Chinese
Relief with Design of Dragons
Chinese (Ming Dynasty, 1368–1644) Marble 50 1/2 x 90 x 4 1/2 inches (each) Gift of Mrs. Harrie G. Carnell 1928.48.1-2
Friend or Foe?
Are dragons good or bad? In European stories and art dragons are often threatening creatures, hoarding treasure and terrorizing villages. But what about in China? Look closer at these marble reliefs from the Ming dynasty period and discover another way to think about dragons.
A Day in the Life
Earning a Job During the Ming Dynasty
These marble reliefs were made during the Ming dynasty, which lasted from 1368–1644. During this time a complex political structure developed. Who was qualified to keep things running smoothly? Listen as Michael Knight, Senior Curator of Chinese Art at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, explains how the Ming dynasty government functioned as a meritocracy, where officials were selected not because of who their families were but because of how they performed in school.
Credit: © 2008 Indianapolis Museum of Art
Transcript:
It was a very complicated bureaucratic structure during the Ming—there was the emperor and the court, as one part, then there was the civil bureaucracy. So the court was hereditary: emperor to emperor to emperor, and the aristocracy, and then the eunuchs- that made up the court system. So that was the military, the central government. But the broader bureaucracy, the civilian bureaucracy, was run by people who were a meritocracy, they were educated elite. They went through an education system, an exam system, and were selected from that. They basically ran the country at large, the economic parts of it, the governorships in the various provinces and so on.
Tools and Techniques
Behind the Scenes
Enter the Dragon(s)
These two dragon reliefs were some of the first works of art to be installed in their current location at The Dayton Art Institute. They were part of a building that included the doors, lattice windows, eaves, and ceiling nearby. The original location and composition of the building is not certain, but the 1929 installation in The DAI attempted to recreate what the building could have looked like, based on other examples from China (this design included pieces that were not original).
The display of objects in museums and our understanding of them is always changing. Further research suggests that these reliefs and the other architectural components may have come from the Chongshan Temple in Taiyuan, originally built in the Tang dynasty (618–907) and renovated in 1381 in the Ming dynasty by Prince Zhu Gang, son of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang (reigned 1368–1398) in honor of his mother, Empress Gao. However, we still do not know what the original structure would have looked like and how the dragon reliefs would have fit into it. Today the dragon reliefs are shown separately and only the original parts of the structure are exhibited. Consider how these two different kinds of presentation shape the way you see the reliefs.
Look Closer
Just for Kids
A Dragon Tale
In China, dragons are mythical creatures who draw their power from the features of different animals. Look closer and try to find these parts: a camel’s head, a demon’s eyes, a deer’s horns, a snake’s body, an eagle’s claws, a tiger’s paws, and a carp’s scales.
Now, examine the middle of the relief. What is between the dragons? It is a pearl. Why does a dragon have a pearl? Listen to the Chinese folktale “The Dragon’s Pearl” to hear one explanation. It is told by Miriam Mills of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.
Credit: © 2011 Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art & Culture
Signs & Symbols
Not Just Dragons and Pearls
These reliefs came from an imperial-sponsored temple. Why would dragons and pearls be appropriate for such a setting? Learn more about the meanings of these symbols by trying to answer the questions below.
Question 1: In China, the dragon is thought to bring what?
Rain.
Babies.
The darkness of winter.
Question 2: . The dragon, especially if it has five claws, represents who?
Great warriors from the past.
Confucius.
The Emperor.
Question 3: What does the pearl represent?
Great wisdom.
Great beauty that comes from unexpected sources.
Resilience from a lot of work.
Dig Deeper
Arts Intersected
The Sculpture Speaks
Did You Know?
Expert Opinion
Look Around
From an Artist's Perspective
If you are in the gallery, find the sculpture Uncarved Block IX: Pearl, by Yellow Springs resident Jon Barlow Hudson. An accomplished sculptor with works all around the world, this particular piece is inspired by these dragon reliefs. Watch the following video to hear Hudson’s own thoughts on the relationship between the pieces, as well as about the process of making Uncarved Block IX: Pearl.
To see more examples of Hudson’s work, including his Ts’ung Tube series inspired by ancient Chinese sculptures, visit his website here.
About the Artist
Talk Back
From the Ming Dynasty to Me
A masterpiece, according to some, should have universal appeal, express truth, and carry its meaning beyond its original place in history. In what ways may the dragon and pearl symbols in these reliefs speak to your life today?
To hear one reflection from a contemporary artist, Sam Gilliam, listen to the audio clip below.
Transcript:
In looking at the dragons, I think there's a sense of authenticity where that the images that you see have a connection with the supernatural, with transcendence, or with power. And it's not like those Bruce Lee movies, where the power is always in the hands of someone who wants to abuse it. Instead, it's about a power of connection. One of the great things about this work is that it's unique in the sense that it's white on white, and it's very abstract. It's not very real at all. Its reality is created by the person or by the observer. The dragon doesn't look like a complete reptile. He looks like a snake and a reptile. One lies on the ground and one comes off the ground. You have this dichotomy of movement so that you see how strong they were. If you think that this is more fish than reptile, then there is a feeling of the vitality of maintaining the source, the harvest. One that is included within a group can understand that it is for good luck and that for someone outside, it's a danger sign.
