Why were horses a popular subject in Tang dynasty painting?

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ceremonial hu — Chinese painting Drawing of ancestral offering scenes (ritual archery, sericulture, hunting, and warfare) cast on a ceremonial bronze *hu,* 6th–5th century bc, Zhou dynasty. In the Palace Museum, Peking.

Horses were a popular subject in Tang dynasty painting primarily because they played a vital role in the empire's military expansion and were central to the life of the court. During this period, military steeds were considered a matter of life and death for the state.1

Beyond their military importance, horses were deeply integrated into the social and recreational activities of the Tang elite. Riding was a popular pastime, and court ladies even participated in the sport of polo. This cultural prominence made the horse a favored subject for artists, including renowned court painters like Han Gan, who was celebrated for capturing the strength and nobility of the Tang empire's horses.213