The Great Affairs of a Nation: Ancient Chinese War Chariots and Horses: Ancient Chinese War Chariots and Horses

Author: Guo Wu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: "The great affairs of a nation lie in sacrifice and war." Sacrifice and war are guarantees of national interests and security. New archaeological research shows that the people of the European grasslands domesticated wild horses, improved chariots, and integrated the two. During the Shang and Zhou periods, the Central Plains of China absorbed these achievements and adapted them to its own characteristics. Because horses and chariots could to the greatest extent reflect the divine power and exclusive authority of the ruling class, they became the cornerstone of ancient Chinese state affairs. Since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, military equipment centered on chariots and horses has also become the focal point of solemn and majestic atmosphere in various national rituals. Through the skillful hands of archaeologists, numerous ancient chariots and horse bones have emerged from the dust of millennia, revealing themselves to the world. With these living physical materials, we can not only objectively recreate the chariots and horses in history but also verify ancient records related to them, vividly outlining the development of ancient chariots and horses, and touching the chariots and horses of ancient China at zero distance, thereby understanding the true essence of ancient Chinese state affairs.