Literally meaning “pig-dragon”, the zhulong is a magical creature formed by a serpentine body wrapped around an orifice, and ending with a pig’s head topped by two raised ears, a pair of round eyes, and a flat wrinkled snout.
This hybrid creature reflects a society of breeders and farmers, hence this cross-breeding of pig and snake. Pig bones have been found buried near human beings on Hongshan burial sites, suggesting that the animal had a ritual signification. This form may possibly be the oldest representation of “dragons”, as the most recent first Chinese inscriptions, coiled up, resemble the jade dragon amulets of the Shang Dynasty (1570-1045 BC).
Speckled with rust-coloured spots, antique jade is a very hard stone (here nephrite) which in the 18th century the Chinese would replace with jadeite, brought from Burma. Very difficult to carve without metallic tools, this stone which requires huge labour, but also true savoir-faire, has to be polished with abrasive powders by wear, friction, and rotation.
By bringing to light several coherent ensembles, a matriarchal stage belonging to the Hongshan society was revealed: alongside the zhulong there were clay statuettes representing women with ample forms, apparently pregnant. Several of these vestiges were brought to light in sanctuaries. So archaeologists believe that these edifices were consecrated to the cult of goddess-mothers, associating fecundity and fertility to ensure the survival of the community.
