A favorite tour theme among students visiting
the museum involves the Chinese dragon. A
popular motif for decorative arts and textiles
during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), the dragon
is a prominent symbol throughout the collection
at Belz Museum. Chosen by Qing emperors as
an imperial symbol, the dragon was synonymous
with power, protection and benevolence. In
painting, dragons are usually depicted in the
sky or heavens. Often, they are represented
in pairs, playing with balls or flaming pearls
that are the cause of thunder and rain. Many
sources cite the Chinese dragon as having
nine distinct parts: the head of a camel, the
ears of a cow, the horns of a deer, the belly of
a frog, the neck of a snake, the scales of a
carp,the paws of a tiger, the claws of an eagle
and the eyes of a rabbit.  


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