KYOTO - 2026 marks the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac. Have you ever seen a horse up close? Although there are less chances to encounter them these days, in the past horses were a part of everyday life in Japan. They carried people, hauled heavy loads, and completed all kinds of hard work. A fast and beautiful horse was every warrior’s dream.

This exhibition showcases cultural properties depicting horses. We invite you to take a worksheet and enjoy the many kinds of horses galloping through the galleries

1. The Horses of Our Dreams

.Horses, which carry people and transport things, have long been important partners of humans. That’s not all——owning an elegant horse was once a sign of an elegant person. Let’s take a look at some of the magnificent horses that people of the past admired.

Important Art Object. Horse Tomb Figures, China, Tang Dynasty (618-907) © Kyoto National Museum

2. Horsing Around

Here you’ll find horses in action, such as racing or competing in sports. In Japanese, a horse and rider in perfect harmony can be described using the phrase “horse and rider as one” (jinba ittai). Try to spot the places here where horses and their riders are perfectly in sync.

Yang Guifei Playing Polo, Ming dynasty, 16th century © Kyoto National Museum

3. Prayers and Horses

The horses here are related to people’s wishes and prayers. Why were these horses made? What kinds of things did people of the past pray for?

Horse. Excavated in Nara © Kyoto National Museum

4. All Kinds of Horses!

Wild horses, life-sized horses——all sorts of different horses are in this gallery! Each one seems to be living a life at ease. Do you have a favorite horse here ?

Unkoku Tōgan, Horses, Momyama period, 16th century,  Minami Hokke-ji Temple, Nara © Kyoto National Museum

December 16, 2025–January 25, 2026