Dragon Pendant

ca. 1200 BCE

The famous Bronze Age tomb of Fu Hao, warrior-Queen of the Shang dynasty, contained an open-ring pendant similar to this one, along with other ancient jades that she had collected. First appearing in the late Neolithic period, this horned shape with curled tail depicts a dragon. It looks like the written character for “dragon” found inscribed on oracle bones used by her husband, King Wuding, to communicate with their ancestors. Two other ways to express “dragon” are cast on the ceremonial bronze axe displayed nearby.

Nephrite

1 15/16 x 1 15/16 x 1/4 in. (4.92 x 4.92 x 0.64 cm)

Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection

62.24

Photo: Elizabeth Mann

Now on view at the Asian Art Museum

Resources

Exhibition HistoryLondon, England, The Oriental Ceramic Society, Arts Council of Great Britain, The Animal Kingdom in Chinese Art, 1968.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing.

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