Horses are considered symbols of the attainment of wealth and high rank. Historically, they’ve been seen as steady, trusted companions that have allowed humans to succeed in both agriculture and battle. In many ancient cultures, horses were gifted to emperors and kings because they are symbols of triumph and success.
Horse Symbolism in Feng Shui
In ancient China, horses were believed to be related to dragons and were highly regarded for their strong yang energy. Yang energy is fast, bright, and active, in contrast to yin energy which is slow, dark, and passive. Horses also represent the element of fire in the five element system, which is connected to fame, recognition, inspiration, and passion.
The Precious Horse
In Buddhist texts, the horse is often shown carrying symbols of wealth and noble standing. These horses are depicted as white, typically without a rider, and bearing many gifts on their backs. This bejeweled precious horse represents recognition, success, and nobility. The symbol of a horse is also seen in Tang dynasty ceramic horses, often made with a tri-color glaze called sancai. Many examples of these beautiful horses exist today, both originals from the Tang dynasty and replicas that are available in many sizes and colors. The statues are of war horses, chargers used in battle during the golden age of the Tang dynasty. They have small heads, little upright ears, muscular bodies, and they stand solidly on all fours with their powerful necks arched. They represent strength, success, and power. Galloping horses are symbols of perseverance, endurance, and speed. In Asian art and painting, there is a recurring motif of a herd of eight galloping horses. This motif is based on the story of the Eight Horses of Mu Wang, where each horse is named for its prowess and mythical skill. They were said to have been as swift as dragons. Beautiful scrolls are painted with depictions of the eight horses, and they are often seen in business and professional settings because of their connection to success and perseverance.
The Chinese Zodiac
The horse is also the seventh animal in the Chinese Zodiac. There are twelve animals in total in the Chinese Zodiac, and each year is connected to one of the animals. The years 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, and 2014 are all horse years. People born in a horse year tend to have attributes associated with the horse: They are hard workers, they like to travel, and they are free spirits. Horses clash with rats and are best friends with rams (also called goats or sheep). The horse is considered the head of the six domesticated zodiac animals (horse, ram, sheep, dog, ox, pig, rooster) because of their importance in warfare, transportation, and farming.
Symbols of Success
A horse’s attributes and actions can also add more layers of symbolism. Some examples:
Red horse: Red is related to the fire element, so a horse of this color can convey more strength and aggression. If you need some of this type of energy, a red horse would do well in your office spaceHorse in motion: Galloping horses represent speed and success, while a horse standing solidly on all four feet represents strong and powerful energy.A pair of horses: A pair of horses can be looked at as the two individual partners together in a strong relationship. White horse: White is the color of the metal element. Try a white horse to invite steady money flow into your home.
We encourage you to also consider your own personal associations to the characteristics of the horse image. For instance if the horses look sad or angry to you, you may not want to invite that energy into your home.
Where to Place Images of Horses
Horses can be placed in many parts of the home where you want to increase yang energy. Because they are very yang, it is best to place them in common areas like living rooms. They are especially good for business settings, offices, and other areas where you want to stimulate wealth and success. The fast-moving fire energy of horses (especially galloping ones) is best kept out of the bedroom, which ideally should be a more relaxing, yin part of the home. Traditionally, horses are connected with the cardinal direction south. In the feng shui bagua you would place them in the Li gua. Li is the area at the top of the bagua usually shown by the color red, and it represents fame and recognition.
