My Little Pony

2026 is the Year of the Horse, the seventh sign of the Chinese zodiac, specifically the Year of the Fire Horse 丙午年. People born in the Year of the Horse are often described as energetic, adventurous, charismatic, independent, and optimistic.

Introduction

The Horse symbolises vitality, success, and independence. It corresponds to the element ‘fire’ and to the Sun. It is one of the seven treasures of Buddhism and comes seventh in the Twelve Earthly Branches. It is one of the twelve symbols of the Chinese Zodiac.¹

Statue Of Guan Gong Riding A Horse With A Sabre 关公持刀骑马像 (Ming)

Fire Horses are destined for an exciting and eventful life as they love action and excitement. They have a very strong personality, they are intelligent, confident, enthusiastic, and always put in their all. They never give up as they can be stubborn, and usually make an impression in their chosen profession.

Painted Stone Figure on Horse 彩绘石骑马人 (Eastern Han)

As we celebrate the Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Fire Horse, we shall take a look at the horse’s role in Chinese customs and mythology, how horses changed the fortunes of dynasties, and fun things revolving around the horse over 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation.

一馬當先 Take The Lead

According to recent archaeological discoveries, the Chinese character for “horse” (馬/马) appears in the most ancient form of Chinese writing, which dates from the 14th-11th century BC (Shang 商), while surviving painted images of horses date from around the 4th century BC (Eastern Zhou 东周).

Equidae Molars 马科白齿 (Paleolithic Age)

While horse rearing within China are generally considered something that came during Han dynasty, archaeological finds did uncover fossilised remains of prehistoric ancestors of the horses we know today.

Jade Horse 玉马 (Shang)

On a popular level, the horse is still a symbol of speed, perseverance, imagination and youthful energy. A horse at the peak of its physical and intellectual development is described as 千里驹, or ‘thousand-league colt’.

Chariot in Shang Dynasty 殷商时期马车 (Shang)

Throughout China’s long past, no animal has affected its history as greatly as the horse. Ever since its introduction in China around the end of the 3^rd Millennium BC, the horse has been an integral figure in the creation and survival of the Middle Kingdom.

龍馬精神 Vigorous Spirit

The species of horse native to China were not as large or strong as those from Central Asia, especially the highly coveted “heavenly horses” (tianma) from the Central Asian kingdom of Ferghana², which traders began to import during the Han dynasty 汉朝 (206 BC–220 AD).³

Gilded Bronze Plaque with Mythical Beast 鎏金神兽青铜牌饰 (Han)

龍馬 Longma, a mythical hybrid creature that was part-dragon and part-horse, was said to have emerged from the Yellow River. Its appearance was a sign of a sage-ruler’s connection to the divine, and it is associated with the revelation of the Yellow River Map, aka Hetu 河圖, an early magic square.

Gold Dragon Pattern Saddle Jewellery 金质龙纹马鞍饰 (Tang)

2,000 years ago, “Pegasus”, a magic horse in the ancient Greek mythology, “flew” onto the utensils used by the Chinese people. That was a miracle that happened on the SilkRoad. This saddle was excavated in a tomb⁵ belonging to a Tuyuhun 吐谷浑 (313-663) or Tufan/Tubo 吐蕃 (618-842/848) royalty around Kokonur (modern day Qinghai).⁶ There are a variety of animal and plant patterns on the saddle, among which the main body on the right is a dragon.⁷ In front of the dragon is a horse with wings 飛馬 – a pegasus in Greek mythology.

Stone Sculpture of Scripture Carrying Horses 驮经之马石像 (Song)

Baima 白馬, or white horse, is associated with the introduction of the Buddhist teachings to China. Commemorative structures include the Luoyang White Horse Temple 洛陽白馬寺, in dedication for the arrival of two Buddhist monks from the 月氏 Yuezhi (modern day regions of northern Afghanistan and parts of north-western India), on two white horses

馬到成功 Success Upon Arrival

One of the great paradoxes of Chinese history is that despite the horse’s significance to the survival of the Empire, domestic horse-breeding programmes were rarely successful. As a result, China was forced to import horses from its nomadic neighbours throughout most of the imperial period.

Ascending to the Heaven 升天成仙画像石 (Eastern Han)

Silk had been traded for horses during the Han Dynasty (157 – 87 BC), whilst tea was the commodity of trade during the Song Dynasty (681 – 907), which initiated the history of ‘Tea for Horses’ markets.⁸

Their importance in the transportation of goods and supplies, and the overall development of Chinese trade, prompted some of the most important innovations in equestrian history. For example the horse collar, the stirrup and a reliable and effective harnessing system based on the breast strap.

馬上得天下 Winning The World On Horseback

The horse has always been depicted as an animal of success and victory due to its long history associated with conquerors and emperors.

Bronze Chariot No. 1 一号铜车马 (Qin)

In ancient China, the horse was a powerful symbol of strength, speed, bravery, and loyalty, embodying the masculine Yang principle. It also represented power, wealth, and success, playing a crucial role in warfare, government, and burial practices, as seen in the Terracotta Army’s Bronze Chariot above.

The horse was crucial to ancient Chinese military success, representing speed and victory on the battlefield. Its integration into cavalry tactics during the Han dynasty marked a significant development in military strategy.

天馬行空 Wild Imagination

The horse’s untamed nature symbolised freedom, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of independence. This wild spirit was often admired in myths and artwork.

Gold-decorated Silver Kettle with the Pattern of a Dancing Horse 鎏金舞马衔杯纹银壶 (Tang)

During the Tang Dynasty (618-690, 705-907), the “golden age” of Imperial China, horses were particularly praised, not only for their fundamental aid in warfare, but also because of their aesthetic beauty. At this time, fine breeds of horses were imported from the West Asian territories and this resulted in a growing enthusiasm for the depiction of these beautiful animals.⁹

Tri-Coloured Black-Glazed Pottery Horse 三彩黑釉马 (Tang)

Along with the slender figure of the foreign breeds, the colour of a horse was a very important feature, and the emperor’s favourite animals were addressed by their colour. A symbol of power, rank and wealth, during this dynasty’s rule the horse became one of the most loved subjects for art and funerary figures, which were crafted with highly naturalistic detail and decorated with multicolour glazes. Also the composition of the saddles and the bridles grew more and more complex and Tang horses are to this day one of the most recognisable subjects of Ancient Chinese art.

軟裘快馬 Horsing Around

Horses were not only used for military. Due to their importance, the elites and royalties used them for leisure as well to demonstrate their social statuses.

Painted Pottery Horse And Horse Trainer 彩绘陶马与胡人驯马俑 (Tang)

These sculptures paint a scene of a Northern barbarian in ancient China training a dancing horse along the Silk Road. Horse dancing was popular among the Persians, and was introduced to Chinese royal families during the Tang Dynasty. Despite being lavishly harnessed, the horse shows no sign of obedience. This has resulted in all the tension and drama between the steed and the man, who, with legs wide apart, arms outstretched and veins on the wrists swelling up, tries desperately to rein in the muscular animal.

Painted Pottery Female Polo Players on Horsebacks 彩绘陶打马球女俑 (Tang)

The game of polo has been called “The Sport of Kings” and has become a spectator sport for equestrians and high society, often supported by royal sponsorship. The progenitor of polo and its variants existed from the 6th century BC to the 1st century AD, as an equestrian game played in Persia. Polo likely travelled via the Silk Road to China where it was popular in the Tang dynasty capital of Chang’an, where it was played by women, who had to wear a male dress to do so; many Tang dynasty tomb figures of female players survive.¹¹

The collection of horse images used in this post are from museums around China that I have visited over a period of 10 years (unless otherwise stated). These included (and not withstanding) Hong Kong Palace Culture Museum (Dec 2023), National Museum of China (Mar 2023), National Palace Museum (Sep 2023), The Palace Museum (May 2019), Shanghai Museum East (May 2025), Xi’an Beilin Museum (Mar 2024), Museum of Nanyue King (Jan 2022).

The Chinese Zodiac Series

Every year, we will post a special article about the particular Zodiac animal and the outlook for the year using artefacts from museums around the world. A cycle is 12 years.

Pottery Figurines of the Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals 十二生肖陶俑 (Tang)

The animals were selected to help the illiterate population remember the 12-year cycle of the Chinese calendar. The 12 animals are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig, in that order. Each animal represents a year in a 12-year cycle, and each is associated with unique personality traits. 

About the Chinese Calendar

The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar that tracks both the moon’s phases and the sun’s position, resulting in cycles of 12 or 13 months per year. It incorporates multiple cycles, most notably the 60-year sexagenary cycle 干支曆¹², which combines the 10 Heavenly Stems 天干¹³ and 12 Earthly Branches 地支¹⁴ to name each year. Additionally, the calendar uses 24 solar terms 节气¹⁵ to mark seasonal changes, which are based on the sun’s position. 

Bronze Bagua Zodiac Mirror 铜八卦生肖镜 (Tang)

Legend has it that the Heavenly Jade Emperor 玉皇大帝 wanted to select twelve animals to represent the 12 earthly branches using in the sexagenary cycle. The animals in the world raced to be the first twelve to arrive at the Heavenly Palace to be picked for the honour. The Ox was the first to arrive with the Rat on his back. And at the last minute, the rat jumped across the line to become the first animal. ¹⁶

Footnotes:

1. “Introduction to the 12 Earthly Branches (十二地支)”, Posted by Imperial Harvest on 13 December 2024 https://imperialharvest.com/blog/12-earthly-branches/ ↩︎
2. “Ferghana” can refer to the Fergana Valley, a fertile, densely populated, and historically volatile region in Central Asia spanning Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, or the city of Fergana, which is the capital of the Fergana Region in eastern Uzbekistan.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferghana_horse, accessed 20 Nov 2025 ↩︎
3. Year of the Horse: Chinese Horse Paintings, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian February 24 to September 2, 2002 https://asia-archive.si.edu/exhibition/year-of-the-horse-chinese-horse-paintings/, accessed 20 Nov 2025 ↩︎
4. 此牌饰正面铸出一形如飞马的神兽，神兽吻部有弯角上翘，昂首扬尾，四蹄腾空，双翼伸展，作奔腾飞翔状。《魏书•序记》云：拓跋鲜卑从今天大兴安岭北部即所谓大鲜卑山南迁时，“山高谷深，九难八阻，于是欲止。有神兽，其形似马，其声类牛，先行导引，历年乃出”。据研究，牌饰上的神兽正是按照这一神话传说设计的。值得注意的是，吉林榆树老河深在大兴安岭以东，并非拓跋鲜卑南迁时所经之地，这里的墓群应该属于东部鲜卑。关于榆树老河深的族属，曾有鲜卑和夫余两种认识，近年来多数学者倾向于该墓群为夫余遗存。Museum Information Card, May 2023 ↩︎
5. http://www.xinhuanet.com/local/2021-01/29/c_1127042804.htm, accessed 20 Nov 2025 ↩︎
6. https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-sg/热水墓群, accessed 20 Nov 2025 ↩︎
7. 器身拯擇有多种动植物纹样，其中右侧主体为一立龙。龙体修长，头部有耳、发，一侧龙首上有单义状角，龙口咧开，上唇外翻，口吐云气，四肢上下而舞，似为三爪，前肢处生翼，根部似涡纹状。龙的造型显然受到將代中原地区的直接影响。Museum information card, ↩︎
8. “The Horse in Chinese Art and Culture”, https://www.antiquities.co.uk/blog/china-orient/the-horse-in-chinese-art-and-culture/, accessed 29 Oct 2025 ↩︎
9. https://www.ancient-art.co.uk/the-horse-in-ancient-chinese-culture/, accessed 28 Oct 2025 ↩︎
10. 此套5件，均女性，着紧身服、骑马，手中木质鞠杖已朽失，但策马打球的身安栩栩如生。马球是盛行于唐五代宫廷、军中和民间的一种全民体育活动。打马球一般分做二队，人数不拘，设裁判。球门依参赛人数多寡设一或二个，一般是一块木板，中心挖一圆洞，后接网盛球。比赛以破门次数多者为胜，胜者获奖。赛中有音乐助兴，击鼓助威。球大小如拳，由轻韧木剖空制成。鞠杖也是木质，长数尺，杖头似夸月，有些类似今天的冰球杆。球场的大小不等，但要平坦，以便跑马驰骑，讲究的球场甚至还酒上油，使之更加光滑。Museum information card, Mar 2024 ↩︎
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polo, accessed 20 Nov 2025 ↩︎
12. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/干支 ↩︎
13. 甲、乙、丙、丁、戊、己、庚、辛、壬、癸. The ten Heavenly Stems (or Celestial Stems) are a system of ordinals indigenous to China and used throughout East Asia, first attested c. 1250 BCE during the Shang dynasty as the names of the ten days of the week. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavenly_Stems ↩︎
14. 子、丑、寅、卯、辰、巳、午、未、申、酉、戌、亥 ↩︎
15. 二十四节气是中国古代根据太阳周年运动和气候变化规律总结出的一套知识体系。它将一年划分为二十四等份，用于指导农业生产和生活起居。节气包括反映季节变化的八个节气（如立春、夏至、秋分、冬至）、反映气候变化的五个节气（如小暑、大暑、处暑、小寒、大寒）以及反映降水和物候现象的十二个节气（如雨水、谷雨、白露、寒露、霜降、小雪、大雪、惊蛰、清明、小满、芒种）。https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_term  ↩︎
16. 玉帝赛跑: 最著名的传说版本是玉皇大帝举办动物赛跑，以先到的十二种动物作为生肖。这个故事生动地解释了十二生肖的顺序，但也为生肖的起源增添了神话色彩。其中“老鼠骑牛”的故事解释了老鼠在十二生肖中为何排名第一。根据这个传说，猫因为被老鼠陷害，所以对老鼠怀恨在心，因此猫不在十二生肖之中。http://www.cctv.com/geography/news/20021202/25.html#:~:text=根据历史记载及研究,地支是密不可分的%E3%80%82, accessed 28 Oct 2025  ↩︎