Ancient woodblock print features a 'messy' horse

Updated: Feb 12, 2026 China Bound Print

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*A Horse in a Stable*, woodblock print, Han Dynasty, from the collection of the Gansu Jiandu Museum [Photo/VCG]

At first glance, this tiny horse may look like a child's doodle, but it's actually a Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) woodblock print unearthed from Jianshui Jinguan in Jinta county, Gansu province!

Drawn with simple and bold lines, the horse has big, round eyes, thin legs like little sticks, and a tail that bursts out like a string of firecrackers. Its slightly silly yet adorable expression and clumsy body call to mind an ancient emoji. Collection: Gansu Jiandu Museum.

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Ancient woodblock print features a 'messy' horse

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