The Study On The Problems Related To Horses Seen In The Bronze Inscriptions

During the Zhou Dynasty,chariot warfare was implemented,and horses provided livestock power for military vehicles,which were important strategic resources.In the literature,it can be seen that horses originated from the offerings of surrounding tribes,captured during battles,and raised in royal pastures.After capturing horses in external warfare,they can be raised and bred by the royal family,forming new herds.The royal family has a dedicated pasture for horses,and there are dedicated officials managing the pasture and horses,and relevant officials are recorded in the "Zhou Li" and bronze inscriptions.In the inscription of the Western Zhou Dynasty,the status of the walking horse was higher than that in the Book of Rites of Zhou,and the responsibilities were also different.It was directly ordered by the King of Zhou.This official position is established at both the local and central levels.Horses can be used for rewards,and in the bronze inscriptions,there are often rewards for horses,two horses,and four horses.The number of horses awarded is related to the status of the recipient.In general,the higher the status,the more horses are awarded.Through the study of horse rewards,a general law can be explored between the number of horses given and the identity of the recipient.Through this law,the identity and status of recipients with unknown identities can be inferred.Other situations where multiple horses are rewarded are generally related to the recipient’s responsibility for managing the horses and will not exceed their own identity limitations.In the inscriptions of the late Western Zhou Dynasty,four horses and carriages frequently appeared,with one carriage and four horses being one ride.There are many cases of one carriage with two horses or one carriage with four horses recorded in the excavation of chariot and horse burials and literature,which confirm each other with the situation recorded in the inscriptions on gold.According to bronze inscriptions and passed down literature,a carriage was accompanied by three warriors.Horses can also be used for etiquette.The King of Zhou personally attended the horse holding ceremony to show his importance.The horse holding ceremony is a military ceremony.Horses are also used for ritual purposes,and the horses specifically used during the ritual are called horse animals.As the demand for horses increased during the war,they gradually withdrew from the stage of worship.