新石器时代红山文化（距今约6000-5000年）
高14.1厘米 宽10.4厘米
    龙，是古人心目中的神物。中国人素有崇龙信龙的文化传统，故称为龙的传人。龙是中华民族的象征，是国家的象征和传统文化的脊梁。在封建社会，龙又比作拥有至高无上权力的帝王。东汉许慎在《说文解字》里说：“龙，鳞虫之长。能幽能明，能细能巨，春分而登天，秋分而潜渊。”据此可知，那时人们认为龙满身有鳞，能伸能缩，能粗能细，能够在不同季节上天入水，古人对龙的本领充满了种种的神秘感。
  玉制的神龙是何种的相貌？在距今五六千年的内蒙古赤峰红山文化遗址，出土有数件玉龙，其中猪首蛇身的玉猪龙是其代表。我们要介绍的这件玉猪龙，收藏于天津博物馆，现正在刚落成的天津博物馆新馆精品厅展出。此件玉猪龙早在1960年被天津文物公司于辽宁锦州收购，后归天津艺术博物馆收藏。该器高14.1厘米，宽10.4厘米，用黄绿色岫岩玉琢成，材质温润。其体形肥硕，首部有竖立大耳，大圆眼，鼻梁有多道皱纹，嘴部紧闭前突，嘴与尾相对，头尾间留有缺口，背颈有一对钻孔。此器磨光匀润，刻线流畅，工艺精美。
  关于红山文化玉猪龙的性质及用途是：远古时期的玉器是在神话与宗教观念下创作的。在当时已进入农业社会的初期，猪已经是家畜。猪有喜水的习性，龙是祈雨之神，二者相结合反映出了红山人的宗教信仰。该器背部正中有一对钻孔，可用丝绳穿系。由此推测，玉猪龙可能是悬挂在某处，用作红山文化先民求龙祈雨的神灵崇拜物。
  玉猪龙形象的艺术特点是：体格威武雄壮，气势咄咄逼人，正是猪借龙以发威，龙借猪以雄浑。体现了红山先民高度的艺术创造智慧。
  该器形制肥硕，质色纯润，雕琢精细，是出土及传世品中同类型器物中较大且最为精美的一件。
  这件玉龙之所以被人投以极大的关注，是因为它是中华第一玉龙；它开启了中国传统龙文化之端绪；它造型简练，线条优美；它有屈有伸，雄奇伟丽，它浑身都是力量生命的力量，中国人的精神力量。
Pig-dragon-shaped yellow jade pendant
Hongshan Neolithic culture(c.6,000-5,000 years ago)
Height 14.1cm, Width 10.4cm

This piece is carved into a C shape from light yellowish green Xiuyan jade. It has a corpulent body, two large pricked ears on its head, large round eyes, a wrinkled nose bridge, and a closed protruding mouth. There is a small gap between the tail and the heard. A pair of holes has been bored into its back and neck, which might have been used to hang it. This piece is smoothly and evenly polished, fluently carved and displays exquisite craftsmanship.

This Hongshan culture yellow jade pig-dragon-shaped pendant shows influences from mythological and religious concepts. Pigs were domesticated in the early agrarian society of that period. Pigs are water-loving animals and dragons were spirits prayed to for rain. It is logical that the two would be combined in a jade carving of the spirit worshipped in prayers for rain. The jade pig-dragon has a pig’s head and a dragon’s body; its fantastic form reflects the religious beliefs and highly accomplished artistry of the early people of the Hongshan culture.CAO PING