BEIJING,Feb.15(Xinhua)--WithChinesepeoplejoyfullycelebratingtheYearoftheDragon,culturalrelicsfeaturingtheChinesedragon,alsoknownasloong,inmuseumsacrossChinahaveonceagaincapturedthespotlight.
Anexhibitioninvolvingover200piecesofloong-themedculturalrelicsfromdifferenthistoricalperiodsinancientChinaisondisplayattheNationalMuseumofChinainBeijing.
Variousculturalrelics,suchasbronzeware,jadeartifacts,porcelainitems,goldandsilverware,lacquerwareandpaintingsrangingfromtheNeolithicAgetotheearly20thcentury,arebeingshowcasedattheexhibition.
OneofthemostattractiveexhibitsisaC-shapedjadeloongoftheHongshancultureintheNeolithicAge,whichservesasimportantmaterialevidenceforthestudyoforiginalimagesoftheChinesedragoninancienttimes.
TheChineseArchaeologicalMuseuminBeijingisdisplayingaloong-shapedartifactmadeupofover2,000piecesofturquoise.Datingbackmorethan3,000years,thisartifactisregardedbymanyChinesescholarsastheoldestChinesedragontoteminexistence.
TheMuseumofHeilongjiangProvincehousesapreciousbronzeantiqueofacrouchingloongfromtheJinDynasty(1115-1234).
Featuringaraisedhead,anopenmouthsuggestiveofaroar,andslightlyhunchedshoulders,itpresentstheviewerwithamajesticandvigorousdemeanor.
AcollectionofsixloongscapturestheattentionofvisitorstotheShaanxiHistoryMuseuminXi'an,northwestChina'sShaanxiProvince.
Craftedfromcopperandiron,withgoldgildingadorningtheirsurfaces,theS-shapedloongsdatebacktotheTangDynasty(618-907).
Unliketheconventionalportrayalofmajesticflyingloongs,theseexquisiteartifactshaveslenderlegsresemblingarunningposture,withthetallestmeasuringonly2.8cm.
Expertsbelievethattheymighthavebeenusedinritualceremonies,suchasprayingforfavorableweatherandprosperity.
IntraditionalChineseculture,theloongsymbolizesstrength,auspiciousness,andextraordinaryabilities,embodyingwishesforfavorableweather,peace,andwell-being.
Accordingtoexperts,loong-themedculturalrelicsfromvariousperiodsinChinaconveytheinnovative,inclusive,cohesive,andstrivingspiritoftheChinesenation.■