Dragon embroidery

A dragon with four claws, embroidered on olive-green silk. The dragon (Ch. long 龍) is one of the most widely used symbolic images in China and also appears in other East Asian cultures. It is usually depicted with a scaly snake-like body, tiger legs, bird claws, and a head composed of parts of several animals. The head is often decorated with deer horns, and has long moustaches hanging from both sides of the mouth. The dragon is a powerful spiritual symbol representing the cosmic cycle, supernatural forces and power, and thus constant change and life. In spring, it rises into the sky, in autumn, it burrows into the depths of the water. In popular belief, it is also associated with water and rivers because of its ability to control the weather, especially rain. As a powerful creature, able to change shape at will, it was assigned the highest place in the hierarchical scale of all animals, and in the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.– A.D. 220) it became the most important symbol of the emperor’s power and authority. In the following centuries, the imperial family even claimed a monopoly on the image of the golden yellow dragon with five claws, which appeared on official and ceremonial clothing. The different number of claws, five or four, indicated the status of members of the upper class, and for this reason, the use of this motif on clothing outside imperial circles was forbidden. (NVS)