In ancient Chinese culture “the Dragon” It is a symbol of awe, strength and supernatural powers. It represents the desire for rain according to the season. As well as peace and prosperity, for thousands of years, belief in “dragons” has appeared in all dimensions of Chinese society, accumulating, forming, and creating continuously for a long period. Until it became a deep and unique culture.
When we walk into a museum in China there is always a chance to see ancient objects that contain dragon elements. This is evidence that the Chinese ancestral line has been passed down uninterruptedly to generations after generations. Xinhua News Agency invites readers to learn about 6 ancient objects influenced by belief in dragons in Chinese culture.
1. Indigo dragon-shaped vessels from a mass grave
A long, ancient dragon-shaped artifact made up of more than 2,000 pieces of turquoise or colored gemstones, which in terms of their size are considered rare relics from the early days of dragon-shaped object culture. The vessels were discovered in 2002 from the tomb of an aristocrat at the archaeological site of Erlitou. In Luoyang City, Henan Province, central China
The report states that the bright blue-green remains are more than 70 cm long and are currently housed in the Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing. The capital of the country. Chinese archaeologists named this artifact and it is known as the “Dragon of China” because of its great historical, artistic and scientific value.
2. The bronze dragon sits with its feet touching the clouds
This bronze dragon is on display at the Heilongjiang Provincial Museum. Highlights of what happens in the sitting position. The head is raised slightly. He opened his mouth as if he was emitting a roar. The neck extends slightly forward. The left front leg is raised. Tentacles touch the clouds revealing demeanor and elegant appearance.
This seated bronze dragon was one of the items used by emperors in the early and middle Jin Dynasty. It is originally from the Niujin tribe in northern China and was influenced by the aristocratic culture of the Central Plains of China. The dragon was considered a symbol of royal power and was favored by the emperors of the Jin Dynasty.
Take a closer look at the dragon's appearance. Creating a dragon must rely on the strengths of different animals, such as birds, aquatic animals, and reptiles. It also brings together and merges the cultures of many ethnic groups together. It reflects the integration and diversity of the currents of Chinese civilization.
3. Golden Dragon Yatra
Bronze Dragon of Tang Dynasty The body is made of bronze. But inside there is an iron core covered with copper. The exterior is gold plated throughout. The body of these dragons is curved. The head is held high and has backward-curving horns attached to the head.
The group of six small golden dragons was discovered in Hejiakun Village in Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, northwest of the country. It is currently on display at the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum. Calling it “Golden Dragon Yatra”, the most important feature of these dragons is that they are small and exquisite and have a simple carving style. This is different from normal dragons which are often designed to be powerful and formidable.
From the perspective of the Chinese Tang period, the dragon is an auspicious animal that can fly in the sky. The action of these moving dragons thus eliminates the image of the flying dragon in people's minds. Note that each golden dragon has four long, slender legs in a running position. Head up and looking. While some were in pause mode. It reflects the courageous spirit of the Chinese people. Experts have analyzed that the dragon in this pose may have been used in a ceremony to pray for monsoon rain and peace in the community.
By the way, dragons in Chinese culture can fly in the sky, swim in the water, and run on the ground. This is consistent with Chinese identity and the values of persistence and positivity.
4. Flying dragon style rod
Dragons can be found in Chinese culture in mythology and folk festivals. Appearance and patterns on various objects One of them is a thousand-year-old dragon-shaped glass in the Xi'an City Museum in Shaanxi Province, which shows a dragon flying in midair surrounded by clouds. Gives a feeling of freshness and vitality
5. Draw a dragon spouting water
Below is a scroll of paintings written in ink on silk. It is the image of a dragon spouting water hidden in a sea of clouds. It is currently on display at the National Museum of China in Beijing.
6. Buddhist art of a monk riding a dragon
A painting of a monk riding a dragon is one of the murals found in Mogao Rock Carving Cave No. 257 in Dunhuang. Gansu Province in the western part of the country Origin of Buddhist art: Dunhuang Cave In the picture there are 500 huge dragons flying in the sky. At the top, a dragon carries a monk wearing a robe over his head.
The dragon culture of the Chinese nation is completely independent and unique. She flourished without belonging to any sect. It represents the independent spirit of the Chinese people. The Chinese people's veneration of the dragon has created unity among the people, and today, the dragon is not a representation of the god who controls the wind and rain. Or the symbol of the emperor in feudal society anymore Many Chinese people have given a new meaning and meaning to the dragon, which aims to express the Chinese people's desire for national rejuvenation.