馬年說馬！請看看來自涼州（武威）的銅奔馬！！！

【馬與中國歷史】

我國是世界上養馬歷史最悠久的國家之一，馬在中國的歷史發展中起著不可替代的作用。

[歷史發展]

早在約五千年前，我國東北部已開始馴養馬。商朝時的戰車都以馬拖駕。周朝時已將馬分為種馬、戎馬(軍用)、齊馬(儀仗用)、道馬(驛用)、田馬(狩獵用)、駑馬(雜役用)6種。秦漢已建立了比較完整的馬政機構。

The horse, which may have been domesticated in northeastern China around 5,000 years ago, was harnessed to chariots in the Shang Dynasty (1765-1123BC). During the Zhou Dynasty (1100-221BC), horses were generally divided into 6 categories: the stud horse, military horse, ceremonial horse, post horse, hunting horse and fatigue horse. A relatively complete horse management organization had been built up in the Qin and Han dynasties (221BC-AD220).

漢代在西北邊區養馬30萬匹。唐初在西北養馬70余萬匹。漢唐盛期，從西域引入良馬7000多匹，改良軍馬。當時養馬業的興盛，不僅對國防起了重要作用，還進一步溝通了中原和西域的經濟文化關系。

About 300,000 horses were raised in the frontier northwestern regions in the Han Dynasty, and at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) the number increased to 700,000. More than 7,000 fine breeds of horses were introduced from remote western regions to improve the quality of military horses. Thriving horse breeding not only played an important role in national defense but also propelled cultural and economic communications between China and other nations in the West.

到明朝初期，水運發達，馬在運輸上的作用漸漸減弱。清代擴充了官辦馬場，限制民間養馬，禁止販馬，使民間養馬業受到摧殘。

By the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the horse's significance in transportation had been somewhat diminished by the further development of water-based shipping. Official horse breeding was greatly expanded in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), although non-governmental horse breeding was restricted and horse-trading was banned, which seriously damaged the industry.

辛亥革命后軍閥連年混戰，特別是抗日戰爭時期，養馬衰落。新中國成立后，政府對發展耕畜采取保護政策，馬匹數量大增，至1977年馬達到1144.7萬匹，居世界之首。

Due to warfare since the Revolution of 1911, especially during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, horse breeding experienced a sharp decline. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government took some protective measures in breeding domestic animals. As a result, the number of horses increased dramatically. As of 1977, the number of horses totaled 11,447,000, ranking No 1 in the world.

[偉大發明：馬具]

天才的中國人創造了騎馬史上最重要的發明之一：一個基于胸帶、馬鐙、轡頭的馭馬系統。這套系統使人們首次能充分使用馬的力量，而不妨礙它呼吸。中國馬拉工具的發展因此遠比同時期的西方更為先進。馬鐙的發明也同樣重要，騎兵終于能在廝殺時平穩地坐在馬上。

Chinese genius produced one of the most significant inventions in equestrian history: an effective harnessing system based on the breast strap, the stirrup, and the horse collar. The harnessing system was the first to effectively utilize the horse's power without hampering its breathing. It allowed for the development of shafted, horse-drawn vehicles far more advanced than their counterparts in the West. The invention of the stirrup was equally important; for the first time, mounted cavalrymen can sit stably while fighting.

【馬的形象】

中國人愛馬，他們用各種藝術形式勾勒、塑造、捕捉馬的神韻，讓馬的形象在一件件藝術珍品中流傳千古。

[馬踏飛燕]

馬踏飛燕也稱銅奔馬，是東漢青銅藝術的杰出代表。奔馬身高34.5厘米，身長45厘米，昂首嘶鳴，疾馳飛奔，一蹄下踏著一只飛燕，象征著奔馬神速，甚于飛鳥。

Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow, or Bronze Galloping Horse, is a bronze artwork of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). With a height of 34.5 cm and a length of 45 cm, the horse is raising its head, neighing and galloping forward with one hoof treading on a flying swallow, symbolizing that its speed can surpass that of the swallow.

雕塑雖為靜止，卻展現出十足動感，中國古代青銅藝術的強大表現力可見一斑。駿馬四足姿態傳神，栩栩如生，重心正落于一只嬌小飛燕身上，構思之精妙，工藝之高超，令人叫絕。這尊青銅也充分表現了中國古代馴馬文化的繁榮。

That the static sculpture is full of dynamic power reflects the excellent force of expression in ancient China's bronze artwork. The positioning of its 4 legs strictly conforms to that of a living horse with the barycenter (重心) on a little swallow manifests the high level of design and craftsmanship. It is also fully expressive of the horse-breeding culture of ancient China.

[昭陵六駿]

昭陵六駿是指位于陜西省的唐太宗陵墓北面祭壇的六塊駿馬青石浮雕石刻。作為唐朝的開國皇帝，唐太宗曾駕這六匹稀世戰馬，英勇征戰，成就大業。

Six Steeds of the Zhaoling Mausoleum are 6 stone relief sculptures of steeds that were located on the northern slope of the Zhaoling Mausoleum in Shaanxi, where Emperor Taizong, the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty was buried. The 6 steeds were 6 precious warhorses of Taizong, on which he fought the battles for the foundation of Tang.

"昭陵六駿"雕刻在6塊高2.5米，寬3米的石板上，用高浮雕手法，以簡潔的線條，準確的造型，生動傳神地表現出戰馬的體態、性格和戰陣中身冒箭矢、馳騁疆場的情景。

Carved on 6 slates that are 2.5 meters high and 3 meters wide, the 6 steeds were in high relief, vividly exhibiting their posture and character by a few compact lines and accurate sculpting. They told soul-stirring stories of galloping on the battlefields with arrows piercing their bodies.

[五馬圖]

《五馬圖》為宋朝著名畫家李公麟的傳世之作，描繪了五匹西域進貢給中原的駿馬，它們毛色不一，姿態各異，各由一名身著民族裝束的奚官牽引。

The Five Horses is a masterpiece by Li Gonglin, an influential painter of the Song Dynasty. The 5 rare horses were introduced from the West to the Central Plains. They had coats of different shades and colors, and distinct features. The horses are accompanied by 5 grooms garbed in their national costumes.

這幅畫作筆觸凝練，精妙絕倫，馬匹身姿柔韌、骨骼健碩、輪廓流暢、肌肉遒勁，顯得俊美而尊貴。該作品線條完美、造型優雅，充分展現出中國水墨畫中白描畫法的高超水平。

Its style is characterized by a highly subtle and brief application of the brush and ink. The horses, with their lithe, tough, smooth, masculine bodies in a gentle posture appear gallant and dignified. The perfect lines and modeling by Li Gonglin fully demonstrate the high level that "Baimiao" (plain drawing) had reached in Chinese painting.

【傳說中的名馬】

行天莫如龍，行地莫如馬。寶馬良駒如英雄豪杰一樣名垂青史。

[汗血馬]

2000多年前，傳說中亞大宛有一種神秘的"汗血馬"，又稱"天馬"，速度極快，耐力超強，疾馳時流出汗液鮮紅似血。

A legend from more than 2,000 years ago tells of a mysterious 'blood-sweating' horse ("heavenly horses") that was raised in Ferghana (大宛) in Central Asia. The horse was known for its speed, endurance and perspiration of a blood-like fluid as it galloped along.

張騫出使西域歸來，向漢武帝提起這種馬，武帝于是遣使求馬，而大宛不允，殺害漢使。武帝決定武力取馬。征戰4年后，大宛國終于獻出三千良駒。據傳，成吉思汗的坐騎也是一匹汗血寶馬。

Zhang Qian, an imperial envoy to the Western Regions, first told Emperor Wu of Han about them. The Emperor then sent an envoy to ask for the fine horses, but Ferghana refused and killed the envoy. Thereupon, Emperor Wu waged a war against Ferghana. In the 4th consecutive year of the campaign, Ferghana presented the Chinese 3,000 horses. It was also believed to be the horse ridden by Genghis Khan.

[的盧馬]

經典名著《三國演義》中，劉備投靠荊州劉表時，所乘戰馬名為的盧。有人告誡他，此馬眼下有淚槽，額邊生白點，騎則妨主。劉備不以為意，騎之照舊。

In the classic novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," when Liu Bei sought refuge with Liu Biao in Jingzhou, the horse he rode was called Dilu. Others told him that there was a tear notch under its eyes with white spots on its forehead, a sign that it would harm its owner. Liu Bei was not afraid and continued to ride the horse.

其時，劉表之妻蔡氏與其弟蔡瑁欲設宴加害劉備，后者發覺后，乘的盧逃跑，被追兵趕至檀溪。劉備欲趟過急流，的盧卻栽入水中，劉備慌忙抽打的盧，大叫道："的盧，的盧！今日妨吾！"那馬卻突然從水中涌身而起，一越三丈，飛上對岸，擺脫追兵，救下劉備一命。

Once, Liu Biao's wife, Lady Cai, and her brother, Cai Mao, gave a banquet with the aim of harming Liu Bei. When Liu Bei detected the intention, he escaped on Dilu, and was chased by the enemy to the Tan Stream. He attempted to ride across the stream, but Dilu fell forward in the water. Liu Bei whipped the horse and exclaimed, "Dilu! Dilu! Today you obstruct me!" Dilu suddenly rose above the surface and leapt 3 zhang (10 meters) across the stream to the opposite bank, leaving the enemies behind and saving Liu Bei.

[白龍馬]

白龍馬是經典名著《西游記》中的一個主要人物，他本是西海龍王三太子，因縱火燒毀玉帝賞賜的明珠而觸犯天條，觀世音菩薩發慈悲，罰其變成馬形，載唐僧上西天取經以贖罪。小說中，白龍馬是一個沉默但忠誠、警覺而充滿意志力的形象。

The White Dragon Horse is one of the main characters in the classic novel "Journey to the West". He is actually the 3rd son of a Dragon King of the West Sea. He once set a fire that destroyed a pearl that was a gift from the Jade Emperor. To redeem him from his sins, Boddhisatva Guan Yin gracefully allows him to serve as a mount for the monk Xuanzang during his mission to fetch scriptures from "the West". Throughout the novel, the dragon-horse serves a role of quiet loyalty and mindful willpower.

【關于馬的詞匯】

cavalry：騎兵

equestrian：騎馬的、騎術

gallop：疾馳

hoof：蹄

mare：母馬

mount：坐騎

neigh：馬嘶

saddle：馬鞍

steed：戰馬、駿馬

stallion：種馬、成年公馬

stirrup：馬鐙

stud：種馬

warhorses：戰馬

本文消息來源：ChinaDaily手機報、中國日報雙語新聞

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