During the early Yuanyou era of the Song Dynasty, the Qingtang Qiang tribe, believing the Central Plains people weak and easy to bully, sent their general Guizhang Qingyijie to raid the border. The tribal official Bao Shun requested permission to lead his forces to eliminate the border threat. The imperial court, eager to pacify the unrest, ordered the generals to launch a campaign. Before long, Guizhang Qingyijie was captured.
The spoils of war included horses, all fine breeds from the Western Regions, with three appearing as heavenly steeds reborn—tall and robust, with dragon-like heads, phoenix-like chests, tiger-like backs, and leopard-like patterns. As they exited the Donghua Gate toward the imperial stables at Tiansi Jian, they shook their manes and neighed, silencing all other horses. The commoners, stirred by the majestic cries, rushed out to see them, exclaiming in wonder, "Such fine horses—truly a first in our lifetime!" The entire street erupted in excitement.
While serving in the capital, Su Shi witnessed the majestic spirit of three fine horses, their images lingering in his mind. He invited the renowned painter Li Gonglin to capture them on silk, and had Guizhang Qingyijie verify the details to ensure accuracy.
Li Gonglin, a master painter of the Song Dynasty, had a special gift for capturing horses—each one's unique spirit and form. One day, following a vivid description by the poet Su Shi, Li Gonglin took up his brush. Using only ink and fine outlines, with a touch of light color on the details, he painted in one breath a stunning picture of three horses. The proportions were perfect, their bodies so lifelike that you could almost feel the hardness of their muscles, the sheen of their coats, and the texture of their markings. Even the sound of their neighing seemed to echo from the scroll. When Su Shi saw the finished work, he slapped the table in amazement, crying out, "Incredible!"
In the fourth year of the Shaosheng era, Su Shi was exiled to Huizhou. With time on his hands, he browsed through his old collection of paintings and calligraphy. When he came across Li Gonglin's painting "Three Horses," he recalled the past, marveled at the horses' divine swiftness, and composed "In Praise of the Three Horses."
"Wan Ma Qi Yin" describes a scene where when a fine horse neighs, all other horses fall silent. Later used to describe a stifling, oppressive atmosphere.
Source: Su Shi (Song Dynasty), *Inscription on the Painting of Three Horses*
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "万马齐喑" came to describe a stifling, oppressive atmosphere.