The Yellow Glazed Dragon Pattern Wadang of the Ming Dynasty

The Yellow Glazed Dragon Pattern Wadang of the Ming Dynasty

This is a yellow glazed dragon wadang from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), an ancient Chinese royal architectural component. Tadang, commonly known as "tile head", is the circular drooping part of the front end of the half-tube tile in ancient Chinese architecture. Play the role of protecting the wooden eaves of the building and beautifying the contours of the roof. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, yellow glazed tiles were the special color of imperial palaces and mausoleums, symbolizing imperial power and dignity, and were strictly prohibited from being used by the people. The high relief on the tile has a five-claw dragon pattern. The dragon chases a burning pearl between the auspicious clouds and flames, with a powerful and full tension. The five-clawed dragon is also a royal special decoration.
Making pottery from the Song Dynasty

Making pottery from the Song Dynasty

This is a pottery tile from Shitatou, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, made around the Song Dynasty. Wadang refers to the front end of the cylindrical tile covering the eaves of ancient Chinese architecture; The entire tile at the front end of the eaves can also be called a tile, with a patterned hanging circular stopper on the tile surface. This tile is now located in the Komata Museum at the University of Tokyo in Japan.