Horse Stepping on a Xiongnu Soldier

The sculpture vividly displays the great power of the Western Han Dynasty and Huo Qubing's immense military contribution to his empire. The horse appears brave, strong, placid and firm. The soldier under its feet, although in the panicked last moments of his life, has a fierce expression. He still holds his weapon, as if putting up a desperate last ditch struggle. The spare but accurate carvings of the sculpture, especially the deep lines on the horse's leg, hip, head and neck, convey a sense of movement and make the animal appear very powerful. This stone carving combined traditional relief, round Cutting and line Cutting skills, which retained the natural beauty of the stone yet revealed the artistic excellence of the carving.

Horse Stepping on a Xiongnu Soldier combined realistic and romantic ideas with a symbolic interpretation. Ancient Chinese sculptors left us excellent artistic works created from their careful observation of life and executed with refined techniques. The stone carvings in Huo Qubing's Tomb, Such as the Horse Stepping on a Xiongnu Soldier' are fine examples of the simple and bold artistic style of the Han Dynasty.

Page:

1

2

3

All rights reserved. Reproduction of text for non-commercial purposes is permitted provided that both the source and author are acknowledged and a notifying email is sent to us.