Taerpo Horserider

Taerpo

Taerpo (Continental Asia)

The Taerpo Horserider is a terracotta figurine dated to the 4th-3rd century BCE from a Qin tomb in the Taerpo cemetery (塔兒坡墓), near Xianyang in Shaanxi. Another nearly-identical statuette is known, from the same tomb. Small holes in his hands suggest that he was originally holding reins in one hand, and a weapon in the other.^[1]

This is the earliest known representation of a cavalryman in China.^[1] Very few such figurines are known from this time, prior to the 210 BCE Terracotta Army.^[3] The outfit is of Central Asian style, probably Saka,^[4] and the rider with his large nose appears to be a foreigner.^[1] King Zheng of Qin (246–221 BCE) is also known to have employed steppe cavalry men in his army, as seen in the Terracotta Army.^[5]

Only red and white are used as colors, as most terracotta statuettes known from the Qin state period. According to Duan Qingbo, there is a possibility that these miniature human and horse shapes were inspired by Scytho-Siberian art, as seen in objects such as the figurines of the Saka incense burners.^[6]

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  Another view of the statuette
• 
  Taerpo horserider (face detail)
• 
  Difference in realism between the Taerpo statuette (4th-3rd century BCE) and the Terracotta Army (210 BCE).^[7]
• 
  Front view

References