Just as we know, Chinese dragon is the symbol of Chinese nation and Chinese people. In the year of 1931, a jade dragon carving in the period of Hongshan Culture in the Neolithic Age about seven or six thousand years ago was unearthed in Chifeng city of Inner Mongolia prefecture in the north of China. About this jade dragon carving, those foreigners who are interested when they study in China is that this jade dragon unearthed is one of the representative works of early Chinese jade carving and also the earliest image of dragon carved with the material of jade in China.
The body of this jade dragon is curled up with the semicircular shape. Being made up of the green Xiuyan jade with exquisite craftsmanship, the jade dragon is as high as 26 centimeters. The whole body of it is no decoration of patterns and veins. There is a long vibrissa rolled up on the back, creating the effect of flying up when combining with the curving body. The head of the jade dragon was carved with simple ridges and the mouth stretched forward and slightly upward warping.
In the front, the two symmetrical round holes are the nostrils. The forehead was decorated with fine square pattern, being polished meticulously. Comparing with the image of dragon recorded in the historical books, this jade dragon has no horn, scale and feet, with the distinctive features of primitive dragon. The style is vivid with delicate carving, making it lively and has the shape of a dragon just flying out of water.
If you come to China to attend to HSK preparation program in China to study Mandarin, you have the chance to see the elegant demeanor of this jade dragon because it is collected in the National Museum of Chinese History. As a matter of fact, the image of dragon originated from the ancient people’s totem worship of dragon which was entrusted the strength and hope. Therefore, many emperors in each dynasty use the image of dragon to deify themselves.
As a result, dragon has very high reputation in Chinese people’s eyes. After thousands of years of continuation, dragon has become a symbol of the Chinese nation as well as the carries the people’s hope of having a good life. Even though this piece of jade dragon unearthed is simple in model, it shows the artistic features of simplicity and purity.