Teaching Gallery: Year of the Dragon

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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Teaching Gallery: Year of the Dragon
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
Mitsutaka Choisin ?, tsuba (sword guard)
tsuba (sword guard)
Mitsutaka Choisin ?
date unknown
tsuba (sword guard)
tsuba (sword guard)
Edo period (1600–1868)
Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850), Ryūhō hakuju o kiru (Liu Bang kills the white serpent)
Ryūhō hakuju o kiru (Liu Bang kills the white serpent)
Totoya Hokkei
1832, Edo period (1600–1868)
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820), decorative roof tiles
decorative roof tiles
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai
circa 1820, Edo period (1600–1868)
Inui Tai (born 1929), Happy New Year II
Happy New Year II
Inui Tai
1980s, Showa period (1926–1989)
Issai Chikara (active 1806), brocade pouch and wrapper
brocade pouch and wrapper
Issai Chikara
1806, Edo period (1600–1868)
Keisai Eisen (1790–1848), Susanoo no mikoto preparing to slay an eight-headed dragon
Susanoo no mikoto preparing to slay an eight-headed dragon
Keisai Eisen
1832, Edo period (1600–1868)
Nakabayashi Seishuku (died 1912), Plum Blossoms
Plum Blossoms
Nakabayashi Seishuku
mid 1800s–early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912) or Taisho period (1912–1926)
woman's vest
woman's vest
1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Hu Jun (late 1800s–early 1900s), Flock of Orioles
Flock of Orioles
Hu Jun
Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
pair of dragon-shaped chariot fittings
pair of dragon-shaped chariot fittings
circa 300 BCE, Warring States period (BCE 481–BCE 221)
mystery ball
mystery ball
1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Seishi (Meiji period (1868–1912)), vase with dragon around neck
vase with dragon around neck
Seishi
circa 1880s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
snuff bottle with stopper
snuff bottle with stopper
1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
snuff bottle with stopper
snuff bottle with stopper
Jiaqing period (1795–1820), Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
snuff bottle with stopper
snuff bottle with stopper
1900–1925, Qing dynasty (1641–1911) or Republic of China (1911–1949)
snuff bottle with stopper
snuff bottle with stopper
late 1800s–early 1900s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
snuff bottle with stopper
snuff bottle with stopper
1900–1925, Guangxu period (1876–1908), Qing dynasty (1641–1911) or Republic of China (1911–1949)
jar with lid
jar with lid
Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty (1644–1911)