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The "Red Hare Horse" (赤兔马, Chìtù Mǎ) was an ancient Chinese warhorse who lived around 200 AD, in the late Eastern Han dynasty. Its name was possibly derived from the redness of its fur or perhaps from its rabbit-like appearance and speed, though there is no concrete origin for it. Historically, it had two different masters in its lifetime: Lü Bu and Guan Yu, both of whom were famous warlords. It died shortly after Guan Yu's death, around 220 AD.

However, the Red Hare later gained fame in the midst of Chinese culture as a legend, stronger and faster and more intelligent than all other horses of its time, thanks to its appearance in the popular historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century. It has since stood as a symbol of superior horses throughout Chinese history.

Description
The Red Hare was distinctly noticeable by the similarity in shape between its head and a hare's, identified by its sharp facial features and by a small bump on its muzzle, between its nose and its forehead. It was also especially unique compared to the common Mongolian horses typically used in China at the time, with its pelt of deep russet and its large, powerful size.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, its color and measurements are stated specifically: "[...] It is of uniform ashen red, with not a hair of another colour; it measures one zhang (23 hands, 230 cm) from head to tail and eight chi (18 hands, 184 cm) from hoof to head."

The Red Hare was never actually categorized under a certain breed, neither historically nor in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. However, it is largely speculated that the Red Hare was a descendant of one of the Heavenly Horses of ancient China. These horses were imported from Central Asia by Chinese Emperor Wudi, in 113 BC, for their speed, power, and large size, and their pelts were dark red. Possible breeds of such horses are the Arabian, Caspian, and Akhal-Teke. These horses' description largely matches that of the Red Hare's. Given this, it is likely that the Red Hare was one of those breeds mentioned. However, there is no conclusion as to what the specific breed of the Red Hare was.

In historical records
The Red Hare was mentioned in Lü Bu's biographies in the historical texts Records of the Three Kingdoms and Book of the Later Han. It was described as very powerful, and capable of "galloping across cities and leaping over moats". Lü Bu rode this horse in 193 during a battle in Changshan (常山; around present-day Shijiazhuang, Hebei), in which he helped another warlord Yuan Shao defeat his rival Zhang Yan.

The Cao Man Zhuan (曹瞞傳) recorded that there was a saying at the time to describe the famous duo of Lü Bu and his Red Hare: "Among men, Lü Bu; among horses, Chìtù."

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms


The Red Hare has a more prominent role in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which romanticizes the historical events before and during the Three Kingdoms period. During that period of the Eastern Han dynasty, the emperor of China, Xian Di, lost control over the country due to a revolution of laborers in the Yellow Turban Rebellion (黄巾起义). Since there was no rightful heir to take the emperor's place and keep the Han dynasty alive, around 20 vassals were left to direct their eyes to the newly vacated throne, each seeing his chance to end the dynasty and claim it for himself. Hence, the country erupted into a bloody free-for-all to take the throne, and this war carried on over the next hundred years, spanning entire generations.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms weaves the fictional legend of the Red Hare into this historical conflict. The novel's story is as follows.

Among these fighting men are Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo. However, Dong Zhuo quickly realizes that Ding Yuan has a distinct advantage in his armies. Within their ranks is Ding Yuan's foster son Lü Bu, a warrior armed with such skill that he stands undefeated by any opponent in a direct battle throughout his entire career as a soldier. Dong Zhuo recognizes the importance of attaining such a warrior into his own army, and goes to his adviser, Li Su, to ask how Lü Bu can be swayed to their side. Li Su soon devises a strategy to convince Lü Bu to fight for them. The Red Hare is the key to success of this strategy.

The Red Hare is a prized steed of Dong Zhuo. After Li Su reveals his plan to him, Dong Zhuo sends Li Su to present the Red Hare as a gift to Lü Bu and induce Lü Bu to betray Ding Yuan and defect to his side. Lü Bu is very pleased to receive the Red Hare. After being persuaded by Li Su, he murders Ding Yuan and defects to Dong Zhuo, whom he acknowledges as his new foster father.

Fighting alongside the Red Hare, Lü Bu is untouchable. The two are famed to be the best pair on the battlefield, unconquerable in a one-on-one battle with any other soldier riding atop any other horse. The Red Hare itself is described as a legend in the novel:"[...] named 'Red Hare', capable of traveling 1,000 li (417 km/333 miles) in one day [...] crosses rivers and climbs mountains as though it is moving on flat land [...] it neighs as if it has the ambition of soaring into the sky or diving into the sea."

However, both Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu are later killed at the Battle of Xiapi, outnumbered and overwhelmed by the armies of another warlord sparring for the throne, Cao Cao. The Red Hare is then put under the possession of Cao Cao.

Later, Cao Cao captures the soldier Guan Yu, a gifted warrior who had been second only to Lü Bu. In an effort to sway Guan Yu to his side, Cao Cao offers him the Red Hare as a steed. But Guan Yu, unlike Lü Bu, is extremely loyal to his master, Liu Bei, whom he believes is the rightful ruler of China. He refuses to be swayed to Cao Cao's side. However, he seizes the Red Hare, jumping atop its back and galloping away to find Liu Bei. He rejoins him within months, thanks to the Red Hare's speed.

With the Red Hare as a steed, Guan Yu becomes an immensely powerful fighting force, and the two quickly gain fame as legends together. However, unlike with Lü Bu, the Red Hare greatly admires the loyalty demonstrated by Guan Yu, and develops a close bond with him. The two become inseparable.

Together, the Red Hare and Guan Yu return to Cao Cao to defeat him. Eventually, they become locked in combat with one of Cao Cao's generals, and Guan Yu is so preoccupied by the fight that he leaves his base unguarded. This allows Ma Zhong, the general working under yet another warlord vying for the throne, Sun Quan, to invade his base and ambush Guan Yu and the Red Hare when they return. Sun Quan kills Guan Yu shortly. The Red Hare is kept alive and transferred to Sun Quan's custody.

After acquiring the Red Hare, Sun Quan gives it to Ma Zhong as a reward for capturing Guan Yu. But the Red Hare is so devoted and faithful to Guan Yu that it refuses to accept any other master as its own. In grief, the Red Hare starves itself and dies several days later.

In the modern world
There is also a 21st century racehorse called Chitu, named after the Red Hare, that participated in the 2014 Kentucky Derby.

Links

 * Chen, Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
 * Fan, Ye. Book of the Later Han (Houhanshu).
 * Luo, Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Yanyi).
 * Pei, Songzhi. Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).