East

Displayed in the exhibition halls of Shanghai Museum are a huge number of precious heritages relating to Loong, such as The Jade Dragon from the Warring States Periods (475-221BC).

The Jade Dragon displayed in the exhibition in Shanghai Museum.

The Chinese dragon is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology and folklore, which blends the images of different animals (fish, snake, pig, horse, caw and crocodile) and natural phenomena (clouds, thunder and lightning and rainbows).Dating back over 8,000 years, Loong has the ability to dive in the seas, soar in the heavens and coil up on land in the form of mountains.

For Chinese, Loong is the totem of the forces of Mother Nature, the ultimate divine force on earth and is highly honored. It is also a symbol of power and strength. As the rain deity, necessary for the good of the people, Loong is often seen as the symbol of protection and vigilance from heaven. It is regarded as the Supreme Being amongst all creatures.

Being the witness of the vicissitudes throughout Chinese history, Loong is also considered the spirit of coherence.

In modern society, Loong is more than a mascot, representing the energy, determination, optimism, intelligence and ambition of the Chinese people.

Thus, in contrast to Western dragons, which are considered evil and dark, Chinese dragons bring harvest, prosperity and good fortune.

Experiencing the accumulation of culture for more than 5000 years, Loong has now grown as the unique representative of the Chinese nation and its culture. Besides its good morals, Loong has become the symbolism of the image of China, the spirit of Chinese people, and the cohesion of the Chinese Nation.

Spending the beginning of the year in museums not only enriches people’s knowledge about Chinese culture and history, but also indicates that every family will skyrocket, just like Loong, and will always enjoy good luck during the year.

By Gao Shuang

Editor: Liu Fang