Title: Hunting Parks and Animal Enclosures in Ancient China
Abstract: Many persons augment their enjoyment in watching wild birds and harmless mammals-such creatures as robins, nuthatches and chipmunks-by setting out crumbs, suet and other food to attract them closer to their houses. The chances of seeing wild animals at close quarters can also be improved by fencing an area of uncleared land and keeping it in a condition attractive to its natural inhabitants, whose numbers can be maintained, if necessary, by bringing their cousins in from elsewhere. This is the basis of the hunting park everywhere in the world. If to this are added exotic and bizarre animals-kept, perhaps, under greater restrictions-we have a zoo or aviary, where the inhabitants can be observed for pleasure or study almost at will. In the best modern zoos, the captive animals are kept in miniature replicas of their native habitats, supplied with an approximation of their natural food, and encouraged to breed. Beyond this, when wild animals can be taught to accept nurture and shelter in close association with men, without harm to either, we speak of the animals as tame. Finally, if the whole life cycle of the animal, especially its breeding, becomes subject to human control in an artificial environment, we have it. The Chinese, for as far back in time as we can identify them, had both tamed and domesticated animals. Among the former were parrots and elephants. Among the latter were ducks and horses. Their history is fairly well known, and is not under consideration here. It is the purpose of this paper, rather, to investigate the simpler stages of animal control in China--specifically, the condition and significance of hunting parks and other animal enclosures down to the T'ang period.
Publication Year: 1968
Publication Date: 1968-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 22
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot