Dragon-inspired Accessories: From China with love

November 30, 2017

If dragons were to make a return, they will probably settle f or a place where they will be well revered- who wouldn’t love dwelling in such a place? When it comes to dragons, the very first place that comes to mind is the land of their own- the ‘Red Dragon’; a community where they are seen in good light and not spoken evil of.

The Chinese people are known to hold dragons in high esteem as the creature occupies a special place in the in the Chinese culture. To this end, the people of China celebrate various festivals that are inspired by these ‘unique’ creatures. A very common one (festivity) is the ‘Dragon dance’ where different accessories like the dragon boats, dragon heads and other dragon-themed items are on display.

Away from the festivals, the love for dragon is sometimes reflected on clothing apparels that are designed with dragon embroidery while emperors have been known to own rings, seal and robes that are portraying dragon insignia. Dragon-inspired accessories are also used in decorations, and even more profoundly, there are some areas [in China] where dragon-inspired architectural edifices are commonplace.

The Fengguan

The Fengguan is a traditional headgear- crown- that is commonly worn by Chinese women either to show royalty or used on special occasions like weddings or some other formal event, it normally features symbols of gold dragons and phoenixes [that are made from kingfisher feathers, pearls, flowers and gemstones]. The number of dragons and phoenixes [that the crown is decorated with] can vary depending on the position/status of the person it is being made for.