Chinese Dragon Bronze Sculpture

I photographed this extraordinary dragon sculpture in Beijing. This photo is no longer possible because the sculpture has been enclosed in a wire mesh cage to prevent people from touching it or sitting on it to pose for pictures. The dragon is the symbol of royal power. It combines the tribal symbols of the times when tribes were united to from the earliest dynasty: snake, bird of prey, shrimp, deer, pig, ocean, fish, and more. It holds the imperial pearl in its left claw.