During the late Sui Dynasty (581-618), the feudal state was torn apart by rival principalities and fell into a chaos of wars. Li Shiming, who later became the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and his father, then a local official, initiated an insurgence, overthrew the Sui Dynasty and unified China in seven years. To stabilize his hard-earned status, Emperor Li Shiming fought in many early wars to protect his empire, which is why he had a special affinity for warhorses. It is said that during the wars Li had a total of six warhorses. In 636, when the construction of the Zhao Tomb for the emperor began, Li ordered the great artists of the period -- Yan Lide and Yan Liben -- to paint and engrave the statues of his warhorses. The huge, engraved stone was later placed at the altar on the north of the tomb.

The war horses -- Quanmaogua, Saluzi, Shifachi, Qingzhui, Telebiao and Baitima-- each had its own story to tell. The sculpture expressed their postures and manner of running. Among them, Saluzi and Quanmaogua are best preserved. Saluzi is depicted standing with the senior general Qiu Xinggong in front. During the attack on the capital Luoyang, when Saluzi was shot, the general came to his rescue immediately. The sculpture reenacts the scene of Qiu pulling out an arrow from Saluzi's body. With his forelegs erect, the horse is portrayed leaning backward and the muscles in his long neck are strained due to his nervousness and pain. The relationship between master and his horse is well-captured in Qiu's affection and Saluzi's efforts to cooperate. Although there have been many magnificent memorial sculptures unearthed in emperors' mausoleums, the high artistic level of the Sculpture of Six Warhorses in the Zhao Tomb is rarely seen.

With the war as its subject, the sculpture is of a novel composition with simple techniques, elaborate craftwork and smooth lines that fluidly turn into curved lines. The images and characters of the warhorses are magnificently expressed. In the entire history of Chinese sculpture, the Sculpture of Six Warhorses in the Zhao Tomb is the most outstanding work depicting the warhorse. Unfortunately, among the six stone horses, two were stolen and have ended up at the Museum of Pennsylvania University in the United States. The other four are now kept at the Stele Forest Museum in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.