In the Chinese culture, dragon symbolizes power and excellence, valiancy and boldness, heroism and perseverance, nobility and divinity. For Chinese, everything connected with dragons is blessed. Chinese around the world proclaim themselves “descendants of the dragon.” The beds the Chinese emperors slept on are called “dragon beds,” the throne, a “dragon seat,” and the emperor’s ceremonial dresses are known as “dragon robes.”

To celebrate this Lunar Year of the Dragon, the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung presents the Dragon exhibition (http://www.nmns.edu.tw/nmns_eng/04exhibit/Temporary/exhibitis/Dragon.htm) so that visitors can learn about dragons and their influence on Chinese culture. The exhibition, which ends on May 27, 2012, displays more than 70 artifacts of the mythical creature, including drawings, ceramics, furniture, seals, flags and royal robes. Some of the artifacts are on loan from Zhejiang Museum of Natural History, National Palace Museum, National Museum of History, and Institute of History and Philology.