2026 marks the Year of the Bingwu Horse, a zodiac sign symbolizing endeavor and vitality. Looking back along the long river of Henan's history, one finds that the figure of the steed has long been deeply engraved in the civilizational veins of the Central Plains, becoming a vivid historical imprint.

On the Shaoshi Que in Dengfeng, Zhengzhou, galloping horses leap through the air in Han-dynasty equestrian performance scenes, with young girls handstanding on horseback and women spreading their sleeves in mid-air—their thrilling skills fully reflecting the vigorous spirit of the Han era. The Tang-dynasty tri-color black-glazed horse in the Luoyang Museum stands robust and mighty, with "snow-treading" hooves; its rare black glaze craftsmanship attests to the prosperity and exquisite artistry of the Tang Empire. On the Northern Song stone relief murals at the Zhouqiao site in Kaifeng, seahorses accompany cranes, echoing records from The Eastern Capital: A Dream of Splendor.

From the chariot-and-horse pits at the Yinxu site in Anyang, one glimpses the intensity of Shang-dynasty chariot warfare and the embryonic form of transportation systems. The human-faced bronze horse fittings from the Ying State cemetery in Pingdingshan speak through their unique form of the elevated status of horses during the Western Zhou period. The animal-faced horse frontlet unearthed at Xincun in Hebi served both defensive and intimidating purposes, demonstrating ancient ingenuity. Furthermore, the Yuan-dynasty procession figurines from Jiaozuo, the Han-dynasty lintel carving of a horse-drawn carriage procession from Xuchang, and the gray pottery figurine of a Central Asian groom leading a horse from Nanyang—all vividly reflect the social customs and daily atmosphere of their respective dynasties.

These horse-related artifacts, spanning multiple eras including the Han, Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, serve as lively annotations to Henan's history. They bear witness to the rises and falls, the changes and continuities of the Central Plains, carrying the unique cultural memory of this land. They also resonate with the strength and striving spirit symbolized by the upcoming 2026 Horse Year.

Web editors: Shen Jianiqi, Zhang Rui