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The Nine-Dragon Screen
Although there are a number of such screens
in Datong, the Nine Dragon Screen (Jiu longbi), just east
of the intersection of Da beijie and Da dongjie, is by far
the most impressive. This 600-year-old screen, a massive
45 meters long by 8 meters high, was originally guarding
the gates to the mansion of Prince Hongwu, the 13th son
of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).
According to Chinese superstition, ghosts
and devils can only travel in straight lines, so these magnificent
screens were placed before residency gates in order to block
their paths. The two meter thick screen and glaring dragons
certainly make penetration of this screen difficult.
The screen itself is of a coloured glaze
finish and depicts the nine dragons swirling in mists of
white, between waterlilies and half glimpsed mountains.
Of the nine, the center dragon is considered the most impressive
(and imposing), its glazed eyes staring fixedly off into
the distance. The optimum time to visit is meant to be in
the early morning, when the slanting light gleams on the
glaze, and when breezes ripple the pool under the screen.
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