BEIJING, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) – As Chinese people joyfully celebrate the Year of the Dragon, cultural artifacts featuring the dragon (also known as the long) in museums across China are once again attracting attention.
An exhibition bringing together more than 200 cultural relics with long themes from various historical periods in ancient China is being held at the National Museum of China in Beijing.
The exhibition features a variety of cultural relics from the Neolithic period to the early 20th century, including bronze, jade, porcelain, gold and silverware, lacquerware, and paintings.
One of the most fascinating exhibits is a C-shaped jade dragon from the Neolithic Hongshan culture. This is important evidence for studying the ancient Chinese dragon image.
The Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing houses an elongated artifact made up of more than 2,000 pieces of turquoise. Dating back more than 3,000 years, this relic is considered by many sinologists to be China’s oldest dragon totem in existence.
The Heilongjiang Provincial Museum houses a rare bronze antique of a squatting loon from the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234).
The raised head, open mouth reminiscent of a roar, and slightly hunched shoulders give the viewer a dignified and energetic attitude.
At the Shaanxi History Museum in Xi’an, northwestern China’s Shaanxi province, six Aron collections attract the attention of visitors.
Made of copper and iron with a gold-plated surface, the S-shaped long dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Unlike traditional depictions of majestic flying loons, these exquisite artifacts have slender legs resembling a running stance, and the tallest are only 2.8 cm.
Experts believe it may have been used in rituals to pray for good weather and prosperity.
In traditional Chinese culture, Ron symbolizes strength, good luck, and extraordinary abilities, and embodies wishes for good weather, peace, and happiness.
Experts say that China’s long-themed cultural relics from various eras convey the innovative, inclusive, united and hard-working spirit of the Chinese nation. ■