First, the origin and evolution of dragon characters
1. Oracle Bone Inscriptions: The earliest dragon-shaped form appeared in Oracle Bone Inscriptions period, when the dragon-shaped form was concise, with smooth lines and strong abstraction.
2. Bronze inscriptions: With the rise of bronzes, bronze inscriptions have become another manifestation of dragons. The dragon characters in the bronze inscriptions are fuller in lines and more solemn in form, reflecting the mystery and respect for dragons at that time.
3. Xiao Zhuan: The dragon characters in the period of Xiao Zhuan are relatively standardized in shape and slightly increased in strokes. At this time, the shape of the dragon has tended to be stereotyped, which became the basis of the dragon characters in regular script later.
4. Regular script: In the regular script stage, the strokes of the dragon character gradually increased, eventually forming a complete form of 4 1 painting. The dragon-shaped regular script is highly decorative and has become a classic in China's calligraphy art.
Second, the meaning of the word dragon
1. Myths and legends: As the totem of the Chinese nation, the dragon bears rich myths and legends. In ancient mythology, the dragon is a mysterious and powerful symbol and is regarded as the patron saint of the nation.
2. Power and status: In the ancient feudal society of China, the dragon symbolized imperial power and status. The emperor called himself "the real dragon emperor", and the dragon became a special pattern and symbol of the royal family.
3. Auspicious implication: In folk beliefs, the dragon means good luck to ward off evil spirits. People believe that dragons can bring good luck and resolve disasters. Therefore, the dragon has become a popular mascot among the people.
4. Cultural symbol: As a symbol of the Chinese nation, the dragon embodies national pride and cultural identity. In today's globalization, dragon culture has become an important part of China's traditional culture.
Third, the culture related to dragon characters.
1. Dragon dance: Dragon dance is one of the traditional folk dances in China, with dragons as props to show people's worship and blessing for dragons. Dragon dance symbolizes auspiciousness, prosperity and prosperity.
2. Dragon boat race: Dragon boat race is one of the important activities of the Dragon Boat Festival. Dragon boat originated from the worship of dragons, and the meaning of competition is to drive away evil spirits, avoid epidemics and pray for a bumper harvest.
3. Dragon pattern: Dragon pattern is an important element of China traditional art, which is widely used in architecture, furniture, porcelain, painting and other fields. The dragon pattern symbolizes authority, dignity and good luck.
4. Dragon Poetry: Literati and poets in past dynasties created a large number of poems with dragons as the theme, praising the magic and power of dragons and inheriting the dragon culture.