Horse transforms into dragon
Long Ma is "a horse that has transformed into a dragon", carrying Ha Do on its back - one of the two symbols that ancient people used to explain the formation of the universe (the other symbol is Lac Thu). In Hue, the image of a long horse is decorated in many palaces, communal houses, pagodas, and even becomes a symbol of the Hue Festival.
Long horse is a half-real, half-imaginary mascot, with a dragon head, a horse body, combining the sacredness of mythology and the closeness of human life. Not only is it a "horse transforming into a dragon", long horse is also a symbol of a journey of sublimation: from tangible to metaphysical, from physical strength to intellect and morality.
That meaning makes the dragon horse become the mascot carrying the Ha Do - symbolizing knowledge - and often appears in educational, ceremonial, and state spaces.
In terms of semantics, "dragon horse" is not just a simple combination of dragons and horses, but a symbolic concept imbued with Eastern philosophy. "dragon" - dragon, is the supreme mascot, symbolizing yang energy, heaven, time, intelligence and creative power. Dragon regulates rain and wind, representing the cosmic order.
Ma" - horse, although not a mascot but closely associated with humans, symbolizes perseverance, loyalty, righteousness and constant movement in tangible space. That combination creates Long Ma - an image of harmony between heaven and earth, between wisdom and strength, between supernatural and reality.
In Hue, the image of the dragon horse is most clearly present on the screens - architecture with feng shui and ideological symbols.
From the royal palace, tombs to communal houses, pagodas, schools, long horses are often displayed in the posture of carrying Ha Do on their backs, gliding on the waves, head facing the clouds. This is not only an artistic composition, but also a way to convey a basic legend of Eastern civilization.
Typically, the dragon horse screen at Quoc Hoc Hue School, built in 1896 under King Thanh Thai's reign. In a riding posture but looking back, the dragon horse does not look fierce but shows a spirit of wisdom and gentleness.
On his back is a symbol of knowledge and morality. Placing a dragon horse in front of a prestigious school is not accidental, but a symbolic choice: honoring learning, talent and the path of national civilization.
From ancient architecture to modern life
In the Nguyen Dynasty royal palace, dragon horses also appeared at palaces such as Duc Khanh Mon, Hung Khanh Mon, Truong An Mon, along with mascots such as turtles, unicorns, and phoenixes.
While the dragon represents power, the dragon horse carries the meaning of wisdom, morality and social sustainability. Not only associated with ancient architecture, the dragon horse image is also vividly present in modern Hue cultural life.
Hue people use many materials such as lime mortar, ceramics, glass, wood, silver, porcelain to create the shape of the dragon horse. Whether elaborate or simple, the dragon horse still exudes a majestic and approachable aura.
Unlike the suppressing mascots, the dragon horse in Hue fine arts evokes a sense of harmony, gentle movement, in line with the architectural spirit that emphasizes balance and sophistication.
Long Ma is not only decoration, but also a part of Hue's aesthetic sense - where beauty is associated with the philosophy of life. A noteworthy milestone is the fact that the image of Long Ma at Quoc Hoc Hue School was chosen as the prototype for the Hue Festival logo from the early 21st century. This choice is not only aesthetic, but also a cultural message: Hue - a land of heritage, intelligence and continuation of tradition in the modern flow.
In the journey to become a heritage city, the image of the dragon horse continues to affirm its long-lasting symbolic value. Not confined to the past, the dragon horse also dialogues with the present – as a bridge between heritage and today's life.
