The luck of the dragon is good and it shines brightly on China. On the occasion of the New Year of the Year of the Dragon, the National Museum has launched a blockbuster exhibition "Long Zhao Xinyuan - New Year Cultural Exhibition of the Year of the Dragon" which will officially meet the audience tomorrow (February 6). The Neolithic Hongshan Culture Jade Dragon "C", known as "China's No. 1 Dragon", was unveiled.
In this exhibition, the National Museum of China has selected more than 200 pieces (sets) of cultural relics from its collection, taking Chinese dragon culture as the context, and collecting precious cultural relics from the Neolithic Age to the early 20th century, covering bronzes, jade, porcelain, gold and silverware, and lacquerware. and painting in various forms. Among them, the Hongshan Jade Dragon is simple and naive, and is an important material material for studying the original form of the dragon; the Warring States period dragon and tiger pattern double-ear plate, with well-proportioned patterns, brilliant and vigorous; the Tang Dynasty double-dragon ear bottle with ingenious design and exquisite shape; the Qing Dynasty seawater cloud dragon pattern hardwood The screen is majestic and steady and is a representative work of palace furniture in the Qing Dynasty; the dragon-shaped jade ornaments of the past dynasties are meticulously crafted and vivid; the dragon-patterned porcelain of each dynasty has gorgeous glaze colors and is unique in each dynasty. More than 90% of the exhibits are on public display for the first time.
"Dragon" is an extremely ancient and noble auspicious animal in Chinese culture. Ancient Chinese believed that dragons have nine resemblances and combine all their beauties into one. The divine dragon was born to control good weather, protect the harvest, and ensure peace and prosperity for the country and the people. China has a long history and a vast civilization. It has the bravery and vigor of "the roar of tigers and the roar of dragons", and the elegance and ease of "like a swimming dragon". Entering the homes of ordinary people is the happy marriage of "dragon and phoenix making auspiciousness", the gold list title of "fish leaping over the dragon gate", the exquisite entertainment of "dragon boat race", the festive atmosphere of "a night of fish and dragon dance", and all kinds of human fireworks. All express the working people’s beautiful wishes and infinite yearning for a happy life.
This exhibition systematically explains "dragon", the totem and symbol of the Chinese nation, from the aspects of customs, etiquette, history, culture, and artistic life, and vividly presents the rich connotation and profound value of China's excellent traditional culture, with the various gestures of the dragon dancing and dancing. Create a peaceful atmosphere to celebrate the Jiachen New Year and offer New Year blessings to the audience.
Exhibition Highlights
Highlight 1: The Neolithic Hongshan Culture Jade Dragon, known as "China's First Dragon", appeared in the "C position" in the exhibition. The jade dragon is carved from dark green Xiuyan jade. It has a smooth body, a long kiss on its head and flying mane. The shape is vivid and the carving is exquisite, providing important material data for studying the original form of the dragon.
Highlight 2: The exhibition selects more than 200 pieces (sets) of cultural relics collected by the National Museum, covering a wide time span and diverse types. Through the exhibition, visitors can appreciate precious cultural relics from the Neolithic Age to the early 20th century. The exhibits include bronzes, jade, porcelain, gold and silverware, lacquerware, paintings and other forms.
Highlight 3: The exhibition focuses on the beauty of decorative patterns on cultural relics, highlighting the beautiful meaning and cultural connotation of dragon patterns. In the long history, the image of dragon decoration has been continuously integrated and added, from the original abstract form to the animal-like concrete, from simple and childish to complex and spiritual combinations. Its development and evolution reflect the differences in each period. style. As an important element of traditional Chinese culture, the dragon pattern shows the dynamic beauty and elegance of Chinese civilization.
(CCTV reporter Zhang Xin and Zhang Lilei)