Dragon and Phoenix Drum

Painting

Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures

Name/Title

Dragon and Phoenix Drum

Entry/Object ID

2019.1.79

Artwork Details

Medium

watercolor (paint), paper (fiber product)

Collection

Andrea and Irv Green Huxian Paintings Collection

Cataloged By

Hensley, Sam

Acquisition

Accession

2019.1

Source or Donor

Green, Andrea, Green, Irv

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Andrea and Irv Green

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Zhao Shengtao

Role

Painter

Date made

2000

Time Period

21st Century

Place

County

Hu Xian

Country

China

Region

East Asia

Continent

Asia

Ethnography

Culture/Tribe

Han Chinese

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Painting

Nomenclature Class

Art

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Other Names and Numbers

Other Numbers

Number Type

Past Accession Number - Donor Initials

Other Number

2019.iag.79

Number Type

Collector's Number

Other Number

AG 79

Number Type

Found in collections number

Other Number

2019.1.0

Dimensions

Height

80 cm

Width

55.9 cm

Parts

Count

Accessories

Accessory

Frame

Copyright

Type of License

Exclusive License

Copyright Holder

Zhao Shengtao

Copyright Date

2000

Copyright Details

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Restrictions

Unless expressly stated otherwise, the organization that has made this Item available makes no warranties about the Item and cannot guarantee the accuracy of this Rights Statement. You are responsible for your own use. You may find additional information about the copyright status of the Item on the website of the organization that has made the Item available. You may need to obtain other permissions for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy or moral rights may limit how you may use the material.

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Tombstone Label

Label

Dragon and Phoenix Drum Zhao Shengtao (Chinese, b. 1952) 2000 Paint on rice paper Gift of Andrea and Irv Green, 2019.1.79

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

Created in the year 2000, this painting depicts a celebration with the dragon and the phoenix. On the flag is written “Dragon and Phoenix bringing prosperity.” Please note the repetitions of the cymbal pattern around the sides of the painting. In Chinese culture the dragon and the phoenix are both significant symbols which together symbolize royalty and the perfect harmony between yin (female) and yang (male) forces. The dragon depicted is an eastern imperial dragon, which is a combination of different auspicious animals including the fish, snake, tiger, cow, and eagle. The dragon symbolizes the emperor, imperial power, royalty, wisdom, good fortune, and yang (male) forces. Despite having no wings… It is capable of taking flight to control the weather and other water sources. Traditionally, the phoenix represents the empress, harmony, prosperity, virtue, and ying (female) forces. Due to being the symbol of the empress, she often featured the phoenix on her clothing and jewelry. For at least 2500 years, the phoenix has been considered a sign of peace and prosperity with its appearance representing an omen of harmony. During the “Year of the Dragon”, dragon dances are performed with large colorful dragon puppets. The phoenix may also be featured in parades, dances, and performances during the Chinese New Year and is often paired with the dragon. Together, they represent the balance between opposing forces, which is considered fundamental to harmony in Chinese philosophy.