Characteristics of textile dragon motifs in China’s Yuan dynasty (1279-1368 AD)

Abstract

Dragons in Western and Eastern cultures are different in visual styles and symbolic meaning. In Eastern traditions, particularly in China, dragons are viewed as benevolent creatures, usually depicted as wingless, serpentine creatures with four legs, symbolizing strength, prosperity, and harmony with nature. Although Western and Eastern dragons differ, both cultures utilize dragon imagery to illustrate concepts of power and sovereignty (Meccarelli, 2021; Carlson et al., 2010). A material culture procedure is the study of physical objects to identify societal values and behaviors (Fleming, 1974; Prown, 1982; Zimmerman, 1981). My material culture study explored the characteristics of textile dragon motifs during China's Yuan dynasty, in which textile dragons are marked by a fascinating blend of Mongol, Central Asia, and Chinese artistic traditions. A comparative analysis of primary and secondary materials from before, during, and after the Yuan dynasty uncovered how dragon motifs evolved. Then the question arose: What defines the characteristics of textile dragon motifs in China’s Yuan dynasty? Primary source materials were referenced, such as textile fragments, and clothing imagery. Secondary sources referenced were scholarly analyses, historical records and paintings depicting dragons on textiles. The primary and secondary materials visually and contextually verified that dragon motifs from pre-Yuan dynasty textiles are characterized by elegance and symmetry. The dragon appears more restrained, reflecting the Confucian ideal of harmony. Dragon imagery that evolved post-Yuan was fiercer and colorful compared to the pre-Yuan period. By leveraging materials from the periods before and after Yuan, the characteristics of the Yuan dynasty’s dragon often have gold colors, exaggerated claws, and fierce expressions, emphasizing movement and power. This reflects the Mongol rulers’ efforts to symbolize their dominance, both militarily and politically. These dragons also incorporate foreign artistic elements—such as bolder, more abstract shapes borrowed from the Mongols’ interactions with Central Asian and Persian cultures. Additionally, the dragons’ arrangements on the clothing show great differences with the previous dynasties and continue to influence the motif design in subsequent dynasties. This study is significant since the evolution of dragon motifs is about aesthetics, and how art reflects shifts in political power and cross-cultural exchange. The Yuan dynasty’s dragons represent the Mongols’ blending of Chinese tradition with foreign influences to create a new form of legitimacy. For those interested in history, anthropology, or cultural studies, these motifs offer a visual narrative of how empires use symbolism to express power and integrate diverse cultural elements.