In primitive times, members of clans and tribes with the dragon as their totem undoubtedly used the dragon as their symbol and symbol, and painted dragons on their bodies or clothes. For example, in ancient times, the Ailao Yi used the dragon as a totem and "carved their bodies with dragon inscriptions, and all their clothes were covered with tails." The ancient Yue people also cut off their hair and had tattoos to resemble the dragon.
Before the dragon was monopolized by the emperor, all clans and tribes that worshiped the dragon were free to use dragon images without any restrictions. After the dragon became a symbol of the emperor and royal power, although its status was further improved, the use of the dragon image was gradually restricted. Especially after the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the dragon pattern was exclusive to the emperor and became an individual's private property. Common people could not abuse the dragon pattern and were not allowed to wear clothes with dragon patterns. Only the emperor could wear dragon robes and dragon robes. Because in the eyes of rulers, the emperor is the dragon, and the dragon is the emperor, the emperor may use the dragon pattern. The purpose of restricting the use of dragon patterns is to maintain the sanctity of the emperor and the dragon. In the eyes of the rulers, if anyone can wear dragon robes like the emperor, then there will be no difference between the sacred and the secular, and it will be difficult to establish the absolute authority of the emperor and consolidate the royal power.
According to existing information, the earliest emperor to wear dragon robes was probably the Emperor of Zhou. However, the dragon gun may not only be worn by the emperor, but also by other members of the royal family. After the Song Dynasty, the restrictions on the use of dragon patterns became more stringent and there were more and more regulations. In the Yuan Dynasty, the monopoly on dragon patterns developed to a new stage, and the scope of use of dragon patterns was clearly stipulated. Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, once explicitly ordered street shops not to weave or sell satin with sun, moon, dragon and phoenix patterns. Offenders would not only have their satin confiscated, but "the criminals would still be punished with pain." Except for others, "dragon and phoenix writings are not allowed" for others. In addition, utensils are not allowed to use dragon and phoenix patterns, tents "are not allowed to use ocher dragon and phoenix patterns", and chariots are "not allowed to use dragon and phoenix patterns".
The use and control of dragon patterns in the Ming Dynasty were stricter. The emperor's uniform in the early Ming Dynasty was decorated with twelve chapters, among which the dragon pattern was the most important. In the twenty-fourth year of Hongwu, Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, it was clearly stipulated: "Officials' clothes and curtains are not allowed to use black, yellow, and purple colors, and weave and embroider dragon and phoenix patterns. Anyone who violates this will be punished and the person who made the dye will be punished." Dragons on the clothes of the Qing Dynasty emperors Patterns can also be customized. According to "Manuscript of Qing History." "Yu Fu Zhi 2" records: The emperor "used bright yellow as the color of his court clothes, but used blue for worshiping the sky, red for the morning sun, and white for the evening moon. The collar and sleeves were all azurite, and the edges were made of gold, with a sea dragon added in winter."
In short, in the minds of the ancient Chinese, the emperors were all "true dragons and emperors", the emperor's descendants were considered "dragon sons and grandsons", and the emperor's descendants were called "dragon species". The dragon, especially the yellow dragon, is the symbol of the emperor. The emperor is the dragon, and the dragon is the emperor. The two are inseparable, and the dragon becomes the emperor's personal property. Everything the emperor eats, wears, lives, and uses is marked with the dragon. The emperor himself and everything related to him were related to the dragon.
As can be seen from the above, in Chinese history, the acquisition and consolidation of royal power is closely related to the dragon. Ancient emperors relied on the power of dragons and people's pious worship of dragons to fabricate all kinds of lies to claim that they were the "true emperor", just like the legendary dragons with infinite power.
In fact, in China, the symbolic meaning of the dragon goes far beyond customs. It has affected many aspects of Chinese architecture, sculpture, painting, calligraphy, literature, etc., and has become an integral part of traditional Chinese culture. And it affects Southeast Asian countries and regions that are geographically close to China. Especially with the migration and flow of overseas Chinese around the world, the concept and aesthetic significance of dragons have also spread to all parts of the world.
This year is the first year that mankind has entered the new millennium, and it also happens to be the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese lunar calendar, so the topic of dragons has aroused people's strong interest. This is not only because the dragon occupies a very special position in traditional Chinese culture, but also because the Chinese Year of the Dragon, as the first year of a new millennium, only happens once every three thousand years.
The "Dragon Zodiac Cultural Science Exhibition" was held at the Beijing Zoo in the western suburbs of Beijing. The exhibition includes twenty-five themes. The organizers collected more than 300 photos of dragon-related objects, including the Nine Dragon Wall in the Forbidden City in Beijing, the dragon pillars in the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong, the stone pillars in the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi, as well as royal bells, folk kites, etc. These photos illustrate various aspects of the dragon image in Chinese culture and social life from ancient times to the present. Ju Longhe, engineer and exhibition director of Beijing Zoo, said:
“The image of dragons can be said to be everywhere in China. Dragon culture has a long history, and its history can be traced back to 10,000 years ago. The image of the dragon appeared many years ago. Now, dragon culture is the symbol of the Chinese nation and the embodiment of spiritual power.
Like China's first stamp, the Big Dragon stamp, which is the image of a dragon. There are many phenomena of naming dragons in China. There are dozens of plants named after dragons, and there are even more places and people named after dragons. This is a historical origin. ”
The engineer with extensive knowledge said that the dragon, as a favorite image of the Chinese people, has endured for thousands of years and has been continuously endowed with the spirit of auspiciousness, harmony, positivity, and not being afraid of difficulties. Meaning. Today, "Descendants of the Dragon" has become the most popular and appealing word among Chinese people.
At the same time as the Dragon Zodiac Culture Exhibition, the "Dragon Culture and Art" was held at the Chinese History Museum. "Special Exhibition" uses precious historical relics to show the profound accumulation of the dragon image in Chinese culture. A dragon made of clam shells displayed here has a history of more than 6,000 years. It was excavated from an ancient tomb in Henan, China. The exhibition also displays many exquisite and precious cultural relics, from bronzes and jades from three thousand years ago to the dragon robes worn by ancient Chinese emperors a hundred years ago and royal artworks and ivory. Dragon boats, folk dragon-patterned lacquerware, etc. In addition, the exhibition also displays sculptures by contemporary artists. Kong Xiangxing, director of the Museum of Chinese History, said that the exhibition is not purely academic, but fully pays attention to the status of the dragon image in Chinese culture. and origins, showing the long history and reality of dragon culture together.
“It should be said that the Chinese dragon has a long history and has never been interrupted in the development of the Chinese nation. The image of the dragon appears in the oracle bone inscriptions of the Shang Dynasty (more than 3,000 years ago), which are hieroglyphs. In the minds of Chinese people, the dragon is a symbol of the traditional culture of the Chinese nation. ”
The early images of dragons were similar to fish, snakes, crocodiles, pigs and other animals. It was regarded as a mythical beast that reached the sky and could help people realize their wishes. But later, the dragon’s symbol of auspiciousness became more and more important. Strong, the image of the dragon is also divorced from the real animal, and has been attached to many legends and myths. The dragon has become a strange animal that combines the characteristics of various animals. After the Han Dynasty in the second century BC, the image of the dragon was associated with imperial power and became the emblem of the royal family. The emperor called himself the "True Dragon Emperor", and his descendants were called dragon sons and grandsons. His clothes were called dragon robes, and all his supplies were engraved with the image of the dragon. In the feudal era for more than a thousand years, the dragon became the symbol of the emperor. The mystery and authority of the dragon have been absolute and penetrated into the national ideology. However, among the Chinese people, the dragon has always retained its original symbolic meaning, that is, the dragon represents joy, peace and prosperity. To this day, the image of the dragon is still widespread. It is used in various fields such as architecture, art, literature, religion, painting, sculpture, clothing, paper-cutting, and porcelain to express people's good wishes for the future. It is no exaggeration to say that wherever Chinese people live, there are dragons. Images come in different forms