三彩筆記 vol.36 北京故宮博物院：唐三彩馬，鄭振鐸捐贈 - Palace Museum Beijing, Tang Sancai Horse, Donated by Zheng Zhenduo

這件唐三彩馬的鞍具部分，尤其是障泥（即馬鞍下垂的護泥片，亦稱鞍韉或障泥），其裝飾設計頗具特色。障泥表面以淺黃綠釉為地，刻劃出精細的幾何花紋與連續的團花圖案（如交錯的四瓣花或類似「卍」字紋的變體），線條流暢、對稱工整，展現出唐代匠人高超的模印與刻劃技藝。這些印文圖案不僅增添了裝飾層次，更在釉色暈染下呈現出斑斕的視覺效果，綠釉垂流與赭黃交融，宛如自然潑染，極富生動感。

值得一提的是，此類障泥上的印文在唐三彩馬中並不常見，多數作品障泥僅施單色釉或簡單裝飾，而此件特別精緻的圖案，與知名古董商Eskenazi（埃斯肯納齊）曾售予日本松岡美術館（Matsuoka Museum of Art）的一匹唐三彩馬有異曲同工之妙。該匹松岡藏馬的底板上印有鴛鴦紋樣，作為底座的標誌性裝飾，象徵吉祥與和合，極為罕見且具辨識度。

這類特殊印文（無論在障泥或底板）往往反映出唐代三彩製作的個性化與高端工藝，可能是特定窯口或工匠的「簽名式」標記，增添了文物的獨特學術價值與收藏魅力。

唐三彩馬

北京故宮博物院藏

高76.5厘米，長88厘米。

此馬雙耳上聳，圓目炯炯，昂首挺立於托板之上，展現出靜立時寧靜安詳的神態。頭戴絡頭，身披攀胸與鞦帶，上掛杏葉形飾物；馬背配鞍，外覆鞍袱，下襯雕花墊與障泥，尾部繫有花結。通體施白、綠、赭三色釉，色彩鮮豔奪目。

此件唐三彩作品造型精準、比例勻稱，四肢挺拔有力，刻畫尤其生動傳神，充分展現出唐代匠人高超的雕塑技藝與審美意趣。

馬在唐代備受尊崇，與李唐王朝本身具有鮮卑遊牧血統密切相關。唐太宗李世民視騎馬畋獵為大丈夫三大樂事之一，曾命閻立本繪製其生平六匹愛馬（昭陵六駿），並雕刻成石質浮雕，永伴陵寢左右。唐玄宗李隆基更親自訓練舞馬，在千秋節（其生日）大宴群臣時，令馬匹應節起舞、翩翩蹈步，場面盛大華麗。詩仙李白更有「五花馬，千金裘，呼兒將出換美酒，與爾同銷萬古愁」之千古名句，足見馬匹在唐人生活中的重要地位與深厚情感。

唐代墓葬中出土大量三彩馬俑，正是唐人愛馬、尚馬情懷的生動反映。此件珍品由鄭振鐸先生慷慨捐獻，現藏故宮博物院。

捐贈人介紹

鄭振鐸（1898–1958），字警民，筆名西諦，現代著名文學家、文學史家、社會活動家、文物收藏家與版本目錄學家。浙江永嘉（今溫州）人，祖籍福建長樂。早年積極參與五四運動，與茅盾（沈雁冰）、葉聖陶等人共同創辦文學研究會，曾主編《小說月報》等重要刊物，對中國俗文學、世界文學翻譯及古籍整理貢獻卓著。

新中國成立後，鄭振鐸歷任文化部文物局局長、中國科學院考古研究所所長、文化部副部長等職。他一生熱愛祖國文化遺產，特別在戰亂時期不遺餘力搶救、保護珍貴文物與古籍，將個人收藏的大量稀世珍寶無私捐獻國家，其中包括這件精美的唐三彩馬及眾多陶俑等，如今皆成為故宮博物院鎮館之寶。

1958年，鄭振鐸率文化代表團出訪途中不幸遭遇飛機失事罹難。其學術遺著、文物捐獻與文化保育精神，永為後人景仰與傳頌。

【Tri-Color Glazed Pottery Horse】

New Inventory No. 00144562

Tang Dynasty Tri-Color Glazed Pottery Horse

Height: 76.5 cm, Length: 88 cm.

This majestic horse stands with ears pricked upward, round eyes wide open, and a calm, serene demeanor as it rests upright on its base plate. It wears a bridle on its head, a chest harness and crupper across its body, adorned with apricot-leaf-shaped pendants. The saddle is fitted on its back, covered by an outer saddle cloth, with a carved floral under-pad and mudguards below. A decorative knot adorns its tail. The entire figure is coated in a splendid tri-color glaze of white, green, and ochre (sancai).

This Tang tri-color piece demonstrates precise modeling, harmonious proportions, and especially vivid rendering of its strong, upright legs, conveying a sense of power and grace.

Horses held immense significance in the Tang Dynasty, closely tied to the nomadic heritage of the Li imperial family. Emperor Taizong (Li Shimin) regarded horseback hunting as one of the three great pleasures of a true gentleman. He commissioned the renowned painter Yan Liben to depict his six favorite warhorses, which were then carved as stone reliefs to eternally accompany him in his Zhaoling Mausoleum. Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji) trained horses to perform dances in rhythm during his birthday celebrations on the Thousand Autumns Festival, delighting the court with their graceful steps. The poet Li Bai immortalized the sentiment in his famous lines: “A dappled horse, a cloak worth a thousand gold—I’ll call my boy to bring them out and trade for fine wine; together we’ll drown the sorrows of eternity.”

Horses were an indispensable part of Tang life. The abundance of tri-color glazed horses unearthed from Tang tombs vividly reflects the profound affection and esteem the Tang people held for these noble animals.

This exhibit was generously donated by Mr. Zheng Zhenduo.

Donor Introduction

Zheng Zhenduo (1898–1958), courtesy name Jingmin, pen name Xidi (or 西谛), was a renowned modern Chinese writer, literary historian, social activist, cultural figure, archaeologist, and avid collector of antiquities and rare books. Born in Yongjia (present-day Wenzhou), Zhejiang, with ancestral roots in Changle, Fujian, he actively participated in the May Fourth Movement and co-founded the Literary Research Association with figures such as Mao Dun (Shen Yanbing) and Ye Shengtao. He served as editor of influential publications including Xiaoshuo Yuebao (Fiction Monthly) and made significant contributions to the study and promotion of Chinese vernacular literature, world literature translation, and the preservation of ancient texts.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Zheng held important positions including Director of the Cultural Heritage Bureau, Director of the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Vice Minister of Culture. A passionate patriot and protector of cultural heritage, he devoted himself to rescuing and safeguarding precious artifacts and rare books, especially during times of turmoil. He donated numerous invaluable items from his personal collection to public institutions, including this exquisite Tang tri-color horse and many other pottery figurines, now treasured in the Palace Museum (故宫博物院). His selfless contributions have earned him lasting respect as one of the most admired figures in modern Chinese cultural history.

Tragically, in 1958, while leading a cultural delegation abroad, Zheng perished in an airplane accident. His legacy endures through his scholarly works, preserved cultural relics, and enduring influence on Chinese literature and heritage conservation.