In China, horses are present both physically and in art and beliefs, particularly those relating to astrology. In 1985, China had the world's largest herd of horses, numbering 11 million. China was at the origin of post houses in Eurasia. Since the 2000s sport and leisure riding have been developing in China, mainly for wealthy people.
A 2 000-year-old tomb discovered in Xinjiang, northwest China, revealed the remains of two horses, one of them had a palomino coat.[1]
Control of horses is a key strategic issue in China, influencing diplomatic relations, military strategy and the economy.[2] For example, horse imports from Ferghana are aimed at securing the Silk Road.
Development of post housesEdit
The Chinese seem to have been the first to set up a system of post houses in antiquity, a peculiarity that can be explained by the need to transmit information efficiently in an empire that was both vast and endowed with a solid administrative system.[3] This system was adopted by the Mongols during their invasions.
Farmer at work in northern China, 1991.
The 20th centuryEdit
In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party banned horse betting (a law still in force today), believing it to be the result of the decadent influence of foreign occupation.[4] Throughout the 20th century, China remained very rural; horses were widely used for all aspects of daily life.[5] In 1985, China had the world's largest herd of horses: 11 million, according to a FAO report.[5] This represents one-sixth of the world's horse population.[6]
The 21st centuryEdit
Since the 2000s, horse-riding has been on the rise in China, but only among the more affluent segments of the population. In 2002, the China Equestrian Website opened and listed the number of equestrian clubs, which reached 500 in 2012.[7] The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing accelerated the phenomenon.[4] In 2011, the city of Tianjin announced that it was investing $2 billion to create a horse city with two racecourses, 4 000 stable spaces, a training center and a veterinary clinic,[7] but the future existence of the project remains uncertain. Many investors are hoping for the opening up of the horse betting market. Horse-riding is seen as an expensive leisure activity and a status symbol. As Chinese breeds are too small for the sport, many animals are imported,[8] in particular polo ponies from Argentina[4] and riding horses from France.[9]Polo is very popular.[10] In 2014, to celebrate the Year of the Horse and the fiftieth anniversary of the Franco-Chinese friendship, Nantes-based company La Machine created a gigantic animated dragon horse and produced a show entitled L'esprit du cheval-dragon.[11] On 20 June2015, the first FEI-approved endurance race was run in China.[12]
BreedingEdit
There is very little reliable information on Chinese horse breeding. For example, several books refer to the breed as the "Chinese pony", whereas there is no such breed, as China is home to a large number of different breeds and types of ponies, probably of Mongolian origin. These animals have been influenced by other breeds through migration and military history, notably Russian and European horses.[6] By convention, Chinese zootechnicians distinguish between native Chinese breeds and "hybrid breeds", the result of crossbreeding with horses from outside the country.[13] The notion of "introduced breed" can also be added. The five main types are:[6]
The number of Chinese horse breeds exceeds thirty.[6] Of these, only one is recognized locally as a pony, the others being considered small horses.[6] The distribution of horse breeding in China is very uneven. They are particularly prevalent in the north and west of the country, from the vast plains at moderate altitudes to the mountainous areas of Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and the Tibetan Plateau. These animals are also fairly numerous in the north-east. However, they are absent, or almost absent, from the south-east of China, where the majority of China's urban population lives.[14]
A breed of gaited horses called "Haomeng" is mentioned in a book published by the FAO in 2003.[15]
ArtEdit
The presence of horses in Chinese art is remarkable, particularly during the Tang dynasty. Many of the Empire's masterpieces feature horses, such as the famous Flying Horse of Gansu[16] and the Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum. The horse seems to have become an artistic subject in its own right very early on.[17] A particular feature of Chinese art is the presence of numerous depictions of naked horses, testifying to the Chinese admiration for the horse "in itself".[18]
While there are many beliefs featuring horses, they are not as important in China as mythological animals such as cranes, phoenixes, dragons and tigers.[19] Similarly, the association of the qilin with the unicorn, and therefore the horse, is controversial. The horse seems to have been considered by the Chinese above all as a utilitarian animal, which explains the rarity of legends of winged horses and the absence of an equivalent to the myth of the centaur.[20] The horse is also present in the Chinese zodiac.
^Suttie, J. M.; Reynolds, Stephen G. (2003). Transhumant Grazing Systems in Temperate Asia. Fao Plant Production Series. Food & Agriculture Org. p. 331. ISBN92-5-104977-7.
Courtot-Thibault, Valérie (1989). Le petit livre du cheval en Chine. Caracole (in French). Favre. ISBN978-2-8289-0331-2.
Creel, H. G. (1965). "The Role of the Horse in Chinese History". The American Historical Review. 70 (3): 647–672. doi:10.2307/1845936. JSTOR 1845936.
Fragner, Bert G. (2009). Horses in Asia. Austrian Academy of Sciences Press. ISBN978-3700161035.
Gazagnadou, Didier (2013). La poste à relais en Eurasie : La diffusion d'une technique d'information et de pouvoir Chine - Iran - Syrie - Italie (in French). éditions Kimé. ISBN978-2-84174-614-9.
Hendricks, Bonnie Lou (2007). "Chinese horses". International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN978-0806138848.
Zheng, Piliu (1984). "Horses". Livestock Breeds of China. Food and Agriculture Organization. ISBN9251021856.
October 24, 2023
horses, chinese, culture, china, horses, present, both, physically, beliefs, particularly, those, relating, astrology, 1985, china, world, largest, herd, horses, numbering, million, china, origin, post, houses, eurasia, since, 2000s, sport, leisure, riding, ha. In China horses are present both physically and in art and beliefs particularly those relating to astrology In 1985 China had the world s largest herd of horses numbering 11 million China was at the origin of post houses in Eurasia Since the 2000s sport and leisure riding have been developing in China mainly for wealthy people Horse in ChinaHorse drawn carriage in HarbinEquus ferus caballus Contents 1 History 1 1 Development of post houses 1 2 The 20th century 1 3 The 21st century 2 Breeding 3 Art 4 Beliefs 5 See also 6 References 7 BibliographyHistory Edit nbsp The Flying Horse of Gansu emblem of tourism in ChinaA 2 000 year old tomb discovered in Xinjiang northwest China revealed the remains of two horses one of them had a palomino coat 1 Control of horses is a key strategic issue in China influencing diplomatic relations military strategy and the economy 2 For example horse imports from Ferghana are aimed at securing the Silk Road Development of post houses Edit The Chinese seem to have been the first to set up a system of post houses in antiquity a peculiarity that can be explained by the need to transmit information efficiently in an empire that was both vast and endowed with a solid administrative system 3 This system was adopted by the Mongols during their invasions nbsp Farmer at work in northern China 1991 The 20th century Edit In 1949 the Chinese Communist Party banned horse betting a law still in force today believing it to be the result of the decadent influence of foreign occupation 4 Throughout the 20th century China remained very rural horses were widely used for all aspects of daily life 5 In 1985 China had the world s largest herd of horses 11 million according to a FAO report 5 This represents one sixth of the world s horse population 6 The 21st century Edit Since the 2000s horse riding has been on the rise in China but only among the more affluent segments of the population In 2002 the China Equestrian Website opened and listed the number of equestrian clubs which reached 500 in 2012 7 The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing accelerated the phenomenon 4 In 2011 the city of Tianjin announced that it was investing 2 billion to create a horse city with two racecourses 4 000 stable spaces a training center and a veterinary clinic 7 but the future existence of the project remains uncertain Many investors are hoping for the opening up of the horse betting market Horse riding is seen as an expensive leisure activity and a status symbol As Chinese breeds are too small for the sport many animals are imported 8 in particular polo ponies from Argentina 4 and riding horses from France 9 Polo is very popular 10 In 2014 to celebrate the Year of the Horse and the fiftieth anniversary of the Franco Chinese friendship Nantes based company La Machine created a gigantic animated dragon horse and produced a show entitled L esprit du cheval dragon 11 On 20 June 2015 the first FEI approved endurance race was run in China 12 Breeding EditThere is very little reliable information on Chinese horse breeding For example several books refer to the breed as the Chinese pony whereas there is no such breed as China is home to a large number of different breeds and types of ponies probably of Mongolian origin These animals have been influenced by other breeds through migration and military history notably Russian and European horses 6 By convention Chinese zootechnicians distinguish between native Chinese breeds and hybrid breeds the result of crossbreeding with horses from outside the country 13 The notion of introduced breed can also be added The five main types are 6 Mongolian type the South Western or Southern pony the Hequ the Tibetan pony and the Kazakh The number of Chinese horse breeds exceeds thirty 6 Of these only one is recognized locally as a pony the others being considered small horses 6 The distribution of horse breeding in China is very uneven They are particularly prevalent in the north and west of the country from the vast plains at moderate altitudes to the mountainous areas of Inner Mongolia Xinjiang and the Tibetan Plateau These animals are also fairly numerous in the north east However they are absent or almost absent from the south east of China where the majority of China s urban population lives 14 A breed of gaited horses called Haomeng is mentioned in a book published by the FAO in 2003 15 Art EditThe presence of horses in Chinese art is remarkable particularly during the Tang dynasty Many of the Empire s masterpieces feature horses such as the famous Flying Horse of Gansu 16 and the Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum The horse seems to have become an artistic subject in its own right very early on 17 A particular feature of Chinese art is the presence of numerous depictions of naked horses testifying to the Chinese admiration for the horse in itself 18 nbsp Three Terracotta Army horses nbsp Tang dynasty horse statue nbsp The eight horses by Xu BeihongBeliefs Edit nbsp Chinese dragon horse longma While there are many beliefs featuring horses they are not as important in China as mythological animals such as cranes phoenixes dragons and tigers 19 Similarly the association of the qilin with the unicorn and therefore the horse is controversial The horse seems to have been considered by the Chinese above all as a utilitarian animal which explains the rarity of legends of winged horses and the absence of an equivalent to the myth of the centaur 20 The horse is also present in the Chinese zodiac See also EditFlying Horse of Gansu Horse in Chinese zodiac Horses in Chinese mythology Longma dragon horse Chinese Mongolian horse Abaga horse Chaidamu horse Ujumqin horseReferences Edit 2 000 Year Old Tomb Contained Golden Horse archaeology org Retrieved 12 December 2015 Creel 1965 p 648 Gazagnadou 2013 p 25 45 a b c Les chevaux nouvelle passion des Chinois aises La Depeche du Midi 2014 Retrieved 3 October 2015 a b Courtot Thibault 1989 p 23 a b c d e Hendricks 2007 p 123 a b Desne Julie 2012 Les chevaux nouvelle passion chinoise Le Figaro Des chevaux francais en Chine cheval savoir com Retrieved 3 October 2015 VIDEO Chine l eldorado des chevaux francais France television 2014 Retrieved 3 October 2015 Quand la Chine s eveille au polo cheval savoir com Retrieved 3 October 2015 L esprit du cheval dragon les Machines de l ile s exportent en Chine diplomatie gouv fr 2014 Retrieved 3 October 2015 Premiere course d endurance FEI en Chine cheval savoir com Retrieved 3 October 2015 Fragner 2009 p 204 Courtot Thibault 1989 p 29 Suttie J M Reynolds Stephen G 2003 Transhumant Grazing Systems in Temperate Asia Fao Plant Production Series Food amp Agriculture Org p 331 ISBN 92 5 104977 7 Courtot Thibault 1989 p 24 Courtot Thibault 1989 p 134 Courtot Thibault 1989 p 138 Courtot Thibault 1989 p 131 Courtot Thibault 1989 p 133 Bibliography EditCourtot Thibault Valerie 1989 Le petit livre du cheval en Chine Caracole in French Favre ISBN 978 2 8289 0331 2 Creel H G 1965 The Role of the Horse in Chinese History The American Historical Review 70 3 647 672 doi 10 2307 1845936 JSTOR 1845936 Fragner Bert G 2009 Horses in Asia Austrian Academy of Sciences Press ISBN 978 3700161035 Gazagnadou Didier 2013 La poste a relais en Eurasie La diffusion d une technique d information et de pouvoir Chine Iran Syrie Italie in French editions Kime ISBN 978 2 84174 614 9 Hendricks Bonnie Lou 2007 Chinese horses International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds University of Oklahoma Press ISBN 978 0806138848 Zheng Piliu 1984 Horses Livestock Breeds of China Food and Agriculture Organization ISBN 9251021856 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Horses in Chinese culture amp oldid 1180914070, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
