The Blue Dragon, a symbolic guardian of the East, is revered alongside the White Tiger as a protector against evil forces. Archaeological findings dating back 6,000 years depict animals as protectors of the deceased. The National Museum of Korea presents an interactive exhibition dedicated to honoring the Blue Dragon, which is the Chinese zodiac symbol for 2024. Visitors can explore a diverse range of dragon exhibits from the Silla, Baekjae, and Joseon periods spread across three floors. The museum offers a unique pathway through Korean history across six galleries, showcasing cultural insights, traditions, and past treasures for visitors.

What Dragons Represent

In the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, the Dragon is considered a powerful and fortunate entity. Its revered status leads many to consider the Year of the Dragon as an auspicious time for celebrations and significant life events in Chinese culture. Dragons hold various symbolic roles, serving as emblems of sovereignty in royal contexts, protectors of Buddhist law or the nation, and sacred beings in folk culture, while also being responsible for controlling water, repelling disasters, and bestowing blessings. Each year, the National Museum of Korea hosts questlike exhibitions featuring Chinese zodiac animals to celebrate the new year. Last year’s event, titled “Finding Rabbits in the Museum,” is now followed by this year’s installment, “Finding Dragons at the Museum,” running from January to April. This exhibition offers an interesting departure from the standard museum experience.

The National Museum of Korea contains the Permanent Exhibition Hall, which is organized by period and theme. It showcases artifacts such as Paleolithic hand axes, gold crowns, and Pensive Bodhisattvas from the Three Kingdoms period, Goryeo celadon, and Joseon paintings and calligraphy. Serving as a bridge between the past and present, the museum also features Special Exhibition Galleries, various guided tours, the Children’s Museum for multisensory learning, various educational programs, and digital content based on cutting-edge technologies. The New Year exhibition, unlike others in the Special Exhibition Hall, invites visitors to explore all three floors of the museum and search for fifteen dragon-themed objects.

Where the Dragons Can Be Found

Six of the dragon-related objects are located on the first floor, while there are four on the second and five on the third. It is interesting to observe the frequency with which dragons appear in historical assets across different periods. In the Buyeo Kingdom/Samhan period hall, one of the fifteen objects is a gold belt buckle associated with the Lelang Commandery, established in 108 BCE. Featuring a design depicting seven dragons – one large and six smaller ones – the buckle is meticulously crafted with gold thread, hundreds of gold granules, and precious turquoise stones. Another dragon is found in the Medieval and Early Modern History Gallery in Joseon I Hall, specifically in the portrait of King Taejo. Generally, dragons were used to represent royalty, with five-clawed dragons used to symbolize emperors and four-clawed dragons to represent kings. However, in the surviving portraits of King Taejo, many of the Joseon dragon designs represent the king using five-clawed dragons.

In the Korean Empire Hall, the Imperial Royal Seal of the Great Han Empire immediately captures the attention of visitors. In October 1897, Emperor Gojong conducted a special ceremony where he officially declared the nation as to be the Great Han Empire and proclaimed himself emperor. This involved a significant restructuring of the government, the renaming of positions, and changes to ceremonial formalities, including ancestral rituals. Notably, the official royal seals were updated to feature a dragon instead of a turtle, symbolizing the enhanced imperial grandeur and authority under the emperor’s rule. The Calligraphy and Paintings Gallery on the second floor contains a number of paintings that contain remarkable dragon figures that exude an air of omnipotence. Pieces like “Two Dragons Playing with a Wishgranting Jewel,” “A Dragon Soaring into the Sky,” and “A Dragon and Tiger” demonstrate the enduring popularity of these mythical creatures among artists. The mastery of the painters is evident in the fierce expressions of the dragons, the skillful depiction of the dragons’ sinuous body, and the rendering of layers in dark clouds. Dragons, which were often believed to control the rain clouds, were featured in rituals for rain during the Joseon dynasty. Additionally, there are dragon paintings created solely for aesthetic appreciation, including depictions of dragons in clouds, ascending from water into the sky, in pairs, with tigers, or engaging in battles with humans.

While “Finding Dragons at the Museum” features only 15 dragon-themed objects, there are many other exhibits that are also related to this captivating theme. For example, the Royal Throne incorporates dragon elements, with a majestic canopy adorned by two powerful dragons over the king’s head, enhancing the overall sense of dignity and power. This exhibition represents a unique chance to encounter dragons and appreciate both Korean and world heritage by encouraging visitors to explore all galleries and observe the rich culture of Asia, including that from Korea, China, Japan, and Mesopotamia.

Exhibition Information

Title: Finding Dragons at the Museum in Celebration of the Year of the Blue Dragon

Venue: National Museum of Korea

Date: December 20, 2023, to April 7, 2024

Ticket Price: free entrance