Since 1996, the Chinese government has started to implement a nationwide grazing ban in selected areas with the aim of relieving overgrazing and erosion of the grasslands. This has inevitably had an adverse effect on the pastoralists’ life. Few herders have the knowledge or the technological hardware to provide for their animals in feedlots, and … Continue reading The Horses in Modern China – 4
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The Horses in Modern China – 3
Land degradation, too, makes pasture land less available for grassland husbandry. World Bank figures show that China has the third largest area of grassland after Australia and Russia. However, vast swathes of its grassland have become degraded; the Loess Plateau region and other extensive western areas have suffered especially badly. According to the People’s Republic … Continue reading The Horses in Modern China – 3
The Horses in Modern China – 2
In the Changdu district of Tibet, more and more motorcycle dealers are springing up. Motorbikes are found parked in pastoral farms and by small dwellings all over the area. Before proper roads had been built, pastoralists relied on horses to get about. But horses can cover only 50 to 60 kilometres a day and it … Continue reading The Horses in Modern China – 2
The Horses in Modern China – 1
Following the collapse of China’s imperial dynasties in the early 20th century, the horse started a new journey and so did its riding partners. Horses in China are mostly privately owned. While only a handful, which belong to the wealthy, lead a carefree life, the vast majority are kept perpetually busy. All over China, they … Continue reading The Horses in Modern China – 1
Horse Breeds in Ancient China
Native breeds which were first used by the Chinese as cavalry horses proved to be inferior to those against whom they fought. As conflicts with the northern nomadic Xiongnu became more pervasive, procurement of quality horses became a major priority. The imperial courts then developed their own breeding programmes, after which equestrian militarism changed war … Continue reading Horse Breeds in Ancient China
Art, Sports and Medicine
The horse’s influence over the civilization and art of China is unrivalled. A wide range of artefacts constructed on distinctive perceptual and cultural premises were created with horses as their motif. Equine sports not only formed part of the education curriculum for young aristocrats, but also served as military preparation. As horses enjoyed a lofty … Continue reading Art, Sports and Medicine
Horses in Literature
In the Shi Jing (Book of Songs), which is the earliest existing collection of Chinese poems and songs, dating from as far back as 1000 B.C., horses are mentioned in 51 out of 305 poems, topping the animal list. The writings of Confucius are full of references to the horse; the horse makes a secular … Continue reading Horses in Literature
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The Horses of China 