Page 9 - Yunnan Tourism Culture Times (96)

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FOCUS | 焦点

Quest for “Chinese dragons” on
museum tours

在博物馆寻找“中国龙”

In recent years, it has become increasing- staff member, remarked, “From the Neolithic
ly popular in Yunnan to visit museums dur- Age to the Bronze Age, dragons gradually
ing the Spring Festival holiday. During the made their way into the history of Yunnan
Spring Festival holiday of 2024, the Year of alongside the evolution of people’s live-
the Dragon, the Yunnan Provincial Museum lihoods and advancements in production.
was almost packed to capacity. A constant Serving as a common totem of the Chinese
flow of tourists visited the museum to ex- nation, dragons can be found depicted in var-
plore the theme of “Chinese dragons”. ious artifacts, such as the Yi people’s moon
On February 15, 2024, the sixth day of lute and the Dai people’s gilt headdresses.
the first month of the Year of the Dragon, The adept integration of dragon symbolism
Duan Yulu traveled from Chengdu, Sichuan in these artifacts showcases the distinctive
to the Yunnan Provincial Museum with her interpretation of dragon culture by the di-
parents and brother. “Sister, take a look at verse ethnic groups in Yunnan.”
the assorted bells of the king of the Dian Jia Yunpeng, a tourist from Xi’an, praised,
Kingdom. Notice how the bell surfaces are “The dragon motifs at the Yunnan Provincial
adorned with symmetrical double dragon Museum are infused with ethnic charm and
patterns. They are so elegant and majestic. truly captivating.” Visitors to the museum
Here we have a brick from the Eastern Han engaged in a quest for “dragons” within the
Dynasty, a blue and white porcelain dish exhibition halls, immersing themselves in
from the Ming Dynasty, and a green and the exploration of cultural artifacts featuring
purple plate dish from the Qing Dy- dragon elements.
nasty—all featuring intricate dragon “Building upon the dragon culture of the
motifs,” Yulu’s brother, a history un- Central Plains, Yunnan’s dragon culture has
dergraduate student at Wuhan Univer- assimilated its distinctive ethnic traditions,
sity, elaborated on the dragon-themed creating a diverse cultural tapestry weaving
artifacts to Yulu. together historical roots and contemporary
In 2024, according to the Chinese nuances. This rich tapestry vividly showcas-
lunar calendar, it is the Year of the es the dynamism and allure of China’s en-
Dragon. Dragons have a revered and during traditional culture through its ongoing
enduring significance in Chinese culture, and evolving development,” Liu said.
symbolizing the essence of the Chinese na- “It is truly fulfilling to celebrate the
tion. Dragon symbolism is pervasive across Spring Festival holiday at the museum
all regions of China, with ethnic groups in alongside visitors,” remarked a commentator
Yunnan showcasing their reverence for drag- from the Yunnan Provincial Museum. His
ons through unique customs, dragon-related colleagues also expressed their joy in offer-
festivals, and celebrations. ing interpretation services to tourists during
Liu Siqi, a Yunnan Provincial Museum the Spring Festival in the Year of the Dragon.