The Beginning of Chinese Cavalry and the Use of Horses in Northwest of Han Empire

Abstract

The article examines the processes of the gradual introduction of cavalry troops based on the “barbarian model” into the Chinese army to counter the nomads near the northwestern borders of the empire. The author gives some examples from the written sources of the Zhanguo and Qin Dynasty periods, presenting the gradual transformation of the role of the horse rider as a separate combat unit, but also in combination with chariots. During the Han dynasty, the immediate threat from the Xiongnu by the borders and the need to secure trade routes to the West were the impetus for the reorganization of the army in general and the cavalry in particular. In order to study the peculiarities of horse use for transport needs and military operations in the north-west of the Western Han empire, besides the chronicles, documents of administrative and commercial content – bamboo slips with characters, hanjian, were being used. They were found in large numbers in border fortresses and can significantly supplement the information from the written sources of the Han period and make it possible to reconstruct not only the specifics of inner workings of the northwestern prefectures of China at the turn of the eras but also the peculiarities of horse use for the needs of postal service, patrols and the internal everyday life of garrisons.