PARIS.- Five thousand years of stories and legends surrounding the dragons of East Asia are revealed through this exhibition designed in partnership with the National Palace Museum in Taipei, in Taiwan.

The Chinese dragon is nothing like the evil, fire-breathing creature that is conveyed by the western narrative. On the contrary, it embodies universal vital energy including its link to water. Fickle and uncontrollable, it ensures the harmony of the world: the earth depends on its omnipotence to benefit from the blessings of heaven.

The exhibition Dragons presents an exceptional collection of items and works of art, from the first dragons to appear on jade and antique bronzes to its popular modern forms, including the imperial arts. The dragon, the heavenly lord, continues its journey today. After symbolising the emperors' authority, it remains a reference to the connection between heaven and earth, bringing strength and prosperity to humankind.

The original idea for this exhibition, suggested by the National Palace Museum in Taipei, in Taiwan, is part of the cooperation and exchanges between the National Palace Museum in Taipei and the musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac. The exhibition is an exceptional opportunity to showcase, for the first time, more than a hundred pieces from Taiwan, including some gems from the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

Origins

The dragon has been visible on the jade artefacts as early as the neolithic period, during the Hongshan era (4700-2900 B.C.), in the region that is now Mongolia and north-east China. Jade ornaments found in higher ranking officials’ graves at this time may be the first known evocation of the dragon.

During the Shang dynasty (1554-1046 B.C.), the dragon took shape in inscriptions and ritual bronze statues, as part of the fantastical animal references that constitutes the first Chinese iconographic vocabulary.

On the earliest known Chinese inscriptions, characters representing the dragon could take 268 different forms. These antique inscriptions were used by the oracles to question Di, the god of the sky, and the ancestors. The characters representing the dragon also made reference to the king as an intercessor with heaven.

This first section, bringing together jade sculptures, bronze vases adorned with animal motifs, calligraphy or funerary items, reminds us of the Dragon’s key role in ancient Chinese beliefs and rituals.

Transformations

The dragon possesses the power of transformation. As small as a silkworm or as immense as a rainbow, they can change their size and colour to reign over seas, mountains and skies. The Three Religions (Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism), as well as folklore, have all granted dragons endless numbers of shapes and meanings.

As a result, the creature is seen as the master of rain, lord of water and mountains for local cults. Blending with the mythical Indian snake (naga), the dragon also became the guardian of the Buddha, while in Taoism it was chosen as one of the four fundamental creatures and served as a mount for immortals.

The zodiac also granted it a unique status by being the only imaginary creature out of the 12 animals of the cycle. Being born in the Year of the Dragon is a sign of strength of character and charisma, heralding success.

Paintings, sculptures and ceramics depict the dragon's diverse forms and stories.

The imperial dragon

The emperor is the intercessor of the triad between heaven, earth and humankind, just like the five-clawed dragon. Although the figure of the mythical animal gradually appeared on regal objects from the Bronze Age onwards, it was not until the Liao dynasty (907-1125) that it was compared to the emperor in official texts. The five clawed yellow dragon remained the official emblem reserved for sovereigns until the end of the empire in 1911.

At the centre of the square enclosure of the imperial palace, believed to be the centre of the world itself, stood the dragon throne marking the fifth cardinal point, at the intersection between heaven and earth. The emperor wielded dual political and religious power, as the holder of a celestial mandate, both as head of the army and as master of the rituals that ensured prosperity and harmony on earth.

The yellow dragon, a beneficial and honorary reference in the colour of the zenith, adorns the objects of the sovereign and his relatives. From the Zhou (1045-221 B.C.) to the Tang dynasty (618-907), the animal was traditionally portrayed with three claws. From the 11th-12th centuries onwards, it was given four or five claws. In 1111, an edict banned any use of the dragon outside the official arts.

The dragon appeared in architecture, furniture and imperial pieces, as a testament to the creature's symbolic and ritual prosperity as well as a reference to power, protection and harmony. Dragon robes worn by high-ranking officials, jade seals and plaques, as well as royal documents and calligraphy all illustrate the creature's imperial role.

The dance of the dragon

Throughout its five thousand years of existence, the dragon's vitality has never wavered. This celestial lord, who appeared in the Neolithic era, preceded and outlived the emperors, revealing its extraordinary longevity. Today, it remains an emblem for China, as well as a powerful cultural symbol throughout East Asia and for communities around the world influenced by Chinese culture.

There are countless different images and scenes depicting the dragon, portrayed through objects and popular festivities. The mythical creature continues to play its role as intercessor between heaven and earth, bringing strength and prosperity to humankind. The dragon continues to evolve, appearing on an array of items in contemporary cultural materials. Its hybrid, shifting body makes it a graphic design that lends itself gracefully to all types of media and formats. From children's toys to ancestral altars, it can be found adorning both secular and ritual objects.

The dragon, together with the lion also goes with dances inspired by martial arts, which brings protection and prosperity during the Lunar New Year, business openings and other local festivities. The choreography chases away harmful spirits through the sound of drums and firecrackers, and helps balancing the invisible forces governing the space.

The costumes and masks worn for the lion and dragon dances illustrate the contemporary vitality of these traditions.