傳說熊活過五百歲能幻化成狐狸，此類超乎想像的神奇說法，至今已難以證實
。但是熊代表力量的意象，長久以來已深值人心，始終不變。
　　Chinese legend says that when a bear reaches the age of 500, it metamorphoses into a
fox spirit. Supernatural stories such as this may be difficult to believe today, but the
bear as a symbol of physical strength has long and deep roots in the history of
traditional Chinese thought.

　　此次配合「2017臺北世大運」活動，特別推出以像生熊形文物做為主題的展覽
。吳至西晉出現的青瓷熊形燈，小熊雙手托舉承盤，提示該件作品做為燈具的
用途。而銅玉同形熊形尊，展現了清朝乾隆皇帝根據舊藏漢銅熊，重新翻製新
玉熊的仿古與創新。玉人與熊則是工匠依照石材自然顯現的黑白雙色，巧雕完
成的與熊共舞。三種不同質材的組合，競相呈現力與美結合的精彩瞬間﹗
　　In conjunction with the 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade, the mascot for which is
“Bravo,” a Formosan black bear, the National Palace Museum is presenting a special
display of artworks in its collection featuring bears. Examples include from the Wu to
Western Jin period a bear-shaped celadon lamp and a dish supported by small bears
most likely used as a lamp as well. In the Qing dynasty, there are also bear-shaped
vessels in bronze and jade that demonstrate the Qianlong emperor’s innovative
reworking of tradition based on an ancient Han dynasty bronze bear in his collection.
Also, a jade carving of a boy and a bear in embrace show the skillful use of black and
white parts in the original mineral to suggest the two are dancing. These works in
three different materials present fascinating moments that vie to bring out the
combination of beauty and power for the bear in Chinese art.