<div class="description">
The dragon is believed to control the weather, a critical heavenly agent in premodern East Asia where the economy was based on agriculture. It is believed that the dragon endows a rightful ruler with a blessing of the appropriate amount of rain, a key for successful harvest. Thus, harsh weather conditions were often interpreted as the decline of heaven’s favor over a state. This explains why most dragon jars like this were not allowed to be used outside the royal court. It is highly likely that this jar contained a bouquet of peonies, the flower that symbolizes the state’s peace and prosperity.</div>
1675<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1675-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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