Figure of a Horse with Saddle, Northern Dynasties, late 6th century. Earthenware, traces of pigment, 19 1/2 x 22 x 5 1/2 in. (49.5 x 56.0 x 14.0 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Peter W. Scheinman, 1999.138a-b.

Horses were prized in China not only for their nobility and prowess in war but also because they were believed to be imbued with supernatural qualities. During the Han through Tang dynasties, military expansion to the far western regions was spurred by the quest for heavenly horses, also called “blood-sweating horses,” which were associated with dragons. The fastest battle horses were thought to be found in the region of Ferghana, in Central Asia. In the tomb context, horses signified high rank but might also serve as celestial vehicles for the deceased to journey to the realm of immortals.