polo Scene mural

Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Shaanxi Archaeology Museum

Sancai black-glazed horse

Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Luoyang Museum

Gilded bronze horse with a monkey on its back

Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Dingzhou Museum

Pasturing Horses handscroll by Li Gonglin

Song Dynasty (960-1279)
The Palace Museum

Herding Horses in Autumn Suburb

Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)
The Palace Museum

Washing Horses

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
Liaoning Provincial Museum

Wucai (five-color) lidded jar decorated with celestial horses

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
The Palace Museum

Bronze horse head sculpture from the Old Summer Palace

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
Old Summer Palace

Wanjishuang Horse

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
The Palace Museum

Crouching horse-shaped Tianhuang stone paperweight

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
Suzhou Museum

Gold horse treasure inlaid with pearls

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
The Palace Museum

Agate horse carrying a bundle of Buddhist scriptures

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
Hangzhou Museum

Galloping Horses

1942
Xu Beihong Memorial Museum