Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum Scroll - Painting Core 3
Meet 'Bai Ti Wu' (White Hoofed Crow), one of the six legendary warhorses of Emperor Taizong of Tang, depicted here with a sleek black coat, a white facial blaze, and—true to its name—white hooves. The horse is fully saddled with a vibrant red saddle cloth and intricate tack, captured in a dynamic, low-to-the-ground pose that suggests a powerful gallop or a playful roll. To the left, elegant calligraphy praises the steed's speed ('chasing the wind') and notes it was ridden during the campaign against Xue Rengao. This is a section from a famous handscroll by Jin Dynasty artist Zhao Lin, who recreated the iconic stone reliefs from the Emperor's tomb, Zhaoling, turning rigid stone carvings into fluid, living portraits of these heroic steeds.
- Technique
- Ink and color on silk
- Material
- Silk
Location: Palace Museum, Beijing