Horses are a key military asset that makes or breaks a dynasty. But to rule, you would still need culture assimilation and hegemony. Northern Wei founded the nation on horseback and ruled north China by adopting Chinese cultures.
Glazed Pottery Horse 釉陶马
Porcelain | Northern Wei Dynasty (386-535) | Dimensions – Length: 34.5 cm, width: 15 cm; base length: 18 cm, width: 17 cm | Collection of the Datong Museum, Excavated from the Northern Wei tombs at Dongxin Home Furnishing Plaza, Datong City in 2013. 陶瓷｜北魏 （公元386年-535年）｜长34.5厘米，宽15厘米；底座长18厘米，宽17厘米｜大同市博物馆藏，2013年大同市东信家居广场北魏基出土
The entire surface is coated with a yellowish-brown glaze. The horse has a long, slender face with a slightly open mouth and short, pointed ears, and the tail hangs down, attached to the back of the horse. The slender legs stand on a square base. 1
A spiral horn extends forward from the centre between the ears like a unicorn. The head features a danglu 当卢, a decorative ornament placed on the head of the horse.
The horse is equipped with a saddle, with mudguards on both sides, from which hangs a pair of heart-shaped stirrups. This type of horse figurine is commonly found in the tombs of the Sixteen Kingdoms in the Guanzhong region 关中十六国墓. This indicates that stirrups were commonly used among the nomadic tribes which enhanced their mobility across the steppes.
The Rise of Tuoba Wei
After Emperor Taiwu 太武帝 (r. 423-452), name Tuoba Tao 拓跋焘 (408-452), ascended the throne, the Tuoba Wei 拓跋魏2 grew strong and the military formidable. He launched northern campaigns against the Rouran 柔然, western expeditions against the Xia state 夏国, and conquered Northern Yan 北燕 and Northern Liang 北凉, unifying the north and ending over a century of division and fragmentation.
According to the Book of Wei 《魏书》, after the Northern Wei unified the north, they relocated 2,000 skilled craftsmen from Chang’an to the capital, bringing the culture of the Sixteen Kingdoms of Guanzhong to Pingcheng. 3The discovery of this glazed pottery horse demonstrates the widespread use of stirrups during the Southern and Northern Dynasties.
Through the efforts and management of several generations of monarchs, the construction of the capital Pingcheng became increasingly complete. In the nearly hundred years before Emperor Xiaowen moved the capital to Luoyang, Pingcheng emerged as the political, economic, military, and cultural centre of northern China.
Green-glazed Pottery Horse 绿釉陶马
Porcelain | Northern Wei Dynasty (386-535) | Collection of the Datong Museum, Excavated from the tomb of Sima Jinlong and his wife in Shijlazhai, Datong City in 1965. 陶瓷｜北魏 （公元386年-535年）｜大同市博物馆藏，1965年大同市石家寨司马金龙夫妇募出土
The technique for glazing pottery was discovered by accident during the Shang Dynasty around 1500 BC. The Chinese realised that the ash from burnt wood in the kiln was causing the glaze, and began intentionally adding it before firing. Many of these pottery were excavated from Northern Wei tombs around Pingcheng (modern day Datong).
Painted Pottery Horse 彩绘陶马
Porcelain | Northern Wei Dynasty (386-535) | Datong Museum Collection, Excavated from the tomb of Song Shaozu and his wife at Yanbel Teachers College, Datong City in 2000. 陶瓷｜北魏 （公元386年-535年）｜大同市博物馆藏，2000年大同市雁北师院宋绍祖夫妇基出土
The reforms implemented during the reigns of Empress Dowager Wenming 文明太后 (442-490) and Emperor Xiaowen 孝文帝 (r. 471-499), who changed the family name from Tuoba 拓拔 to Yuan 元, accelerated the Sinicisation of the Tuoba Wei, blending Hu and Han cultures with vibrant energy.
About Chinese National Treasure Series
中華國寶系列 Chinese National Treasure series feature specific artefacts and relics from museums all around the world that are historically significant to be considered a National Treasure. The series covers the 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation from Neolithic periods before the Xia dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC) to modern day.
Footnotes :
- 通体施黄褐色釉，马脸瘦长，马嘴微张，双耳短而尖。耳间正中有一螺旋角前伸，马头部塑出当卢，马尾下垂贴塑于马后，马腿细长立于方形踏板上。马配置鞍，两侧置障泥，障泥上悬挂一对桃心形马镫。这种造型的马俑多见于关中十六国墓葬中。 Museum Display Tag ↩︎
- The Northern Wei Dynasty, also known as the Tuoba dynasty, played a significant role in Chinese history, unifying the country and reopening the Silk Road. The dynasty’s capital was initially in Pingcheng (modern-day Datong) before being moved to Luoyang in 494 AD. ↩︎
- 《魏书》记载，北魏统一北方后，曾“徙长安城工巧二千家于京师”，将关中十六国文化带入平城，这匹釉陶马的发现证明了南北朝时期马镫的广泛应用。Museum Display Tag ↩︎
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