Hongshan Culture C-Shaped Jade Dragon

Often called China's first dragon, this 26-cm C-shaped jade figure is the most iconic artifact of the Hongshan Culture and a symbol of the prehistoric origins of dragon worship.

The Story

Discovered in 1971 in Ongniud Banner, Inner Mongolia, this jade carving predates Chinese civilization's written record by millennia. Its elegant C-curve, boar-like snout, flowing mane, and smooth polish demonstrate astonishing Neolithic lapidary skill. The figure's form — coiled, toothless, with an open mouth — became the template for every later Chinese dragon. For decades after discovery it was mistakenly called a 'pig dragon'; only in the 1980s did scholars recognize it as a dragon, pushing the origin of dragon symbolism back over 5,000 years. The Hongshan culture's jade ritual tradition shows that complex beliefs about heaven, authority, and the spirit world existed long before the Bronze Age dynasties.

Why It Matters

Proof that dragon worship — China's central mythological motif — is not a Bronze Age invention but a Neolithic one, with roots older than any written Chinese text.

Fun Facts

Predates written Chinese by at least 2,000 years

The drill hole at the curve shows it was worn suspended — likely a shaman's pendant

Hongshan jade-working technology required sand abrasives and bamboo drills — no metal tools existed

Featured on a Chinese postage stamp as a national treasure icon

Where to See It

Public collections holding this artifact or closely related pieces.

National Museum of China

Primary

China

Part of These Themes

Theme

Prehistoric Jade Cultures of China

5,000 Years Before the Bronze Age: Jade, Ritual, and the Origins of Chinese Civilization

Long before bronze or writing, Neolithic communities across China carved jade into dragons, discs, and ritual objects — establishing the material's sacred status that would endure for 7,000 years.

2 artifacts →

Related Artifacts

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A hauntingly beautiful gold mask weighing about 280 grams, with protruding eyes and an enigmatic smile that has captivated the modern world.

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Jade Burial Suit of Prince Liu Sheng

An entire suit made of 2,498 jade tiles sewn together with 1,100 grams of gold wire — built to grant immortality to a Han prince.

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Sources & References

·Wikipedia — Hongshan culture(CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Content informed by the sources above. Where Wikipedia text is used, it is licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.