Subject: cavalryman

Culture: Chinese

Setting: Qin-Western Han dynasties, Chinese empire late 3rd-1stc BC

Royal Armouries Museum > Oriental Gallery *

"REPRODUCTION OF A HORSE AND RIDER FROM THE TOMB OF QIN SHIHUANGDI

The 'terracotta warriors' buried as part of the tomb complex of the First Emperor of Qin

are one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of recent years.

The 3,000 figures also give us a great insight into the military equipment in China

at a time when it was adapting from a long period of internal wars to one

in which it was engaged against the cavalry armies of the eastern steppe,

principally those of the Xiongnu or Huns. In contrast to the nomad cavalry,

these very early Chinese cavalry were armed with crossbows,

an attempt by using powerful long range weapons to combat the composite bows of the Huns.

They also wore armour of lace plate, probably of bronze.

Chinese, original about 210BC"