马在辽朝社会中的作用与地位

Role and Status of Horses in Liao Society

马是辽朝"五畜"之一,以蒙古草原本地马品种--蒙古马为主。在辽代,马的牧养机构可分为官营和私营两种模式,其放牧方法也分为两种:一种是集中放牧,另一种是散牧。马在辽代社会中发挥着重要的作用:皇帝通过赠送和赏赐马来体现君主的恩惠和重视;贡赋、贸易与日常生活中马是不可代替的物品;辽人的军事征服以善于奔袭的骑兵为主;体育竞技和宗教文化上常需使用马匹。马在军事上的独特作用使其地位超过牛、羊、骆驼,一定程度上影响着辽朝的兴衰。

Horse is one of the"five animals"in the Liao Dynasty,whose main local horse species is the Mongolian horse. In the Liao Dynasty,horse breeding institutions can be divided into official and private modes,and the horse can be herded or grazed scatteredly. The horse played an important role in the Liao Dynasty: the emperor reflected the emperor’s favor and attention by giving and rewarding the horse;tribute,trade and horse are irreplaceable goods in daily life;Liao’s military conquest depends mainly on the cavalry;and horses are often used in sports and religious culture. The unique role of horse in the military makes its position more than cattle,sheep,camels,and to some extent affects the rise and fall of the Liao Dynasty.