Taerpo Horserider

The Taerpo Horserider is a terracotta figurine dated to the 4th-3rd century BCE from a Qin tomb in the Taerpo cemetery (塔兒坡墓), near Xianyang in Shaanxi. Another nearly-identical statuette is known, from the same tomb. Small holes in his hands suggest that he was originally holding reins in one hand, and a weapon in the other.

This is the earliest known representation of a cavalryman in China. Very few such figurines are known from this time, prior to the 210 BCE Terracotta Army. The outfit is of Central Asian style, probably Saka, and the rider with his large nose appears to be a foreigner. King Zheng of Qin (246–221 BCE) is also known to have employed steppe cavalry men in his army, as seen in the Terracotta Army.

Only red and white are used as colors, as most terracotta statuettes known from the Qin state period. According to Duan Qingbo, there is a possibility that these miniature human and horse shapes were inspired by Scytho-Siberian art, as seen in objects such as the figurines of the Saka incense burners.

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