Chinese dragon: Did you mean...?

Saint George & the Dragon, painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Paolo Uccello (1397-1475), created c. 1470. National Gallery, London.

Chinese literature is among the most imaginative and interesting in the world. The precision of the language results in perfectly realized images whether in poetry or prose and, as with all great literature, the themes are timeless. The Chinese...

A Chinese pig-dragon sculpture. China, probably Yunnan Province, Yuan dynasty, 1279-1368. Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

In ancient China warfare was a means for one region to gain ascendancy over another, for the state to expand and protect its frontiers, and for usurpers to replace an existing dynasty of rulers. With armies consisting of tens of thousands...

A jade hair ornament (?), owl figurine and pig-dragon. Hongshan Culture, c. 3,500 BCE. From Liaoning Province, China. (British Museum, London)

The emperors of ancient China had tremendous power and responsibility. Called the 'Son of Heaven', he (and once she) was given a divine right to rule over all people but was expected to promote their best interest and not his own. An absolute...

Calligraphy established itself as the most important ancient Chinese art form alongside painting, first coming to the fore during the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE). All educated men and some court women were expected to be proficient at...

A Babylonian mušḫuššu dragon, glazed tiles from the Ishtar Gate, which was constructed by Nebuchadnezzar II, c. 575 BCE. Istanbul Archaeological Museums.

A marble relief panel showing Saint George and the dragon by the Italian Renaissance sculptor Donatello (c. 1386-1466 CE). Completed c. 1415 CE for the pedestal of a statue of the saint in the Orsanmichele in Florence. (Bargello, Florence)

Saint George and the Dragon by the Italian Renaissance painter Tintoretto (1518-1594 CE). c. 1570 CE. (National Gallery, London)