Changes

[[File:Hongli Spearing a Tiger - detail.png|thumbnail|left|Figure 2. The royal hunt during the Qing Dynasty. Altough this depiction shows the royal hunt in the Qing Dynasty, this activity originates from much older Chinese royal hunts in royal parks.]]

In ancient China, the hunt was also important for royalty. Royal parks were created such as in the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), where dogs would be reared and used during these royal activities.<ref>For more information on the royal hunt in ancient China, see: Duindam, J. F. J., & Dabringhaus, S. (Eds.). (2014). The dynastic centre and the provinces: agents and interactions. Leiden ; Boston: Brill, pg. 141.</ref> It was important for the Chinese emperors to find and kill their prey, thus parks are important as a means to ensure there were animals present. Deer, tigers, and rhinoceroses were among the animals hunted in the royal parks (Figure 2). We know that in some periods the royal hunt was also used as an occasion to invite foreign emissaries and diplomats. The emperor would use the opportunity to conduct court business and would use the occasion as an official gathering rather than in the main capital.

In both China and Assyria, the origin of the royal parks and gardens, rather than being a focus of only exotic plants, can be argued to be just as important as places for releasing wild game so that kings and emperors could engage in royal hunts. In other words, the activity of hunting gave primacy to many of these parks in their roles for kingship and power.<ref>For more on ancient royal parks, see: Allsen, T. T. (2006). The royal hunt in Eurasian history. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.</ref>

==Medieval Hunting==

The Medieval kings of Europe adopted Roman and ancient traditional practices of kingship, which included hunting. Although hunting was done by all classes, it was a critical sign of nobility to be involved in the royal hunts. Areas were often reserved solely for the king and his nobles, particularly in England and Gascony, for kings to hunt and kings would conduct much of their business during the hunt.<ref>For more on the royal hunts and hunting grounds in the Medieval period, see: Jeanrenaud, S. (2001). Communities and forest management in Western Europe: a regional profile of WG-CIFM the Working Group on Community Involvement in Forest Management. Gland: IUCN, pg. 16.</ref> The strength and reputation of kings often depended on their success in royal hunts.

==Conclusion==

The royal hunt was an important symbol of power for kings and emperors. Few activities, such as the royal hunt, persist since the inception of royalty in the late 4th millennium BCE. The origin of parks and large reserves, rather than starting as areas to protect animals and plants, were initially intended to be reserves for royalty to commence in the hunt. The hunt was also a time to conduct important state business and meet dignitaries, perhaps similar to how golf is done today by US presidents and other world leaders. The royal hunt, at times a dangerous activity, as kings could be vulnerable to injury or even death, was also seen as an arena to demonstrate that the king was in control and powerful, an important symbol for the state and its continuity.

==References==

[[Category:Wikis]]