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本帖最后由 popo11 于 2016-11-24 09:28 编辑
Horse Coins
by Primal Trek
Originating in the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the "horse coin" was not actual currency. Although Chinese literary figures have made mention of horse coins throughout the centuries, few have made it clear exactly how the coins were used. Collectors today believe horse coins were either pieces used on game boards or counters for gambling.
Horse coins are usually made of bronze or copper although, in some rare cases, ivory and horn were used. Most common horse coins measure around 3 centimeters in diameter with a square or circular central hole.
The horses depicted on the coins vary in position. Some are lying on the ground sleeping. Others are turning their head and neighing. Or, as in the example shown here, the horse is shown galloping forward with its tail raised high. Unfortunately, the horse's saddle always seems to be at the central hole of the coin which prevents us from learning more about this aspect of ancient Chinese culture.
Among all the horse coins, those made in the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) are considered to be the finest. They were made from high-quality metal and with fine detail. The coin shown at left is representative of the Song horse coins although it would be difficult to confirm that this particular piece dates from that period.
Horse coins display many of the most famous horses in Chinese history. For instance, in the early Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC), King Mu (穆王) once rode on a chariot with eight outstanding steeds. The names of the eight horses can be found on horse coins although there is some disagreement as to which set of eight names passed down through history is correct. The names of King Mu's horses described their outstanding characteristics and included "Beyond Earth", "Rush by Night", "Windswept Plumes", "Finer than Flashing Light", "Faster than Shadow", "Wing Bearer", "Faster than Light" and "Rising Mist". Other historical texts list King Mu's horses as "Bay Steed", "Smoked Ebony", "Skewbald Chestnut", "Great Yellow" and "Green Ear".
There are also horse coins depicting the victorious, yet ruthless, General Bai Qi of the ancient Kingdom of Qin during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).
When Qin Shi Huang put an end to the Warring States Period and united China into the first empire (221-207 BC), he chose the seven best horses from the thousands of military horses who had fought in the battles.
In order to improve the quality of his stable, Emperor Wudi of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) searched for the best stallions outside his empire. To get the mysterious hanxue (sweating blood) horse which he believed were the divine "Horses of Heaven" that could be ridden to immortality, he fought a three-year war beginning in 101 BCE against a small kingdom (Ferghana) located in today's Uzbekistan. While the emperor's army captured some 3,000 hanxue horses, only about 1,000 survived the long trip home. Many legends and historical records state that when such horses galloped, their sweat was the color of blood. Some modern scientists now attribute the "blood" sweat to the parasites which infested the tissues beneath the skin of the horses. After strenuous movement, the blood would flow out with the sweat.
Another set of famous horses depicted on horse coins is associated with Emperor Taizong (Li Shimin) of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). These horses are also celebrated in a famous relief sculpture outside his tomb and are known as the "Six Chargers of Emperor Taizong".
Finally, a very few horse coins will display a rider on the horse in order to commemorate famous battles from ancient Chinese history.
Here are some link that can help to understand these horse coins:
浅谈打马格钱:古人以为游戏 今成钱币收藏品
http://coin.shouxi.com/news/highlight/2016/0908/2738.html
华夏聊天室:龙骧将军标王 白蹄乌马钱4.48万
http://coin.shouxi.com/news/market/2016/0617/2455.html
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发表于 2016-11-24 09:09:58
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