Rubbing of "Saluzi" from the Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum

This is a rubbing of "Saluzi", one of the Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum, a masterpiece of Tang Dynasty stone carving.
"Saluzi" was one of the six war horses ridden by Emperor Taizong of Tang during his unification wars, and it is the only one among the six steeds to feature a human figure. The work captures the dramatic moment of the Battle of Mangshan in 621 AD, when Li Shimin was surrounded by enemy forces. His horse "Saluzi" was shot in the chest, and General Qiu Xinggong rushed to his rescue, pulling the arrow from the horse. In the rubbing, Qiu Xinggong, clad in armor, bends down to calm the steed, while Saluzi, though fatally wounded, stands tall, embodying the loyalty and fortitude of a war horse.
On the right side of the rubbing, the original eulogy written by Emperor Taizong is preserved: "Its awe subdues the Three Rivers, its might overawes the Eight Formations. Like a purple swallow leaping forth, its bones throb with divine power." These words are the highest praise for the horse's illustrious battle achievements.
The original stone carving is now housed in the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in the United States. This rubbing, made with gold ink on a black background (known as "Wujin rubbing"), reproduces the powerful lines and historical texture of the Tang Dynasty stone carving with its unique charm, making it a classic example of ancient Chinese rubbings.

$708.00