In the ancient land of China, the cultural relics with the image of the primitive dragon have a history of about 8,000 years. In the Yangshao culture period between 7,000 and 5,500 years ago, the image of the dragon began to appear in combination with the images of different animals such as horses, snakes, and crocodiles.
The image of the early dragon was simple and abstract, and there were great differences in the image of the dragon in different regions. For example, in the Hongshan culture of the Liaohe River Basin, the image of the dragon has the characteristics of a horse's head; The dragon-shaped pattern of the Xishuipo site in Puyang, Henan Province, in the Yellow River Basin, is very close to that of a crocodile.
CCTV reporter Zhou Peipei:After the early development of Chinese civilization, exchanges between various places began to be frequent, and the image of the dragon also showed obvious integration characteristics.
The Longshan culture in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River between 5,000 and 4,000 years ago was a key stage in the formation of Chinese civilization. In the ruins of Xiangfen Tao Temple in Shanxi Province about 4300 years ago, on the unearthed painted dragon pattern pottery plate, the appearance of the dragon is more rich and magical, a double body, coiled like a snake, long jaw and square mouth, two rows of teeth like crocodiles, ears with rounded horns like bears, and scales like fish.
Gao Jiangtao, researcher of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and leader of the Taosi archaeological team:When the dragon image developed into the Taosi culture, it took a new leap. We can clearly see that it presents such a feature of a collection of images of various animals, or a collection of spirit animals, forming and creating a new image that does not exist in reality, so from this point of view, the dragon of Taosi is likely to be the prototype of the dragon in the real sense of the word.
On these pottery plates, which were unearthed 100 years apart, the dragon's head also showed a broad forehead, a common feature of later dragons.
From the era of the ancient kingdom with many states, to the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties formed by the dynasty, the image of the dragon has moved from pluralism to unity in continuous innovation and integration, and has gradually changed from simple to complex, and more artistic. The jade dragon unearthed in the Yin Ruins of the Shang Dynasty has two horns on its square face, and the dragon shape or dragon pattern depicted on a large number of bronzes is also more rich and exquisite, and has gradually become a symbol of rank and power.
In the Qin and Han dynasties, as the land of China moved towards unification, the image of the dragon appeared to be relatively standardized and stereotyped. The dragon of the Han Dynasty had obvious four-legged characteristics and a more toned body.
In the Sui and Tang dynasties, the development of the image of the dragon tended to mature, and the posture of the dragon was unrestrained and vigorous. The gilded iron-core copper dragon of this period, with a long neck and a huge head, two claws upward, two claws on the ground, and an S-shaped body bent to take off, reproducing the high-spirited and confident of the prosperous era. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, the dragon shape was more free and easy, and the image of the dragon has almost formed today.
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the dragon image was widely used in various fields such as architecture, ceramics, decoration, and embroidery. In various myths, legends and literary works, the spiritual meaning of the dragon is also richer, it travels the heavens, the earth and the sea, has extraordinary power, brings good weather and brings good weather, and has become a spiritual hope and cultural symbol of national peace and prosperity.
CCTV reporter Zhou Peipei, Dong Liangyan, Yao Jieyang).
Editor in charge: Liu Bo.