The National Museum of China (NMC) launched the exhibition A New Year Guarded by the Dragon to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Dragon on February 6, 2024. The exhibition features more than 200 pieces (sets) of cultural relics carefully selected from the NMC’s collection.
The “dragon” is a very ancient, noble and auspicious creature in Chinese culture. Ancient Chinese people believed that the dragon is comprised of the best features from nine different animals. With the ability to control rainfall, divine dragons are the guardians of good harvests, and signify imperial authority and a peaceful and prosperous nation. Today, dragons have long become a symbol of the Chinese civilization and China as a united multi-ethnic country, and continue to serve as a spiritual bond between Chinese people worldwide.
The exhibition brings together precious artifacts dating from the Neolithic Age to the early 20th century, and encompasses a wide array of categories such as bronzeware, jade, porcelain, gold and silver ware, lacquerware and paintings. Through the perspectives of festivals, customs, rituals and rites, history and culture, art and everyday life, the exhibition systematically interprets the “dragon” as a totem and symbol of the Chinese nation, and vividly presents the profound context and significance of traditional Chinese culture. Through the myriad forms of the “dragon”, the NMC has created a festive scene to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Dragon with the wider public.
Source: Xinhua News