Long: Qing Dynasty(1644-1912), Palace Museum
Calligraphy: Huai Su(737-799), Tang Dynasty

Chinese Loong is not "dragon" in western culture.
In Chinese culture, Loong is a divinity who blesses the world and protects China. He satisfies requirements of emperors for power, awe, and dignify, meanwhile he satisfies people's imagination about kindness, loveliness, and elegance.
He changes unsteadily and has complex characters. He may be an amorous man who has children with nine different species, meanwhile he may be a good dad who teaches children nicely.
Loong takes charge of rivers, lakes, and the sea, and holds a fireball in one hand as a toy. The "dragon"(big lizard) in western culture is an evil boss who breathes fire. Nothing between Loong and "dragon".
Who could reject the attraction of Loong's little horns?

Sui Dynasty(581-618) 1, 2
Tang Dynasty(618-907) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) 1, 2
Qing Dynasty(1644-1912) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Collections, Palace Museum
Collections, Shanghai Museum
About Loong, 1 2 3 4

Long: Nan Dynasty(420-589), Changzhou Museum
Calligraphy: Mi Fu(1051-1107), Song Dynasty

In Chinese culture, Qin Loong is one of the "Four Divinities" who protects the east. He often appears in paints and carvings, flying in cloud gracefully and lightheartedly.

Yangshao Culture(4500 BC-4300 BC) 1, 2
Warring States(433 BC) 1, 2
Han Dynasty(202 BC-220) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Period of disunity(220-589) 1, 2, 3
Sui Dynasty(581-618) 1
Tang Dynasty(618-907) 1, 2
Period of disunity(907-960) 1, 2, 3
Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368) 1, 2, 3, 4

Long: Shang Dynasty(1200 BC-1100 BC), National Museum
Calligraphy: Deng shiru(1743-1805), Qing Dynasty

For thousands of years, Loong's appearance is always being changed and enriched.

Hongshan culture(4000 BC-3000 BC) 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5
Longshan culture(2500 BC-2000 BC) 1, 2
Shijiahe culture(2400 BC-1900 BC) 1
Xia Dynasty(2070 BC-1600 BC) 1
Shang Dynasty(1600 BC-1046 BC) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Zhou Dynasty(1046 BC-221 BC) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Qin Dynasty(221 BC-207 BC) 1
Han Dynasty(202 BC-220) 1

Long: Yuan Dynasty(1247-1358) 1, 2, 3
Calligraphy: Wang xizhi(303-361), Jin Dynasty

Loong is powerful and romantic. His responsibilities are protection and deterrence. His characters do not include "bloodthirsty" and "aggressive".
Loong has seen too many losers in long histories. He says "Do not bother me! I need rest". He always expects a peaceful peach garden.

Zhou Dynasty(1046 BC-221 BC) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
Han Dynasty(202 BC-220) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Long: Han Dynasty(202 BC-220), Xi an Museum, Four Divinities
Long: Embroidery, 475 BC-221 BC, Jingzhou Museum
Calligraphy: Suo Jing(239-303), Jing Dynasty

"Life is a drunken travel, which is just 36,000 days" is shown in a porcelain cup which was made in 700 years ago and unearthed in 1980.

Porcelain in Palace Museum
Song/Jin Dynasty(960-1279) 1
Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368) 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Qing Dynasty(1644-1912) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Long: Lv xue, Qing Dynasty(1644-1912), Palace Museum
Calligraphy: Zhao ji(1082-1135), Song Dynasty

Loong drawn by Chen Rong became standard appearance of Loongs since his era.

East Jin(317-420) 1
Song Dynasty(960-1279) 1, 2, 3, 4
Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) 1
Qing Dynasty(1644-1912) 1, 2, 3, 4

West Han Dynasty(202 BC-8) 1
Stationeries in Palace Museum
Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Qing Dynasty(1644-1912) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Long: Bronze mirror, Tang Dynasty(618-907)
Calligraphy: Yan zhenqin(709-784), Tang Dynasty

Loongs are assigned to many duties. Examples, Qin Long protects the east, Ying Loong charges rain, Chi Loong avoids fire, Fu Loong clears evils in home, and Horoscope Long watches tombs.

Warring States(476 BC-221 BC) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Han Dynasty(202 BC-220) 1
Tang Dynasty(618-907) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Song Dynasty(960-1279) 1, 2, 3
Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) 1, 2
Mirrors

Tang Dynasty(618-907) 1, 2, 3
Song Dynasty(960-1279) 1, 2
Liao Dynasty(916-1125) 1
Jin Dynasty(1115—1234) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Long: Embroidery, Dynasty(1644-1912), Palace Museum
Calligraphy: Mao Zedong(1893-1976)

When minority oppress majority with power of Loong, Loong loses his soul. Loong' soul is always "serve the people".
Loong is involved in all parts of people's lives.

Warring States(476 BC-221 BC) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
West Han(202 BC-8) 1, 2
Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368) 1, 2
Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) 1
Ming/Qing Dynasty(1368-1912) Embroidery, life goods, ceremony, Palace Museum
Qing Dynasty(1644-1912) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 23 24 25 26 27 28, 29 30 31 32 33

Long: Shaanxi History Museum, Tang Dynasty(618-907)
Calligraphy: Fu Shan(1607-1684)

Inherit to fly higher, contain to fly more brilliantly, guard to fly more steadily. Loong is young and glorious.

Jades in Palace Museum
Tang Dynasty(618-907) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Song Dynasty(960-1279) 1, 2, 3, 4
Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Jin Dynasty(1115-1234) 1
Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Qing Dynasty(1644-1912) 1, 2, 3, 4

In chinese culture, a day is divided in twelve pieces and represented by twelve animals. The duration between 5:00am and 7:00am is named "Mao". At this time, the sun hasn't shown its face yet while the moon's brilliance hasn't receded yet. Jade rabbit is another name of the moon, so it is also called as "Mao Rabbit".

The twelve animals also name years circularly. This year is turned to be "Rabbit Year".

WuHan Mesuem collects a set of terracotta animals in Sui Dynasty(581-618)

National Museum collects a bronze mirror of Sui Dynasty(581-618) and a set of terracotta animals in Tang Dynasty(618-907)

Beijing Palace Museum collects a bronze mirror of Sui Dynasty(581-618)

This rabbit holds a fan in right hand and some leaves in right hand, like an ancient scholar.
"WuGang cuts laurel" is chinese myth. WuGang is a celestial who did wrong thing and is punished to go to palace on the moon to cut a laurel which is always healed. The laurel is never hurted and only drops one leaf from the moon to the earth in every Aug 16. This leaf can bring infinite treasures to the finder. This Jade rabbit holds such leaves which means wish of endless wealth.

The jade animals are soooo slippery and cute!

“Flower and bird painting" is one important type of chinese traditional painting art. It may represent all of plants and animals.

Chinese literati express their perceptions and emotions by "Meaningful Painting". Only with water and ink, the lines, concentration, and blank generate the topic of painting.

Colors are filled in this ink painting, because I believe ancient would hope descendants living colorful lives.

“淋婴之子” provides the standard picture of this black jade rabbit. Thanks!

In chinese myth, the rabbit is generally with rabbit head and person body and holding a jade pestle to make elixir for Western Mother Queen in the palace on the moon. This means the wish of long life.

From gate of 2000+ years ago to earring of 400+ years ago, this little rabbit is always working hardly.

Beijing Palace Museum collects a portrait brick in Han Dynasty(25-220)

Beijing Palace Museum collects a bronze mirror of Han Dynasty(25-220)

Beijing Palace Museum collects a bronze mirror of Tang Dynasty(618-907)

Beijing Palace Museum collects a bronze mirror of Tang Dynasty(618-907)

In chinese culture, "Four Nobles" are plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. They mean exalted and respectable characters which traditional scholars aspire.

Beijing Palace Museum collects picture of plum blossom(1097-1171) in Song Dynasty

Beijing Palace Museum collects picture of butterflies and chrysanthemum in Song Dynasty(1127-1279)

"Academy Painting" is one type of chinese traditional painting art. It came from requirements of official painting academies or royal courts. This genre focuses realism and the paintings express delicate details.

Beijing Palace Museum collects picture of Song Dynasty(1082-1135)

Beijing Palace Museum collects picture of Qing Dynasty(1766)

The rabbit holds LingZhi in mouth and looks back to gaze the moon. This means the wish of lucky and long life.

Not only scholars like plants, all chinese enjoy beautiful flowers from ancient times to the present. Peony means the wish of riches and honours for both the family and the country.