Horse (detail), Tang dynasty (618–907), 8th century. Earthenware with brown glaze. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Seymour Fund, 1951 (51.66) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 

NEW-YORK - The traditional East Asian lunar calendar marks time through a twelve-year cycle, each year represented by the animals of the Chinese zodiac: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. First associated with the Chinese calendar in the third century BCE and firmly established by the first century CE, these symbolic creatures are believed to embody certain traits that are manifested in the personalities of people born in that animal’s year. February 17, 2026, marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse, a creature symbolizing power, strength, and vitality.

Celebrating the Year of the Horse brings together works from The Met collection to explore the horse’s enduring nature and vital place in Chinese civilization. Domesticated in prehistoric times, this animal has shaped nearly every facet of life—from agriculture and transportation to trade, warfare, sport, and entertainment. In ancient China, horse-drawn chariots transported military commanders and the social elite, while in the Tang dynasty (618–907), tall and robust horses came to embody the strength of the state and cosmopolitan spirit of the empire. In Chinese popular culture, horses are among the most celebrated animals, and in the spiritual realm they serve as noble mounts for divine guardians believed to bring joy, protection, and prosperity to the household. This presentation, featuring a range of expressive works in ceramics, glass, jade, and metal, and woodblock prints, illuminates these roles while celebrating the horse’s power, vitality, and spirit.

Through January 26, 2027

The exhibition is made possible by the Joseph Hotung Fund.

Plaque in the shape of a horse-drawn chariot, Northeast China, 8th–7th century BCE. Bronze. H. 10.2 cm; W. 9.5 cm. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene V. Thaw, 2002 (2002.201.12) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 

The horse-drawn chariot was introduced to China from the West in the second millennium BCE, likely through the nomadic peoples of the Eurasian steppes. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties (about 1600–256 BCE), the vehicle served not only as a commanding officer’s transport in battle but also a symbol of elite prestige. The number of chariots a state possessed was a key measure of its military power. In this early chariot representation, each component is visualized in profile or from above.

Belt plaque in the shape of a kneeling horse, North China, 3rd–1st century BCE. Silver. H. 8.1 cm; L. 14.5 cm. Gift of Ernest Erickson Foundation, 1985 (1985.214.78) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 

For the nomadic peoples of the steppes, horses were an inseparable part of daily life—they were trusted partners as well as a vital means of transportation. Admiration for these animals manifests in designs on weapons, clothing, and everyday tools. This ornament plaque once decorated the leather belt of a person of high status from a pastoral community.

Pectoral in the shape of a horse, North or northeast China, ca. 6th century BCE Gold. H. 5.1 cm; W. 8.7 cm. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene V. Thaw, 2002 (2002.201.34) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 

This small gold ornament, a type of decoration commonly found in steppe burials, once adorned the front of a nomadic individual’s robe. Archaeological discoveries in Central Asia suggest that the small holes on the horse’s body and eye may have held gemstone inlays.

Belt plaque with winged horse, Eastern Han dynasty (25–220), Xianbei culture, North China, 1st century. Gilded bronze. H. 7 cm; W. 11.1 cm. Fletcher Fund, 1924 (24.174.6) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

 Belt plaque with winged horse, Eastern Han dynasty (25–220), Xianbei culture, North China, 1st century. Gilded bronze. H. 7 cm; W. 11.1 cm. Fletcher Fund, 1924 (24.174.7) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 

This pair of plaques once adorned a leather belt belonging to a member of a nomadic community, likely the Xianbei, that migrated seasonally across the Eurasian continent. The winged horses may represent the “heavenly beasts” of Xianbei legend. These mythical creatures were believed to have originated in the steppes.

Harness ornament with a winged horse, Northeast China, 1st century BCE–1st century CE. Silver. H. 12.7 cm; W. 7 cm. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene V. Thaw, 2002 (2002.201.208) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

This silver plate was originally mounted on a horse’s forehead as part of its harness. The ornament bears a winged-horse motif that is a prominent symbol in the folklore of the Xianbei, a nomadic people of ancient northeastern China. The image likely represents the “heavenly beast” believed to have guided the group’s historic southward migrations.

Horse and cavalry rider, Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). Earthenware with pigment. Horse: H. 34.3 cm; L. 47.5 cm. Rider: H. 33 cm; W. 24.8 cm. Charlotte C. and John C. Weber Collection, Gift of Charlotte C. and John C. Weber, 1994 (1994.605.110a, b) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 

Horseback riding was introduced to China through frequent contact with nomadic peoples, leading to the development of mounted cavalry—a formidable military force that played a crucial role in the country’s unification and the founding of the Han empire. Notches in the body of this horse indicate that it was originally fitted with wooden legs, which have not survived.

Model of a horse’s head, Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). Earthenware. H. 22.2 cm; L. 27.9 cm. Gift of Mrs. Samuel T. Peters, 1926 (26.292.45) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 

Horse, Tang dynasty (618–907), 8th century. Earthenware with brown glaze. H. 68.9 cm; W. 68.6 cm; D. 27.9 cm. H. (with wood base) 73 cm. Seymour Fund, 1951 (51.66) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 

Paperweight in the shape of a horse, Southern Song (1127–1279) to Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). Silver, lead. H. 7.9 cm; W. 3.2 cm; L. 9.8 cm. Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2023 (2023.194) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Cast in silver, this elegant standing horse may have served as a paperweight on a scholar’s desk. The figure reflects both the refined metalwork and cultivated aesthetics valued by intellectuals of the period.

Horse and groom, Yuan dynasty (1279–1368), 13th century. Earthenware. H. 14; W. 8.9 cm; L. 14.6 cm. Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2005 (2005.25) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

This horse and groom belong to a larger pottery procession—originally brightly painted—that includes a carriage, mounted riders, attendants, and musicians. Such figures were buried as tomb offerings intended to serve the deceased in the afterlife.

Seal paste box with eight horses, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 18th century. Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue (Jingdezhen ware). H. 3.5 cm: Diam. 4.8 cm. Bequest of William Rhinelander Stewart, 1929 (29.149.69a, b) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

This small covered box once contained red ink paste for seal impressions. The motif of eight horses, well known in Chinese decorative arts, alludes to the mythical steeds of King Mu of the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BCE). According to legend, his animals could traverse ten thousand miles in a single day and carried the king on his fabled journey to meet the Queen Mother of the West, an ancient goddess.

Recumbent horse, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 18th century. Jade (nephrite). H. 8.6 cm; W. 19.4 cm. The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931 (32.100.455) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Small jade or metal figures of recumbent horses like this one were popular adornments for scholars’ desks. The statues’ flat bases allowed them to serve not only as elegant ornaments but also as practical paperweights.

Twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 18th–19th century. Jade (nephrite). Overall (each approx.): H. 5.7 cm; W. 4.4 cm. Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902 (02.18.730a–l) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac are popular decorative motifs that appear in various media. This set, made of flawless pale green jade, would have been particularly esteemed. Qing-dynasty master carvers individualized each member of the lively group with distinctive accessories and varied postures. The horse, the seventh figure from the left, holds a large fan made from a banana leaf.

Snuff bottle with eight horses, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), late 18th–early 19th century. Chalcedony. H. 7.9 cm; W. 6 cm; D. 3.2 cm. Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902 (02.18.955a, b) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Snuff bottle with landscape and horses, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), late 19th century. Glass painted inside, amethyst stopper. H. 7.3 cm. Bequest of Edmund C. Converse, 1921 (21.175.305a, b) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 

Snuff bottle with camel wrangler and Manchu horse rider, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Daoguang mark and period (1821–50). Porcelain with overglazed enamel colors (Jingdezhen ware), coral stopper. H. 6.7 cm. Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913 (14.40.555a, b) © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 

Brought to China in the late seventeenth century, snuff—a finely ground mixture of tobacco and aromatic herbs and spices—was prized for its medicinal and stimulating effects. Soon, growing usage throughout society led to the creation of snuff bottles. These airtight containers preserve freshness and flavor. Crafted using a wide range of materials and techniques, the bottles also served as accessories, fashionable gifts, and symbols of status and taste.