Yan Liben

Bas relief of “saluzi” one of the tang horses bas relief of “saluzi”, china, zhaoling, shaanxi province, tang period (circa 636-649 ad), stone, h. 169, penn museum object c395. This horse, named “saluzi” or autumn dew, is one of six chargers commissioned by the emperor taizong for his mausoleum, zhaoling. Historical records say he was ridden in battle by the emperor during a great siege, when, after being stuck with an arrow, the emperor was forced to dismount and switch horses with one of his favorite generals. The general is shown here pulling the arrow out of autumn dew’s chest while the horse stoically bears the pain. The university of pennsylvania museum of archaeology and anthropology.