Teaching Gallery: Year of the Dragon

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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Teaching Gallery: Year of the Dragon
February 10, 2012–February 26, 2012
White Gallery, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Dragons are popular creatures in both Eastern and Western folklore. To commemorate the Year of the Dragon, this exhibition features Chinese and Japanese objects that evince the power of the dragon as well as other symbols to celebrate the New Year. Through prints, ceramics, paintings, embroidery, and metal work, the popular imagery of the dragon evolves. As the highest-ranking animal in the Chinese animal hierarchy, the dragon became associated with the emperor, thus making the symbol of the dragon truly auspicious. To further commemorate the New Year, plum blossom and cherry tree designs on the hanging scrolls found in the exhibition symbolize the coming of spring and the end of a long winter.

Works of art

bowl
bowl, 1875–1909, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
buckle
buckle, early 1900s, Republic of China (1911–1949)
woman's long pao (dragon robe)
woman's long pao (dragon robe), 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
vase with dragons
vase with dragons, late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
bottle-shaped vase
bottle-shaped vase, early 1900s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
vase with lid
vase with lid, early 1900s, Republic of China (1911–1949)
tsuba (sword guard)
tsuba (sword guard), date unknown
tsuba (sword guard), Mitsutaka Choisin ?
Mitsutaka Choisin ?
tsuba (sword guard), date unknown
tsuba (sword guard)
Mitsutaka Choisin ?
tsuba (sword guard), Edo period (1600–1868)
Ryūhō hakuju o kiru (Liu Bang kills the white serpent), Totoya Hokkei
Totoya Hokkei
decorative roof tiles, Ryūryūkyo Shinsai
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai
decorative roof tiles, circa 1820, Edo period (1600–1868)
Happy New Year II, Inui Tai
Inui Tai
Happy New Year II, 1980s, Showa period (1926–1989)
brocade pouch and wrapper, Issai Chikara
Issai Chikara
brocade pouch and wrapper, 1806, Edo period (1600–1868)
Susanoo no mikoto preparing to slay an eight-headed dragon, Keisai Eisen
Keisai Eisen
Plum Blossoms, Nakabayashi Seishuku
Nakabayashi Seishuku
Plum Blossoms, mid 1800s–early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912) or Taisho period (1912–1926)
woman's vest
Nakabayashi Seishuku
woman's vest, 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Flock of Orioles, Hu Jun
Hu Jun
Flock of Orioles, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
pair of dragon-shaped chariot fittings
Hu Jun
pair of dragon-shaped chariot fittings, circa 300 BCE, Warring States period (BCE 481–BCE 221)
mystery ball
Hu Jun
mystery ball, 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
vase with dragon around neck, Seishi
Seishi
vase with dragon around neck, circa 1880s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
snuff bottle with stopper
Seishi
snuff bottle with stopper, 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
snuff bottle with stopper
Seishi
snuff bottle with stopper, Jiaqing period (1795–1820), Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
snuff bottle with stopper
Seishi
snuff bottle with stopper, 1900–1925, Qing dynasty (1641–1911) or Republic of China (1911–1949)
snuff bottle with stopper
Seishi
snuff bottle with stopper, late 1800s–early 1900s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
snuff bottle with stopper
Seishi
snuff bottle with stopper, 1900–1925, Guangxu period (1876–1908), Qing dynasty (1641–1911) or Republic of China (1911–1949)
jar with lid
Seishi
jar with lid, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty (1644–1911)