The dragon is a legendary supernatural animal, an important totem in ancient China, symbolizing auspiciousness and dignity. In the zodiac, it is also the only fictional mythical beast.
《万龙谷 龙族幻想手绘插画集》
The dragon pattern is one of the earliest decorative patterns of bronze, and the mysterious and majestic dragon pattern on the bronze carries the worship of the ancestors to the dragon.
After the Tang and Song dynasties, the status of the dragon became higher and higher, becoming the representative of the supreme and noble, and was mostly used as a royal decorative pattern. Through continuous imagination and artistic processing, the dragon has formed a kaleidoscopic and diverse image. Up to now, the "dragon pattern" has become one of the most representative traditional patterns in the auspicious culture of the mainland.
Legend has it that the dragon has "nine likenesses", that is, the horns are like a deer, the head is like a camel, the eyes are like a rabbit, the neck is like a snake, the belly is like a mirage, the scales are like a fish, the claws are like an eagle, the palm is like a tiger, and the ears are like a cow, which looks extremely powerful.
Although the dragon pattern is widely used, the most classic application scenario is the emperor's special clothing - dragon robe. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the emperor began to wear dragon robes. Among the dynasties, the Qing Dynasty dragon robe was the most beautifully made and gorgeous.
How many dragons are there on the dragon robe?
The robe is usually embroidered with nine dragons: three on the front, three on the back, two on the shoulders, and one hidden in the placket.
How many toes does a dragon have on a dragon robe?
The dragons on the dragon robe are all five-toed, and the four-toed ones are pythons. Python robes are generally worn by princes, princes, and officials.
There are many variations of the dragon pattern, and the common ones are the following. Among them, the cloud dragon pattern and the group dragon pattern were widely used in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and were mostly used to decorate auspicious clothes, while the curly grass dragon pattern was mostly used to decorate the ground screen.
Cloud dragon pattern
The combination of clouds and dragons originates from the legend that dragons can soar through clouds and fog, and is mostly seen in the dresses of emperors in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Regimental dragon pattern
The dragon refers to a dragon with a round shape, and the four dragons or eight dragons symbolize dignity.
Curly grass dragon pattern
The head is the image of a dragon, and the body is like a stretched curly grass.
Time passed, dynasties changed, and the image of the dragon changed with the development of the times. At first, its image was relatively abstract, and perhaps the ancients had not yet figured out what the dragon should look like.
After the Tang Dynasty, the image of the dragon became more and more perfect, sometimes light, sometimes fierce, and full of changes.
We cannot but admire the imagination of the ancients, who not only created dragons, but also created offspring for dragons, whose sons had different looks and temperaments.
《万龙谷 龙族幻想手绘插画集》
负屃&赑屃
The stele where the literati liked to write and compose poems was its permanent residence.
赑 (bì) 屃, is a strong man who is good at carrying weights.
狻猊
It can drive away demons and ward off evil spirits, and is often entrenched at the foot of the incense burner
Prisoner cattle
Prisoner cows love to listen to music and are often decorated on the headstock.
Hsung-hsien
狴犴 (bì'àn), who is good at judging cases, often appears on the prison gates, implying justice and strictness.
Kiss & Mock Wind
The chī kiss of the dragon's head and fish body likes to look east and west, and is permanently stationed at both ends of the roof ridge of the building.
Mocking wind likes to look into the distance, and is often carved in the corner of the palace to symbolize auspiciousness.
Kamaja
Pu Lao roars when it is struck, so the beast button used as a beam of the Hong Zhong helps it to sound far and wide.
睚眦
睚眦 (yázì) has an aggressive personality and is often engraved on the sword ring and hilt.
Since ancient times, the "dragon" has been regarded as a symbol of auspiciousness, and the artistic image of the dragon, as a representative element of Chinese culture, has left a classic shape on many utensils and buildings.
In fact, not only the dragon pattern, but also the evolution of traditional Chinese patterns show the distinctive national character of Chinese civilization. From the beginning of the Neolithic Age, to the end of the Qing Dynasty and the end of feudal society, traditional Chinese patterns are like a "wordless history book", recording the social style of each era and witnessing people's expectations and yearning for a better life.
I hope that if you like traditional Chinese patterns, you can understand the stories behind them through these patterns that have been passed down for thousands of years, and pass on traditional Chinese culture with appreciation and reverence. If you like traditional Chinese patterns, you can check out this book "Comic Fun Interpretation of Chinese Patterns".