page_title: Xianbei
section_title: Art
hierarchical_section_title: Xianbei / Art
caption_attribution_description: English: A gold ornament featuring a horse head with antlers Northern Dynasties (A.D. 386 - 581) Excavated at Daerhan Maoming'anqi, Inner Mongolia, 1981 Worn by a Xianbei aristocrat, this ornament features antlers with three branches and ten golden leaves each. The leaves are attached with gold rings to allow them to sway when the wearer moves; this was known as Bu Yao (moving with the rhythm of one's steps). Horses were believed to dispel evil and bring good fortune. Xianbei HeaddressFrançais&#160;: Aigrette de coiffe à éléments mobiles. Or et incrustations de pierres, IVe siècle (?). Similaire mais différent du n° 148 in&#160;: Exposition et catalogue&#160;: L'Asie des steppes. D'Alexandre le Grand à Gengis Khan. Barcelone, Paris , Madrid 2000-2001. RMN, ISBN 2-7118-4176-6
context_page_description: The Xianbei were an ancient nomadic people that once resided in the eastern Eurasian steppes in what is today Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeastern China. They originated from the Donghu people who splintered into the Wuhuan and Xianbei when they were defeated by the Xiongnu at the end of the 3rd century BC. The Xianbei were largely subordinate to larger nomadic powers and the Han dynasty until they gained prominence in 87 AD by killing the Xiongnu chanyu Youliu. However unlike the Xiongnu, the Xianbei political structure lacked the organization to pose a concerted challenge to the Chinese for most of their time as a nomadic people.
  After suffering several defeats by the end of the Three Kingdoms period, the Xianbei migrated south and settled in close proximity to Chinese society and submitted as vassals, being granted the titles of Dukes. As the Xianbei Murong, Tuoba and Duan tribes were one of the Five Barbarians who were vassals of the Han Chinese Western Jin and Eastern Jin dynasties, they took part in the Uprising of the Five Barbarians as allies of the Han Chinese Eastern Jin against the other four barbarians, the Xiongnu, Jie, Di and Qiang.
context_section_description: Art of the Xianbei portrayed their nomadic lifestyle and consisted primarily of metalwork and figurines.  The style and subjects of Xianbei art were influenced by a variety of influences, and ultimately, the Xianbei were known for emphasizing unique nomadic motifs in artistic advancements such as leaf headdresses, crouching and geometricized animals depictions, animal pendant necklaces, and metal openwork.
caption: Xianbei head ornament with horse motif
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