The Year of the Horse: lessons in modern speed

As red lanterns and paper-cut steeds herald the Year of the Horse, we revisit an animal that uniquely balances domestication with an indomitable wild spirit. In Chinese culture, the horse is more than a relic of labor; it is a mirror reflecting civilizational progress and the contemporary soul.

The horse's spiritual significance originated in oracle bone script, evolving from a simple pictograph into a vessel for human virtue.

By the pre-Qin period (before 221 BC), the Classic of Poetry depicted horses as symbols of state gravity. This cultural reverence flourished during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), catalyzed by Zhang Qian's introduction of "blood-sweating" stallions from the Western Regions. Emperor Wu's pursuit of these superior breeds signaled his yearning for expansion, immortalized in the Eastern Han Dynasty's (25-220) "Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow" — a bronze masterpiece capturing the quintessence of speed and freedom.

In literature, the horse became a projection of the self. Tang (618-907) poets used the steed to voice the longing of unrecognized talent, while Du Fu imbued the warhorse with the weight of national crisis. From the literati paintings of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) to the bold, modern brushstrokes of Xu Beihong, the horse has remained a potent symbol of both national spirit and individual will.

Historically, horses served as the neural network of empires; the Tang Dynasty's 1,639 courier stations formed the world's most advanced communication system, delivering the decrees that bound a civilization together.

The horse has long stood as the pivot of historical transformation. From King Wuling of Zhao's military reforms to the Silk Road caravans, equestrian mobility facilitated the integration of nomadic and agrarian civilizations.

However, modernity brought a harsh recalibration. During the Opium Wars, the Qing (1644-1911) cavalry's defeat by British artillery signaled a painful clash between eras. The horse was briefly associated with national humiliation in the 20th century but subsequent resistance efforts reclaimed the animal as a symbol of resilience, marking a bridge between tradition and the modern state.

Today, internal combustion engines and GPS have relegated the quadruped to the periphery of daily life. This transition, while an inevitable byproduct of progress, marks a severed connection with nature. Yet, the "spirit of the horse" survives as a linguistic fossil. We still celebrate "dark horses" in business and seek "success upon the horse's arrival", preserving the genetic code of equestrian culture in our digital vocabulary.

Crucially, our nostalgia for the horse reflects a skepticism toward modern speed. We travel at 350 kilometers per hour, gaining efficiency but losing the texture of the journey — the physical rhythm once inherent to horseback travel. This dissolution of "process" is a quintessential modern predicament. As Confucius noted, a steed is praised not for its strength but for its virtue. This insight remains profoundly relevant. In our pursuit of efficiency, have we neglected the quality of development?

Modern professionals often find themselves on a ceaseless racetrack, driven by performance metrics as invisible whips. Perhaps we need to redefine the "steed" — not as a tireless machine, but as a living being in need of care. The rise of "slow living" represents a correction to this unidimensional view of progress. Even in climate policy, the reintroduction of horse-drawn carriages in urban centers suggests that some "returns" are creative adaptations of tradition for a sustainable future.

The history of the horse-human relationship is essentially a story of collaboration. In an era reshaped by AI and gene editing, this ethos of cooperation over conquest is more critical than ever. Can we, like ancient horse tamers, guide technology to serve human welfare while respecting its inherent laws?

The Year of the Horse offers a vital revelation: true progress lies not in relentless acceleration but in finding one's own rhythm. As the city grows quiet, the hum of cars faintly echoes the clip-clop of hooves. Though horses have faded from view, their spirit remains woven into our cultural fabric. This year is an opportunity to reconsider balance and compassion.

Across millennia, horses have accompanied humanity on the long road of civilization. This Year of the Horse, may we retain the steed's galloping drive while embracing the seasoned horse's wisdom. Let us navigate the currents of our time with eyes on the horizon and reins in hand — honoring both this galloping era and the aspirations that make us human.

The author is dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Sanda University in Shanghai.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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