【马与中国历史】
我国是世界上养马历史最悠久的国家之一，马在中国的历史发展中起着不可替代的作用。
[历史发展]
早在约五千年前，我国东北部已开始驯养马。商朝时的战车都以马拖驾。周朝时已将马分为种马、戎马(军用)、齐马(仪仗用)、道马(驿用)、田马(狩猎用)、驽马(杂役用)6种。秦汉已建立了比较完整的马政机构。
The horse, which may have been domesticated in northeastern China around 5,000 years ago, was harnessed to chariots in the Shang Dynasty (1765-1123BC). During the Zhou Dynasty (1100-221BC), horses were generally divided into 6 categories: the stud horse, military horse, ceremonial horse, post horse, hunting horse and fatigue horse. A relatively complete horse management organization had been built up in the Qin and Han dynasties (221BC-AD220).
汉代在西北边区养马30万匹。唐初在西北养马70余万匹。汉唐盛期，从西域引入良马7000多匹，改良军马。当时养马业的兴盛，不仅对国防起了重要作用，还进一步沟通了中原和西域的经济文化关系。
About 300,000 horses were raised in the frontier northwestern regions in the Han Dynasty, and at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) the number increased to 700,000. More than 7,000 fine breeds of horses were introduced from remote western regions to improve the quality of military horses. Thriving horse breeding not only played an important role in national defense but also propelled cultural and economic communications between China and other nations in the West.
到明朝初期，水运发达，马在运输上的作用渐渐减弱。清代扩充了官办马场，限制民间养马，禁止贩马，使民间养马业受到摧残。
By the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the horse's significance in transportation had been somewhat diminished by the further development of water-based shipping. Official horse breeding was greatly expanded in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), although non-governmental horse breeding was restricted and horse-trading was banned, which seriously damaged the industry.
辛亥革命后军阀连年混战，特别是抗日战争时期，养马衰落。新中国成立后，政府对发展耕畜采取保护政策，马匹数量大增，至1977年马达到1144.7万匹，居世界之首。
Due to warfare since the Revolution of 1911, especially during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, horse breeding experienced a sharp decline. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government took some protective measures in breeding domestic animals. As a result, the number of horses increased dramatically. As of 1977, the number of horses totaled 11,447,000, ranking No 1 in the world.
[伟大发明：马具]
天才的中国人创造了骑马史上最重要的发明之一：一个基于胸带、马镫、辔头的驭马系统。这套系统使人们首次能充分使用马的力量，而不妨碍它呼吸。中国马拉工具的发展因此远比同时期的西方更为先进。马镫的发明也同样重要，骑兵终于能在厮杀时平稳地坐在马上。
Chinese genius produced one of the most significant inventions in equestrian history: an effective harnessing system based on the breast strap, the stirrup, and the horse collar. The harnessing system was the first to effectively utilize the horse's power without hampering its breathing. It allowed for the development of shafted, horse-drawn vehicles far more advanced than their counterparts in the West. The invention of the stirrup was equally important; for the first time, mounted cavalrymen can sit stably while fighting.
【马的形象】
中国人爱马，他们用各种艺术形式勾勒、塑造、捕捉马的神韵，让马的形象在一件件艺术珍品中流传千古。
[马踏飞燕]
马踏飞燕也称铜奔马，是东汉青铜艺术的杰出代表。奔马身高34.5厘米，身长45厘米，昂首嘶鸣，疾驰飞奔，一蹄下踏着一只飞燕，象征着奔马神速，甚于飞鸟。
Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow, or Bronze Galloping Horse, is a bronze artwork of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). With a height of 34.5 cm and a length of 45 cm, the horse is raising its head, neighing and galloping forward with one hoof treading on a flying swallow, symbolizing that its speed can surpass that of the swallow.
雕塑虽为静止，却展现出十足动感，中国古代青铜艺术的强大表现力可见一斑。骏马四足姿态传神，栩栩如生，重心正落于一只娇小飞燕身上，构思之精妙，工艺之高超，令人叫绝。这尊青铜也充分表现了中国古代驯马文化的繁荣。
That the static sculpture is full of dynamic power reflects the excellent force of expression in ancient China's bronze artwork. The positioning of its 4 legs strictly conforms to that of a living horse with the barycenter (重心) on a little swallow manifests the high level of design and craftsmanship. It is also fully expressive of the horse-breeding culture of ancient China.
[昭陵六骏]
昭陵六骏是指位于陕西省的唐太宗陵墓北面祭坛的六块骏马青石浮雕石刻。作为唐朝的开国皇帝，唐太宗曾驾这六匹稀世战马，英勇征战，成就大业。
Six Steeds of the Zhaoling Mausoleum are 6 stone relief sculptures of steeds that were located on the northern slope of the Zhaoling Mausoleum in Shaanxi, where Emperor Taizong, the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty was buried. The 6 steeds were 6 precious warhorses of Taizong, on which he fought the battles for the foundation of Tang.
"昭陵六骏"雕刻在6块高2.5米，宽3米的石板上，用高浮雕手法，以简洁的线条，准确的造型，生动传神地表现出战马的体态、性格和战阵中身冒箭矢、驰骋疆场的情景。
[五马图]
《五马图》为宋朝著名画家李公麟的传世之作，描绘了五匹西域进贡给中原的骏马，它们毛色不一，姿态各异，各由一名身着民族装束的奚官牵引。
The Five Horses is a masterpiece by Li Gonglin, an influential painter of the Song Dynasty. The 5 rare horses were introduced from the West to the Central Plains. They had coats of different shades and colors, and distinct features. The horses are accompanied by 5 grooms garbed in their national costumes.
这幅画作笔触凝练，精妙绝伦，马匹身姿柔韧、骨骼健硕、轮廓流畅、肌肉遒劲，显得俊美而尊贵。该作品线条完美、造型优雅，充分展现出中国水墨画中白描画法的高超水平。
Its style is characterized by a highly subtle and brief application of the brush and ink. The horses, with their lithe, tough, smooth, masculine bodies in a gentle posture appear gallant and dignified. The perfect lines and modeling by Li Gonglin fully demonstrate the high level that "Baimiao" (plain drawing) had reached in Chinese painting.
【传说中的名马】
行天莫如龙，行地莫如马。宝马良驹如英雄豪杰一样名垂青史。
[汗血马]
2000多年前，传说中亚大宛有一种神秘的"汗血马"，又称"天马"，速度极快，耐力超强，疾驰时流出汗液鲜红似血。
A legend from more than 2,000 years ago tells of a mysterious 'blood-sweating' horse ("heavenly horses") that was raised in Ferghana (大宛) in Central Asia. The horse was known for its speed, endurance and perspiration of a blood-like fluid as it galloped along.
张骞出使西域归来，向汉武帝提起这种马，武帝于是遣使求马，而大宛不允，杀害汉使。武帝决定武力取马。征战4年后，大宛国终于献出三千良驹。据传，成吉思汗的坐骑也是一匹汗血宝马。
Zhang Qian, an imperial envoy to the Western Regions, first told Emperor Wu of Han about them. The Emperor then sent an envoy to ask for the fine horses, but Ferghana refused and killed the envoy. Thereupon, Emperor Wu waged a war against Ferghana. In the 4th consecutive year of the campaign, Ferghana presented the Chinese 3,000 horses. It was also believed to be the horse ridden by Genghis Khan.
[的卢马]
经典名著《三国演义》中，刘备投靠荆州刘表时，所乘战马名为的卢。有人告诫他，此马眼下有泪槽，额边生白点，骑则妨主。刘备不以为意，骑之照旧。
In the classic novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," when Liu Bei sought refuge with Liu Biao in Jingzhou, the horse he rode was called Dilu. Others told him that there was a tear notch under its eyes with white spots on its forehead, a sign that it would harm its owner. Liu Bei was not afraid and continued to ride the horse.
其时，刘表之妻蔡氏与其弟蔡瑁欲设宴加害刘备，后者发觉后，乘的卢逃跑，被追兵赶至檀溪。刘备欲趟过急流，的卢却栽入水中，刘备慌忙抽打的卢，大叫道："的卢，的卢！今日妨吾！"那马却突然从水中涌身而起，一越三丈，飞上对岸，摆脱追兵，救下刘备一命。
Once, Liu Biao's wife, Lady Cai, and her brother, Cai Mao, gave a banquet with the aim of harming Liu Bei. When Liu Bei detected the intention, he escaped on Dilu, and was chased by the enemy to the Tan Stream. He attempted to ride across the stream, but Dilu fell forward in the water. Liu Bei whipped the horse and exclaimed, "Dilu! Dilu! Today you obstruct me!" Dilu suddenly rose above the surface and leapt 3 zhang (10 meters) across the stream to the opposite bank, leaving the enemies behind and saving Liu Bei.
[白龙马]
白龙马是经典名著《西游记》中的一个主要人物，他本是西海龙王三太子，因纵火烧毁玉帝赏赐的明珠而触犯天条，观世音菩萨发慈悲，罚其变成马形，载唐僧上西天取经以赎罪。小说中，白龙马是一个沉默但忠诚、警觉而充满意志力的形象。
The White Dragon Horse is one of the main characters in the classic novel "Journey to the West". He is actually the 3rd son of a Dragon King of the West Sea. He once set a fire that destroyed a pearl that was a gift from the Jade Emperor. To redeem him from his sins, Boddhisatva Guan Yin gracefully allows him to serve as a mount for the monk Xuanzang during his mission to fetch scriptures from "the West". Throughout the novel, the dragon-horse serves a role of quiet loyalty and mindful willpower.
【关于马的词汇】
cavalry：骑兵
equestrian：骑马的、骑术
gallop：疾驰
hoof：蹄
mare：母马
mount：坐骑
neigh：马嘶
saddle：马鞍
steed：战马、骏马
stallion：种马、成年公马
stirrup：马镫
stud：种马
warhorses：战马
本文消息来源：ChinaDaily手机报、中国日报双语新闻
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