What is the use of dragon patterns on bronzes?

Dragon is the most widespread and influential cultural consciousness in China culture. The legend of the dragon is recorded in writing, with a history of thousands of years, which is almost in the same strain as China culture. The fuzzy assembly technology of dragons originated in Neolithic Age and developed rapidly from Shang Dynasty to Warring States Period. By the Qin and Han dynasties, it was basically formed, that is, long horns, pointed ears and animal feet. After that, influenced by the rise and fall of the national system in different periods, it continued to increase and decrease, with slight differences. The interpretation of dragon patterns is also full of ancient wisdom and national cultural heritage, but also lacks the sense of emperors, especially the dragon patterns in Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, which have distinct characteristics of the times. Generally speaking, the appearance can be summarized as Xiu Yuan, Yu Ming and Zhuang Qing.

Dragon pattern, one of the decorative patterns of bronze ware. Also known as "Kuiwen" or "Solanum nigrum Tattoo". One of the decorative patterns on bronzes. Dragon is an ancient legendary animal in China. Generally, the frontal image is reflected with the nose as the center line, the eyes on both sides and the body extending to both sides. If you take its side as an image, it becomes a long body and a claw.

The dragon is a fictional animal. It is one of the objects of divination of Yin people. The ancients thought it was the highest auspicious symbol. Therefore, it has become one of the worshipped gods. In the decoration of ancient patterns in China, dragon patterns occupy a very important position, and are widely decorated in jade, dental bone, ceramics, embroidery and clothing. In the feudal era, it was combined with the myths of Buddhism and Taoism, giving it a new mystery. Especially in court art, dragons are decorated everywhere.

The image of dragon originated very early, but as a bronze decoration, it was first seen in Erligang period of Shang Dynasty, and then there were different forms of dragon patterns in the late Shang Dynasty, Western Zhou Dynasty, Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period.

In Shang dynasty, it was mostly in the form of buckling; In the Western Zhou Dynasty, several dragons were intertwined, or their heads were in the middle and their tails were separated.

Legend has it that the appearance of dragons is related to water, and "Kao Gong Ji Ai Huashi" said: "Water is a dragon, and fire is love." The image of the dragon is used to symbolize the water god, so there are many scrolls or three-dimensional images of the dragon in bronze water vessels.

According to the knot type of dragon pattern, it can be roughly divided into crawling dragon pattern, tumbling dragon pattern, crossing dragon pattern, double-headed dragon pattern and catamaran dragon pattern. In the description since the Song Dynasty, all the patterns showing claws on bronzes are also called "Kuiwen" or "Solanum nigrum pattern".