Bronze Profile: How a steed artifact embodies ethnic integration

On July 15, the Daozhonghua themed media tour arrived at the Gansu Provincial Museum, experiencing the profound historical heritage of ethnic culture exchanges in northwest China's Gansu.

The spotlight was on the iconic bronze galloping horse, which was unearthed from the Leitai Han Tomb in Wuwei City within the province. This national treasure features three hooves suspended mid-air while one hoof rests upon a startled bird glancing backward. Despite the bird's minute surface area, the horse stands with remarkable stability. The bird’s posture, with the body arched and wings spread, expands the weight-bearing surface, demonstrating precise adherence to mechanical equilibrium principles and reflecting ancient artisans’ mastery of physics.

With its powerful and exquisite muscle lines, the bronze galloping horse embodies remarkable mechanical beauty. Thus, the left 45-degree angle offers the most refined and impressive perspective for photographing this artifact.

The sculpture ingeniously blends characteristics of prized horse breeds like the Hexi Stepping Horse (known for its distinctive amble gait), the Ferghana horse, and the Mongolian horse. It embodies the vibrant integration of diverse ethnic cultures along the Silk Road and the harmonious fusion of steppe and nomadic traditions. (Reporter: Xue Lingqiao)