漢代筆記 vol.28 純金漢馬：漢武帝7公斤的實心黃金馬，美秀博物館 - Miho Musuem, A Solid Gold 7KG Figure of Ferghana Horse, attributed to Emperor Wudi, Han Dynasty

西漢武帝劉徹（前157–前87年）在位期間，積極開拓西域，力求引進優良馬種以強化軍事力量。當時，漢朝軍隊在對抗北方匈奴時，深感馬匹品質不足。武帝先後派遣使者西行，其中張騫通西域之行開啟了絲綢之路的序幕。武帝特別鍾愛「天馬」，最初以烏孫馬為天馬，後因大宛（今費爾干納地區）馬種更為優越，遂將「天馬」之名轉賦大宛馬，並將烏孫馬改稱「西極馬」。

為獲取大宛良馬，武帝曾派遣使者攜帶千金及黃金馬模型作為交涉禮物，前後發動兩次大宛遠征（太初年間），終於在太初四年（前101年）獲得數十匹上等「汗血馬」及數千匹普通馬匹。此事件不僅提升了漢朝騎兵戰力，更促進了中原與西域的經濟文化交流，成為絲綢之路早期的重要篇章。

本文現場拍攝圖片均來自小紅書帳號：行走的XD

純金漢馬

黃金　前漢時代

高25.4cm　幅30.9cm　奧行6.3cm

Miho Museum

這匹金馬以寫實手法生動捕捉了馬匹肢體的舒展姿態。修長而有力的四肢、厚實的胸膛以及健壯豐滿的臀部，充分展現出其卓越的奔跑能力。前伸的長頸與頸根處明顯隆起的鬐甲，顯示這並非秦始皇兵馬俑中常見的馬種，而是來自西方的新型馬匹。同樣寫實的馬匹表現，也見於1981年5月在茂陵陪葬墓中最大封土的無名塚附近陪葬坑出土的銅鍍金馬（高62cm，長76cm）。該無名塚出土的多件銅器刻有「陽信家」銘文，因此學界推測此墓屬於武帝之姊陽信長公主。她在再嫁衛青後，約於元封元年（前110年）去世。

茂陵所葬的漢武帝，為求良馬而對大宛發動大規模遠征。太初四年（前101年），自大宛獲得的馬匹被認為優於烏孫馬，武帝大為欣喜，遂將原本賦予烏孫馬的「天馬」之名轉移給大宛馬，而將烏孫馬改稱「西極馬」。

細觀此金馬的形態特徵：鼻梁外張的兎頭式面部、較長的軀幹、由鬐甲隆起後向臀部呈下降線的腰部，以及尾根處明顯後突的臀部造型。此金馬重量約7公斤，相當於當時的30斤，與漢代一鈞的重量單位極為吻合。

以2026年的金價計算，7公斤黃金已經將近110萬美元，相當於860萬港元。美秀博物館購藏時，價格相信超過一億港元。

因此，學界聯想到這匹純金馬，可能與漢武帝在大宛遠征前派遣使者攜帶重禮交涉良馬一事有關。據《史記·大宛列傳》記載，漢武帝聽聞大宛（今中亞費爾干納地區）盛產良馬，尤其貳師城所藏「汗血馬」（又稱天馬，其汗如血，據傳為天馬後裔），極為心動。當時漢朝已透過張騫通西域，對這些馬匹的優異品質（體格健壯、奔跑持久）有所了解，急欲引進以強化對抗匈奴的騎兵戰力。

太初元年（前104年），漢武帝派遣壯士車令等人為使，持千金（價值極高的黃金）及一匹以黃金鑄成的金馬，前往大宛，向宛王請求交換貳師城的善馬。大宛國王毋寡與大臣商議後認為：漢朝路途遙遠，途中鹽澤艱險、缺水缺糧，且有匈奴威脅，漢軍難以大舉前來；況且汗血馬乃大宛國寶，遂拒絕交換。漢使憤怒之下，出言不遜，並椎碎金馬離去。大宛貴族視此為嚴重輕蔑，遂遣東邊屬邑郁成王截殺漢使團，奪取全部財物。

此事件直接激怒漢武帝，成為漢軍兩次大舉遠征大宛（太初元年至太初四年，前104–前101年）的導火線。最終，大宛貴族殺毋寡求和，向漢軍獻出良馬數十匹及中等以下馬三千餘匹。漢武帝大喜，將大宛馬正式命名為「天馬」，而此前得自烏孫的良馬則改稱「西極馬」。

若Miho Museum這匹重約7公斤（約當漢代一鈞）的純金馬，以及相關馬俑所呈現的長頸、高鬐甲、長軀幹等形態特徵，確實反映了大宛馬引進前已傳入漢地的烏孫馬樣貌，則此金馬與武帝「持千金及金馬」交涉事件的聯想，將更具歷史說服力。它不僅可能是當時用於外交的實物模型或象徵，也為理解漢代早期西域馬種引進與藝術寫實表現提供了珍貴線索。

此外，此馬長頸、高鬐甲及較長軀幹等形態特徵，與今日土庫曼斯坦地區著名的阿哈爾捷金馬（Akhal-Teke）極為相似，而該地區正位於古代大宛國西部，這也印證了大宛馬與此類馬種具有相近的血緣關係。

During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty (Liu Che, 157–87 BCE), China actively expanded into the Western Regions to acquire superior horse breeds and strengthen its military capabilities. At the time, Han forces felt the limitations of their existing horses when confronting the northern Xiongnu nomads. Emperor Wu dispatched envoys westward, with Zhang Qian’s missions opening the early routes of the Silk Road.

The emperor particularly prized “heavenly horses” (tianma). Initially, horses from the Wusun were designated as heavenly horses. Later, recognizing the superior quality of horses from Dayuan (Ferghana region in present-day Central Asia), he transferred the title “heavenly horses” to the Ferghana breed and renamed the Wusun horses “Western Extremity horses” (xijima).

To negotiate for these fine steeds, Emperor Wu sent emissaries carrying a thousand gold pieces along with a golden horse model. This led to two major military expeditions to Dayuan during the Taichu period. In Taichu 4 (101 BCE), the Han finally obtained dozens of superior “sweat-blood” horses and thousands of ordinary ones. These events not only enhanced Han cavalry strength but also significantly promoted economic and cultural exchange between the Central Plains and the Western Regions, marking an important early chapter in the development of the Silk Road.

Solid Gold Figure of a Horse

Horse Gold

Western Han dynasty

H. 25.4 cm, W. 30.9 cm, D. 6.3 cm

Miho Museum

This gold horse realistically captures the supple and graceful form of the animal. Its staunchly extended legs, thick chest, and powerfully muscled haunches vividly convey its exceptional speed and strength. The long neck stretched forward and the prominent withers at the base of the neck indicate that this is not the same breed as the horses depicted in the terracotta army of the First Emperor of Qin, but rather a new type introduced from the west. A similarly realistic representation of a horse appears in the gilt bronze horse (H. 62 cm, L. 76 cm) excavated in May 1981 from one of the subsidiary burial pits near the largest mound (Wumingzhong) among the attendant tombs at Maoling. Many of the bronzes from this site bear the inscription “Yangxinjia,” leading scholars to identify the tomb as that of Princess Yangxinchang, Emperor Wu’s elder sister. She remarried Wei Qing and is believed to have died around Yuanfeng 1 (110 BCE).

Emperor Wu, who was buried at Maoling, launched a major expedition to Dayuan (Ferghana) in pursuit of fine horses. In Taichu 4 (101 BCE), the horses obtained from Dayuan were deemed superior to those of Wusun. Delighted, the emperor transferred the designation “heavenly horses” (previously given to Wusun horses) to the Ferghana horses, while renaming the Wusun horses “horses from the western extremity.”

Close examination of this gold horse reveals distinctive features: a ram-like head with flaring nostrils, a relatively long torso, a back line that rises at the withers before descending toward the haunches, and a high tail placement with prominent rump projection.

Weighing approximately 7 kilograms—equivalent to about 30 jin or roughly one jun in Han dynasty measurements.

Scholars have therefore associated this solid gold horse with the diplomatic mission sent by Emperor Wu prior to his military expeditions against Dayuan, in which envoys carried substantial gifts—including a golden horse model—to negotiate for superior steeds. According to the “Dayuan Liezhuan” in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Emperor Wu became deeply fascinated upon learning from Zhang Qian’s reports and subsequent envoys that Dayuan (in the Ferghana region of present-day Central Asia) produced exceptional horses, particularly the “sweat-blood horses” (hanxue ma, also called heavenly horses) stabled in Ershi City. These horses were renowned for their robust build, endurance, and the blood-like sweat they supposedly produced when galloping hard; they were believed to be descendants of heavenly horses. The Han urgently needed such fine mounts to strengthen its cavalry against the Xiongnu.

In Taichu 1 (104 BCE), Emperor Wu dispatched a mission led by the strongman Che Ling and others, carrying a thousand gold pieces (a vast sum) together with a horse cast entirely in gold, to request fine horses from the king of Dayuan in exchange for the treasures. King Mu Gua of Dayuan consulted his ministers and concluded that Han was too distant, the route through the salt marshes was perilous with high mortality from thirst and hunger, and northern threats from the Xiongnu made a large army unlikely to reach them. Viewing the sweat-blood horses as national treasures, they refused the exchange. The Han envoys, enraged, spoke abusively and smashed the golden horse before departing. The Dayuan nobles regarded this as profound contempt and ordered the king of Yucheng (an eastern dependent territory) to intercept and kill the entire envoy mission, seizing all their valuables.

This incident greatly infuriated Emperor Wu and became the immediate trigger for the two Han military campaigns against Dayuan (from Taichu 1 to Taichu 4, 104–101 BCE). In the end, the Dayuan nobles killed King Mu Gua to sue for peace and presented the Han army with several dozen superior horses and over three thousand ordinary and lesser mounts. Emperor Wu was delighted and formally bestowed the title “heavenly horses” (tianma) upon the Dayuan breed, while renaming the previously acquired Wusun horses “horses of the western extremity” (xijima).

If the Miho Museum gold horse— weighing approximately 7 kilograms (roughly equivalent to one jun in Han measurements)—along with the shared morphological features (long neck, high withers, elongated torso) seen in related horse figurines, indeed represents the characteristics of Wusun horses that had already reached the Han before the arrival of Dayuan horses, then the association with Emperor Wu’s “thousand gold and golden horse” diplomatic effort gains even stronger historical credence. It may well have been modeled after or symbolically related to the actual golden horse used in those negotiations, offering valuable insight into early Han importation of Western horse breeds and the realistic artistic depiction of horses in the period.

Moreover, the horse’s long neck, high withers, and elongated torso closely resemble the famous Akhal-Teke breed of modern Turkmenistan, located in the western part of ancient Dayuan. This similarity suggests a close genealogical link to the Ferghana horses of antiquity.

馬金前漢時代高25.4cm 幅30.9cm 奥行6.3cmMIHO MUSEUMのびやかな馬の肢体を写実的な手法で捉えている。スラリと伸びる四肢と厚い胸、逞しい臀部の肉付きはこの馬の走力の高さを伝えており、前方に伸ばした長い頸と頸の付け根に見える盛り上がったき甲は、この馬が始皇帝の兵馬俑の馬とは別種の、新たに西方からもたらされた馬を写していることを示している。同様に写実的な馬の表現は、1981年5月、茂陵陪葬墓のうち最大の封土をもつ無名塚周辺の陪葬坑の一つから発見された銅製鍍金の馬（高62cm、長76cm）にも見られる。この無名塚は出土した銅器の多くに「陽信家」の刻銘があるところから、衛青と再婚して元封元年（前110）頃亡くなった武帝の姉・陽信長公主の墓と考えられている。

茂陵に葬られた武帝は良馬を求めて大宛（フェルガナ）に大遠征を起こし、太初4年（前101）にもたらされた馬が烏孫の馬よりも優れていることに感激し、それまで烏孫の馬に与えていた「天馬」の名をこれに与え、烏孫の馬には新たに「西極馬」の名を与えたことで知られている。

ところでこの馬の表現をよく見ると、鼻梁が外に張り出す兎頭の顔、長めの胴体、一度盛り上がり臀部に向けて下降線を描く腰、尾の付け根から大きく後方に突き出している臀部の形状などの特色は図版2の騎兵の馬や、図版9の馬俑の特色と一致していることに気づく。黄金の馬についてはその重量が7キログラムで、およそ30斤、かなり正確に当時の1鈞の単位に一致することが指摘されており、このことから武帝が大宛遠征に先立ち、良馬獲得の交渉のために千金とともに使者に持たせた黄金の馬との関係が連想されている。もしもこの黄金の馬と図版2、9の馬俑に共通する特色が、大宛馬に先んじて漢にもたらされたという烏孫馬の特色を再現していると考えることができるならば、この連想を補強することになるだろう。

ちなみにこの馬の長い頸、高いき甲、長めの胴体という形態的な特色は、かつての大宛国の西部地方にあたる現在のトルクメニスタンの名馬アハルテケに通じており、これが大宛馬に近い系譜を備えていたことを伝えてくれる。