I was thinking of doing a Xi Xia army and i was looking at Khurasan's Tibetans (since i have some already). The page notes that the figures could be used for the Xi Xia army. I was wondering if the infantry was accurate, or if using Tang or Sung troops would be more accurate for the infantry? As well as suggestins for the non-cataphract cavalry.
Thanks,
David
We don't have much of a clue what the Xixia looked like.
We have some pictures of what seem to be Xixia Tangut tribesmen, showing the traditional hairstyle, which resembels Khitan and Mongol styles in having a shaved crown and braids, but in a slightly different arrangement - http://www.arthermitage.org/Painting/Guanyin-Moon-in-Water-1.html for instance.
Kychanov's article (https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=m3UsBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA191&lpg=PA191&dq=kychanov+%22nomads+in+the+tangut+state+of++hsi-hsia%22&source=bl&ots=Ld5KMk5pHU&sig=DV7ufwEIoS8MVfJXxBFJSM45ils&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7gtqB-YnRAhWE2RoKHQA_A9MQ6AEIIDAC#v=onepage&q=kychanov%20%22nomads%20in%20the%20tangut%20state%20of%20%20hsi-hsia%22&f=false) has some equipment lists, but not detailed evidence on appearance.
Modern reconstructions include https://weaponsandwarfare.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/xia.png and http://images.travelpod.com/users/bethverde/7.1222495020.xi-xia-culture.jpg
You could certainly do worse than using Khurasan Tibetans for the "iron sparrowhawks", and perhaps Khurasan Song Guards for the Imperial Guard cavalry (I'm assuming you're using the 2nd ed DBMM lists, which have only a few sparrowhawk cataphracts, Reg Cv(S) Guards, and so on). I might be tempted to look at Mongols for the tribal cavalry, especially if you can get figures without shields. Bare-headed ones with the hairstyle might be harder.
I'd probably use Song infantry for the Bd and crossbow; harder to think of something for the "foot-treaders", though I suppose the Khurasan Tibetan infantry spearmen would pass.
thanks Duncan, i was thinking along the smae lines. Good thing, Khurasan has gorgeous Sung troops now.
FWIW, my Xi Xia are made of Essex figures. Tibetan cataphracts (from their Tang range) for the "Iron Sparrowhawks", Mongols for other cavalry, and Song for the foot. For the "foot treaders" I used the Song javelinmen.