Is the stirrup invented by Ma Jun the earliest stirrup in the world?

The stirrup is a harness that hangs on both sides of the horse's body for the general to mount and step on. According to archaeological data, the earliest stirrups in China appeared in the Western Han Dynasty. Ma Jun was a figure of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period, so the stirrup was not invented by Ma Jun, but the earliest stirrup was invented by the Chinese.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods, stirrups did not yet exist. Cavalrymen at that time could only wiggle their feet to ride on the back of a horse, and had to go through long training to keep their balance. King Wuling of Zhao learned from the northern ethnic minorities and built up a strong cavalry force by "riding and archery". But without stirrups, the cavalrymen had to spend energy to keep their balance while fighting, which affected the effectiveness of the war.

During the Western Han Dynasty, stirrups already appeared in China, and these can be seen in the murals of Han tombs. The earliest physical stirrups in China were unearthed in the tombs of the Xianbei tribe in the 3rd century A.D., that is to say, during the period of the Five-Hu Rebellion. Subsequently, Chinese stirrups began to spread to Korea and Japan. During the Wei, Jin, and North-South Dynasties, northern China was frequently invaded by ethnic minorities, whose longest-used tactic was cavalry combat. After the advent of the stirrup, the cavalry equipment of the Middle Kingdom was upgraded and was able to win the war. During the period of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty, because the Central Plains did not produce horses, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty often sought sweat-blooded BMWs from Dawan. It can be said that in the Cold War era, horses were an important armament material that could help fight against the enemy. But in the era of hot weapons, the role of the horse was greatly reduced.

While the stirrups appeared in the murals of the Western Han Dynasty, there has been no excavated objects, and the stirrups have gone through a process of increasing in utility from the simple to the exquisite. Westerners call stirrups "Chinese boots", stirrups are invented by the Chinese. It can be said that the emergence of stirrups, strengthened the cavalry.