This exhibition is chronologically arranged into five sections: ‘Images of Dragons’, ‘Dragons in the Fields’, ‘Dragons in the Sky’, ‘Dragons Among Humans’, and ‘Dragons Soaring in Central Wu’, showcasing a total of 205 cultural relics from 29 museums nationwide, including 150 valuable relics (25 first-grade relics, 69 second-grade relics, and 56 third-grade relics), accounting for 73% of the total exhibited relics. The relics span from the Neolithic Age to modern times, covering various categories such as jade and stone artifacts, bronze ware, ceramics, gold and silver wares, lacquer and wooden objects, calligraphy and painting, and silk textiles. Through a rich collection of dragon-themed relics, the exhibition traces the evolution and development of dragon imagery from ancient times to the present.
Furthermore, the exhibition delves into the origins of Changzhou’s reputation as the ‘Dragon City’. During the Neolithic Age, prehistoric artifacts such as the Qingchengdun Dragon Head Pattern Jade Ornament unearthed in the Changzhou area provide evidence that Changzhou is one of the significant birthplaces of the Chinese dragon image. In the Southern Dynasties period, Changzhou began to be associated with the ‘Six Dragons’, a symbol of imperial power. The Xiao family, who had lived in Dongchengli (Wansu Town, Xinbei District) since the Eastern Jin Dynasty, established the Southern Qi and Southern Liang dynasties, making Changzhou a place of dragon rise and the hometown of emperors. During the Five Dynasties and Song Dynasty, Changzhou was first referred to as the ‘City of Six Dragons’, with Xu Xuan inscribing the seal script gate plaque for the inner city of Changzhou, resembling a ‘golden bell covering six dragons’, integrating the ‘Six Dragons’ with the city itself. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the ‘City of Six Dragons’ gradually became known as the ‘Dragon City’. In the Ming Dynasty, Shi Guanmin established the ‘Dragon City Academy’, and in the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong inscribed the words ‘Dragon City Symbol Teaching’ at the Tianning Temple, officially recognizing the name ‘Dragon City’. There are also outstanding figures such as Ji Zhe, Tang Jingchuan, the Three Heroes of Changzhou, and Liu Guojun, who have further promoted the spirit of the Dragon City with their extraordinary achievements. Opening hours: 10/1-1/1, with specific business status subject to daily opening conditions.Dragon Culture and the Dragon City of Changzhou Exhibition
This exhibition is chronologically arranged into five sections: ‘Images of Dragons’, [...]
