Traditional Chinese Dragon Art
For centuries, Chinese civilization has been entwined with legends of dragons. The dragon has influenced the Chinese people both culturally and spiritually and has subsequently become a national symbol. Dragons are the subject of numerous pieces of art in many forms, including songs, paintings, textiles and literature.
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History
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Hieroglyphs from the 16th to the 11th centuries B.C. are the oldest records of Chinese writings. Many of these hieroglyphs contain a symbol for the dragon, meaning that legends of the dragon predate known history. Early dragon art appeared in the form of dragon banners flying above Chinese troops, stone carvings and bronze dragon statues which stood guard outside palaces. Imperials wore silk robes with intricate dragon patterns to denote their lofty status.
Mythology
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In ancient times, Chinese people believed themselves to be descended from dragons and that the imperials were still of the dragon. Thusly, they were said to sit on dragon thrones, sleep in dragon beds and wear dragon robes. The dragon was said to be one of four spiritual creatures, along with the tortoise, the phoenix and the kylin. Dragons were said to have the power to control the waters and be responsible for carrying the deceased to the celestial realm.
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Symbology
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Unlike the evil and ferocious western dragon, the Chinese dragon is benevolent. It embodies the values of the people and is treated with respect. The dragon is a symbol of power and heroism, among other bold, noble traits. The dragon is also the bearer of blessings and good fortune and appears prominently in all forms of Chinese art and is a permanent fixture in Chinese celebrations.
Characteristics
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The nine different aspects of the Chinese dragon are pieced together from attributes of other animals.
The dragon's head is touted to be that of a camel, with the antlers of a deer, eyes of a demon and the ears of an ox. The neck is that of a snake, the belly of a cockle and the scales of a fish. The number of scales is said to total 117, with 81 yin (good) and 36 yang (evil) for balance. The paws of the dragon come from a tiger, and have the claws of an eagle. Dragons of the people had four toes, while imperial dragons sported five.
Changes
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Over the centuries, the looks of the Chinese dragon has changed. From dynasty to dynasty, the style in which dragons were portrayed in art has changed. The earliest dragons were depicted as vicious. During the Han Dynasty, their style was free and grandiose. Later, in the Tang Dynasty, the dragon settled into being a docile and graceful creature. In the Song Dynasty, delicate floral patterns were incorporated in the dragon art.
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References
- Photo Credit Detail of Chinese Dragon Sculpture Crafted of Bronze image by nextrecord from Fotolia.com
