Appearing first in stylized patterns on Shang dynasty bronzes over 4000 years ago, the dragon has developed ever more dynamic forms over the ages in accordance with cultural vicissitudes and changing aesthetic concepts.
殷周銅器上各式各樣的夔龍文、虺龍文、螭龍文、蟠龍文、虯龍文，形態上或由靜態而趨於動態；宋元以後又出現了戲珠龍、出水龍等新的表現形態。而這些「龍」的造型變化，又跟整個文化的變遷或民族審美觀念的改變，有密切關係。