|
|
 |
| The style of dragons in Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
art was even grander than that of the preceding Yuan, often appearing quite ferocious and
awe-inspiring. The body became stronger, complete with horns, a bushy mane, eyebrows, leg
hair, and so on. Not only are all the details shown, but the dragon is also handled a
complete and even way. The full mane, for example, is often shown flying back in a very
decorative manner. The mouth is either open or closed, while the nose is often shown like
a scepter, emphasizing its auspiciousness. Regardless of whether the view of the head, the
scepter-like nose is always prominently displayed. The claws are often shown in a circular
pattern. In addition, a kind of dragon in the Ming dynasty was shown frontally with the
head placed in the center of the motif as the neck curved down to create a curving form
with horns, hair, whiskers, and claws distributed over the space. The tail curves back up,
adding the final touch to a grand and majestic symbol of imperial power. |
|