This museum in Zhengzhou was built around the artifacts from the tomb of a king of Zheng discovered in 1923 in Xinzheng. The tomb, dated to c. 575 BC, contained the famous crane and lotus urn, probably the most exquisite bronze found anywhere in the world. Superb bronzes from the state of Chu are also featured here. Artifacts in this post are from Henan Province from the beginnings of civilization through the Han Dynasty. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/HenanProvincialMuseum1ZhengzhouPrehistoryThroughHanDynasty#
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2 Comments
Dear Mr Todd,
the Photo 311 of 349, Henan Provincial Museum 1, Zhengzhou (prehistory through Han Dynasty) is a very interesting picture: a horse with saddle and stirrup. Can you give a datation with more precision. Mary Aiken Littauer (Early stirrups, Antiquity Journal Vol 55:214, 1981 pp 99-105) mean that the stirrup first appears in northeast
China by the fourth century AD.
What is your opinion?
with kinds regards
pa poncet
I cannot date the piece more precisely without access to records of the actual excavation, assuming that such records still exist. I do know we have incontrovertible evidence of the use of stirrips by the time of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The concensus of opinion seems to be that they were introduced into China by the time of the Eastern Han by way of northern “barbarian” peoples such as the Xiongnu. But so far as I know the precise origin is unknown. I have seen different opinions by different experts, probably because that question is nowhere answered by the written records, and the archaeological evidence is at best ambiguous. I’m willing to hear more informed opinions than I am able to give.
G. Todd
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