Chinese dragon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chinese dragons are legendary creatures

in Chinese mythology and Chinese
folklore. The dragons have many animallike forms such as turtles, fish, and
imaginary, but they are most commonly
depicted as snake-like with four legs.
Chinese dragons traditionally symbolize
potent and auspicious powers,
particularly control over water, rainfall,
typhoons, and floods. The dragon is also
a symbol of power, strength, and good
luck for people who are worthy of it.
With this, the Emperor of China usually
used the dragon as a symbol of his
imperial power and strength.[1]
In Chinese daily language, excellent and
outstanding people are compared to a
dragon, while incapable people with no
achievements are compared with other,
disesteemed creatures, such as a worm. A
number of Chinese proverbs and idioms
feature references to a dragon, such as
"Hoping one's son will become a dragon"
(simplified Chinese: ;
traditional Chinese: ; pinyin:
wng z chng lng).

Chinese dragon

Detail of the Nine Dragons scroll painting by Chen Rong, 1244, Song
Dynasty
Traditional Chinese

Simplified Chinese

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin

lng

Bopomofo

Gan

Romanization

ling
Yue: Cantonese

Yale Romanization

Contents
1 Symbolic value
2 State symbol
3 Dragon worship
3.1 Origin
3.2 Mythical creature
3.3 Ruler of weather and
water
3.4 Symbol of imperial
authority
3.5 Modern belief
4 Depictions of the dragon
4.1 Neolithic depictions
4.2 Classical depictions
4.3 Nine sons of the
dragon
4.4 Dragon claws

lhng
Southern Min

Hokkien POJ

lng, ling

5 Cultural references
5.1 Number nine
5.2 Chinese zodiac
5.3 Constellations
5.4 Dragonboat racing
5.5 Dragon dancing
5.6 Dragons and ngas
5.7 Dragons and tigers
5.8 Dragons and botany
6 Chinese dragons in popular
culture
7 Regional variations across
Asia
8 Gallery
9 See also
10 References
10.1 Citations
10.2 Sources
11 External links

Symbolic value
Historically, the dragon was associated with the Emperor of China
and used a symbol to represent imperial power. The founder of Han
dynasty Liu Bang claimed that he was conceived after his mother
dreamt of a dragon.[2] During the Tang dynasty, Emperors wore
robes with dragon motif as an imperial symbol, and high officials
may also be presented with dragon robes.[3] In the Yuan dynasty, the
two-horned five-clawed dragon was designated for use by the Son of
Heaven or Emperor only, while the four-clawed dragon was used by
the princes and nobles.[4] Similarly during the Ming and Qin
dynasty, the five-clawed dragon was strictly reserved for use by the

Dragon stone plate, used to decorate

steps of imperial building.

Emperor only. The dragon in the Qing dynasty appeared on the first Chinese national flag.[5]
The dragon is sometimes used in the West as a national emblem of China. However, this usage within either
the People's Republic of China or the Republic of China on Taiwan as the symbol of nation is not common.
Instead, it is generally used as the symbol of culture. In Hong Kong, the dragon was on the Coat of arms of
Hong Kong during colonial time. Now it is part of the design of Brand Hong Kong, a symbol used to
promote Hong Kong as an international brand name.[6]
The Chinese dragon has very different connotations to European dragon in European cultures, the dragon
is a firebreathing creature with aggressive connotations, whereas the Chinese dragon is a spiritual and
cultural symbol that represents prosperity and good luck, as well as a rain deity that fosters harmony. It was
reported that the Chinese government decided against using the dragon as its official 2008 Summer
Olympics mascot because of the aggressive connotations that dragons have outside of China, and chose
more "friendly" symbols instead.[7]

Sometimes Chinese people use the term "Descendants of the

Dragon" (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese:
) as a sign of ethnic identity, as part of a trend started in the 1970s
when different Asian nationalities were looking for animal symbols
as representations, for example, the wolf may be used by the
Mongols as it is considered to be their legendary ancestor.[5][8]

State symbol

Chinese metal dragon half

frontal view, holding a pearl
in his paws. It is a taboo to
disfigure a depiction of a
dragon.

The dragon is the symbol of Chinese

emperor in many dynasties. During
the Qing dynasty, the Azure Dragon
was featured on the first Chinese
national flag, until Qing collapsed. It
featured shortly again on the Twelve
Symbols national emblem, which was
used during the Republic of China,
from 1913-1928.

Portrait of the Yongle Emperor

wearing a dragon robe

Dragon worship

Origin
The ancient Chinese self-identified as "the descendants of the
dragon" because the Chinese dragon is an imagined reptile that
represents evolution from the ancestors and qi energy.[9] The
presence of dragons within Chinese culture dates back several
thousands of years with the discovery of a dragon statue dating back
to the fifth millennium BC from the Yangshao culture in Henan in

Flag of the Qing dynasty, 1889 - 1912

1987,[10] and jade badges of rank in coiled form have been excavated
from the Hongshan culture circa 4700-2900 BC.[11] Some of the
earliest Dragon artifacts are the pig dragon carvings from the
Hongshan culture.
The coiled dragon or snake form played an important role in early
Chinese culture. The character for "dragon" in the earliest Chinese
writing has a similar coiled form, as do later jade dragon amulets
from the Shang period.[12]
Ancient Chinese referred to unearthed dinosaur bones as dragon
bones and documented them as such. For example, Chang Qu in 300
BC documents the discovery of "dragon bones" in Sichuan.[13] The
modern Chinese word for dinosaur is konglong (/), and
villagers in central China have long unearthed fossilized "dragon
bones" for use in traditional medicines, a practice that continues
today.[14]

Chinese dragon was one of the

supporters of the colonial Emblem of
Hong Kong until 1997.

The binomial name for a variety of dinosaurs discovered in China, Mei long, in Chinese ( mi and
lng) means "sleeping dragon." Fossilized remains of Mei long have been found in China in a sleeping and
coiled form, with the dinosaur nestling its snout beneath one of its forelimbs while encircling its tail around
its entire body.[15]

The C-shaped jade

totem of Hongshan
culture (c. 4700-2920
B.C.)

Jade-carved dragon
garment ornament from
the Warring States
period (403 BC-221
BC).

State emblem of Republic of China,

1913 - 1928

Gilded-bronze handle in
the shape of a dragon
head and neck, made
during the Eastern Han
period (25220 AD)

Mythical creature
From its origins as totems or the stylized depiction of natural creatures, the Chinese dragon evolved to
become a mythical animal. The Han dynasty scholar Wang Fu recorded Chinese myths that long dragons
had nine anatomical resemblances.
The people paint the dragon's shape with a horse's head
and a snake's tail. Further, there are expressions as 'three
joints' and 'nine resemblances' (of the dragon), to wit:
from head to shoulder, from shoulder to breast, from
breast to tail. These are the joints; as to the nine
resemblances, they are the following: his antlers
resemble those of a stag, his head that of a camel, his
eyes those of a demon, his neck that of a snake, his belly

that of a clam (shen, ), his scales those of a carp, his

claws those of an eagle, his soles those of a tiger, his
ears those of a cow. Upon his head he has a thing like a
broad eminence (a big lump), called [chimu] (). If a
dragon has no [chimu], he cannot ascend to the sky.[16]
Further sources give variant lists of the nine animal resemblances. Sinologist Henri Dor lists these
characteristics of an authentic dragon: "The antlers of a deer. The head of a crocodile. A demon's eyes. The
neck of a snake. A tortoise's viscera. A hawk's claws. The palms of a tiger. A cow's ears. And it hears
through its horns, its ears being deprived of all power of hearing."[17] He notes that, "Others state it has a
rabbit's eyes, a frog's belly, a carp's scales." The anatomy of other legendary creatures, including the chimera
and manticore, is similarly amalgamated from fierce animals.
Chinese dragons were considered to be physically concise. Of the
117 scales, 81 are of the yang essence (positive) while 36 are of the
yin essence (negative). Initially, the dragon was benevolent, wise,
and just, but the Buddhists introduced the concept of malevolent
influence among some dragons. Just as water destroys, they said, so
can some dragons destroy via floods, tidal waves, and storms. They
suggested that some of the worst floods were believed to have been
the result of a mortal upsetting a dragon.
Many pictures of oriental dragons show a flaming pearl under their
chin or in their claws. The pearl is associated with spiritual energy,
wisdom, prosperity, power, immortality, thunder, or the moon.
Chinese art often depicts a pair of dragons chasing or fighting over
the flaming pearl.
Chinese dragons are occasionally depicted with bat-like wings
growing out of the front limbs, but most do not have wings, as their
ability to fly (and control rain/water, etc.) are mystical and not seen
as a result of their physical attributes.

Mural depicting a dragon, from the

Dahuting Tomb (Chinese:
, Pinyin: Dahuting Han mu) of the
late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220
AD), located in Zhengzhou, Henan
province, China

This description accords with the artistic depictions of the dragon

down to the present day. The dragon has also acquired an almost
unlimited range of supernatural powers. It is said to be able to
disguise itself as a silkworm, or become as large as our entire
universe. It can fly among the clouds or hide in water (according to
the Guanzi). It can form clouds, can turn into water, can change color as an ability to blend in with their
surroundings, as an effective form of camouflage or glow in the dark (according to the Shuowen Jiezi).

In many other countries, folktales speak of the dragon having all the attributes of the other 11 creatures of
the zodiac, this includes the whiskers of the Rat, the face and horns of the Ox, the claws and teeth of the
Tiger, the belly of the Rabbit, the body of the Snake, the legs of the Horse, the goatee of the Goat, the wit (or
brain) of the Monkey, the crest of the Rooster, the ears of the Dog and the snout of the Pig.
In some circles, it is considered bad luck to depict a dragon facing downwards, as it is seen as disrespectful
to place a dragon in such manner that it cannot ascend to the sky. Also, depictions of dragons in tattoos are
prevalent as they are symbols of strength and power, especially criminal organisations where dragons hold a
meaning all on their own. As such, it is believed that one must be fierce and strong enough, hence earning
the right to wear the dragon on his skin, lest his luck be consumed by the dragons.

Ruler of weather and water

Chinese dragons are strongly associated with water and weather in
popular religion. They are believed to be the rulers of moving bodies of
water, such as waterfalls, rivers, or seas. The Dragon God is the
dispenser of rain as well as the zoomorphic representation of the yang
masculine power of generation.[18] In this capacity as the rulers of water
and weather, the dragon is more anthropomorphic in form, often
depicted as a humanoid, dressed in a king's costume, but with a dragon
head wearing a king's headdress.
There are four major Dragon Kings, representing each of the Four Seas:
the East Sea (corresponding to the East China Sea), the South Sea
(corresponding to the South China Sea), the West Sea (sometimes seen
as the Qinghai Lake and beyond), and the North Sea (sometimes seen as
Lake Baikal).

Dragons chasing flaming pearl,

Qing dynasty.

Because of this association, they are seen as "in charge" of water-related

weather phenomena. In premodern times, many Chinese villages
(especially those close to rivers and seas) had temples dedicated to their
local "dragon king". In times of drought or flooding, it was customary
for the local gentry and government officials to lead the community in
offering sacrifices and conducting other religious rites to appease the
dragon, either to ask for rain or a cessation thereof.
The King of Wuyue in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period
was often known as the "Dragon King" or the "Sea Dragon King"
because of his extensive hydro-engineering schemes which "tamed" the
sea.

A dragon seen floating among

clouds, on a golden canteen made
during the 15th century, Ming
dynasty

Symbol of imperial authority

According to Chinese legend, both Chinese primogenitors, the earliest Door
and the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi), were closely related to 'Long' (Chinese
dragon). At the end of his reign, the first legendary ruler, the Yellow
Emperor, was said to have been immortalized into a dragon that resembled
his emblem, and ascended to Heaven. The other legendary ruler, the Yan
Emperor, was born by his mother's telepathy with a mythical dragon. Since
the Chinese consider the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor as their
ancestors, they sometimes refer to themselves as "the descendants of the
dragon". This legend also contributed towards the use of the Chinese dragon
as a symbol of imperial power.
Dragons (usually with five claws on each foot) were a symbol for the
emperor in many Chinese dynasties. During the Qing dynasty, the imperial
dragon was colored yellow or gold, and during the Ming dynasty it was

An imperial robe from the

Qing Dynasty

red.[19] The imperial throne was referred to as the Dragon Throne. During
the late Qing dynasty, the dragon was even adopted as the national flag.
Dragons are featured in carvings on the stairs and walkways of imperial palaces and imperial tombs, such as
at the Forbidden City in Beijing.

In some Chinese legends, an emperor might be born with a birthmark in the shape of a dragon. For example,
one legend tells the tale of a peasant born with a dragon birthmark who eventually overthrows the existing
dynasty and founds a new one; another legend might tell of the prince in hiding from his enemies who is
identified by his dragon birthmark.
In contrast, the Empress of China was often identified with the Chinese phoenix.

Modern belief
Worship of the Dragon God is celebrated throughout China with sacrifices and processions during the fifth
and sixth moons, and especially on the date of his birthday the thirteenth day of the sixth moon.[18] A folk
religious movement of associations of good-doing in modern Hebei is primarily devoted to a generic Dragon
God whose icon is a tablet with his name inscribed, for which it has been named the "movement of the
Dragon Tablet".[20]

Depictions of the dragon

Neolithic depictions
Dragons or dragon-like depictions have been found extensively in
neolithic-period archaeological sites throughout China. The earliest
depiction of dragons was found at Xinglongwa culture sites. Yangshao
culture sites in Xi'an have produced clay pots with dragon motifs. A
burial site Xishuipo in Puyang which is associated with the Yangshao
culture shows a large dragon mosaic made out of clam shells.[22] The
Liangzhu culture also produced dragon-like patterns. The Hongshan
culture sites in present-day Inner Mongolia produced jade dragon
objects in the form of pig dragons which are the first 3-dimensional
representations of Chinese dragons.[23]
One such early form was the pig dragon. It is a coiled, elongated
creature with a head resembling a boar.[24] The character for "dragon"
in the earliest Chinese writing has a similar coiled form, as do later jade
dragon amulets from the Shang dynasty.

An ancient seal script form of the

character for "dragon" that is now
written or and pronounced
lng in Mandarin Chinese.

Classical depictions
Chinese literature and myths refer to many dragons besides the famous long.
The linguist Michael Carr analyzed over 100 ancient dragon names attested
in Chinese classic texts.[25] Many such Chinese names derive from the
suffix -long:
Tianlong (Chinese: ; pinyin: tinlng; WadeGiles: t'ien-lung;
literally: "heavenly dragon"), celestial dragon that guards heavenly
palaces and pulls divine chariots; also a name for the constellation
Draco
Shenlong (Chinese: ; pinyin: shnlng; WadeGiles: shen-lung;
literally: "god dragon"), thunder god that controls the weather,

Symbols of dragons were

placed in tombs as means to
get to heaven.[21] The Walters
Art Museum.

appearance of a human head, dragon's body, and drum-like stomach

Fucanglong (Chinese: ; pinyin: fcnglng; WadeGiles: futs'ang-lung; literally: "hidden treasure dragon"), underworld guardian
of precious metals and jewels, associated with volcanoes
Dilong (Chinese: ; pinyin: dlng; WadeGiles: ti-lung; literally:
"earth dragon"), controller of rivers and seas; also a name for
earthworm
Yinglong (Chinese: ; pinyin: ynglng; WadeGiles: ying-lung;
literally: "responding dragon"), winged dragon associated with rains
and floods, used by Yellow Emperor to kill Chi You
Jiaolong (Chinese: ; pinyin: jiolng; WadeGiles: chiao-lung; literally: "crocodile dragon"),
hornless or scaled dragon, leader of all aquatic animals
Panlong (Chinese: ; pinyin: pnlng; WadeGiles: p'an-lung; literally: "coiled dragon"), lake
dragon that has not ascended to heaven
Huanglong (Chinese: ; pinyin: hunglng; WadeGiles: huang-lung; literally: "yellow dragon"),
hornless dragon symbolizing the emperor
Feilong (Chinese: ; pinyin: filng; WadeGiles: fei-lung; literally: "flying dragon"), winged
dragon that rides on clouds and mist; also a name for a genus of pterosaur (compare Feilong kick and
Fei Long character)
Qinglong (Chinese: ; pinyin: qnglng; WadeGiles: ch'ing-lung; literally: "Azure Dragon"), the
animal associated with the East in the Chinese Four Symbols, mythological creatures in the Chinese
constellations
Qiulong (Chinese: ; pinyin: qulng; WadeGiles: ch'iu-lung; literally: "curling dragon"),
contradictorily defined as both "horned dragon" and "hornless dragon"
Zhulong (Chinese: ; pinyin: zhlng; WadeGiles: chu-lung; literally: "torch dragon") or Zhuyin
(Chinese: ; pinyin: zhyn; WadeGiles: chu-yin; literally: "illuminating darkness") was a giant
red draconic solar deity in Chinese mythology. It supposedly had a human's face and snake's body,
created day and night by opening and closing its eyes, and created seasonal winds by breathing. (Note
that this zhulong is different from the similarly named Vermilion Dragon or the Pig dragon).
Chilong (Chinese: or ; pinyin: chlng; WadeGiles: ch'ih-lung; literally: "demon dragon"),
a hornless dragon or mountain demon
Fewer Chinese dragon names derive from the prefix long-:
Longwang (Chinese: ; pinyin: lngwng; WadeGiles: lung-wang; literally: "Dragon Kings")
divine rulers of the Four Seas
Longma (Chinese: ; pinyin: lngm; WadeGiles: lung-ma; literally: "dragon horse"), emerged
from the Luo River and revealed ba gua to Fu Xi
Some additional Chinese dragons are not named with long , for instance,
Hong (Chinese: ; pinyin: hng; WadeGiles: hung; literally: "rainbow"), a two-headed dragon or
rainbow serpent
Shen (Chinese: ; pinyin: shn; WadeGiles: shen; literally: "giant clam"), a shapeshifting dragon or
sea monster believed to create mirages
Bashe (Chinese: ; pinyin: bsh; WadeGiles: pa-she; literally: "ba snake") was a giant pythonlike dragon that ate elephants
Teng (Chinese: ; pinyin: tng; WadeGiles: t'eng) or Tengshe (simplified Chinese: ; traditional
Chinese: ; pinyin: tngsh; WadeGiles: t'eng-she; lit. "soaring snake") is a flying dragon without
legs

Chinese scholars have classified dragons in diverse systems. For instance, Emperor Huizong of the Song
dynasty canonized five colored dragons as "kings".
The Azure Dragon [Qinglong ] spirits, most compassionate kings.
The Vermilion Dragon [Zhulong or Chilong ] spirits, kings that bestow blessings on lakes.
The Yellow Dragon [Huanglong ] spirits, kings that favorably hear all petitions.
The White Dragon [Bailong ] spirits, virtuous and pure kings.
The Black Dragon [Xuanlong or Heilong ] spirits, kings dwelling in the depths of the
mystic waters.[26]
With the addition of the Yellow Dragon of the Center to Azure Dragon of the East, these Vermilion, White,
and Black Dragons coordinate with the Four Symbols, including the Vermilion Bird of the South, White
Tiger of the West, and Black Tortoise of the North.

Nine sons of the dragon

Several Ming dynasty texts list what were claimed as the Nine
Offspring of the Dragon (), and subsequently these feature
prominently in popular Chinese stories and writings. The scholar Xie
Zhaozhe (, 15671624) in his work Wu Za Zu (, ca.
1592) gives the following listing, as rendered by M.W. de Visser:
A well-known work of the end of the sixteenth century,
the Wuzazu , informs us about the nine different
young of the dragon, whose shapes are used as
ornaments according to their nature.
The [pulao ], dragons which like to cry, are
represented on the tops of bells, serving as
handles.
The [qiuniu ], which like music, are used to
adorn musical instruments.
The [chiwen /], which like swallowing,
are placed on both ends of the ridgepoles of roofs
(to swallow all evil influences).
The [chaofeng ], lion-like beasts which like
precipices, are placed on the four corners of roofs.
The [yazi /], which like to kill, serve as
ornaments of sword-grips.
The [bixi ], which have the shape of the
[chilong ], and are fond of literature, are
represented on the sides of grave-monuments.
The [bi'an ], which like litigation, are placed
over prison gates (in order to keep guard).
The [suanni ], which like to sit down, are
represented upon the bases of Buddhist idols
(under the Buddhas' or Bodhisattvas' feet).
The [baxia ], finally, big tortoises which like to
carry heavy objects, are placed under grave-

Pulao in Changchun Temple, Wuhan

Qianlong era bixi near Marco Polo

Bridge, Beijing

monuments.
Further, the same author enumerates nine other kinds of
dragons, which are represented as ornaments of different
objects or buildings according to their liking prisons,
water, the rank smell of newly caught fish or newly
killed meat, wind and rain, ornaments, smoke, shutting
the mouth (used for adorning key-holes), standing on
steep places (placed on roofs), and fire.[27]
The Sheng'an waiji () collection by the poet Yang Shen (, 14881559) gives different 5th and
9th names for the dragon's nine children: the taotie (), which loves to eat and is found on food-related
wares, and the jiaotu (), which looks like a conch or clam, does not like to be disturbed, and is used on
the front door or the doorstep. Yang's list is bixi, chiwen or chofng, pulao, bi'an, taotie, qiuniu, yazi,
suanni, and jiaotu.[28]
Oldest known attestation of the "children of the dragon" list is found in the Shuyuan Zaji (,
Miscellaneous records from the bean garden) by Lu Rong (14361494); however, he noted that the list
enumerates mere synonyms of various antiques, not children of a dragon.[29] The nine sons of the dragon
were commemorated by the Shanghai Mint in 2012's year of the dragon with two sets of coins, one in silver,
and one in brass. Each coin in the sets depicts one of the 9 sons, including an additional coin for the father
dragon, which depicts the nine sons on the reverse.[30]

Dragon claws
The early Chinese dragons can be depicted with two to five claws.
Different countries that adopted the Chinese dragon have different
preferences; in Mongolia and Korea, the four-clawed dragons are used,
while in Japanese dragon three-clawed dragons are common.[31] By the
Yuan dynasty, the five-clawed dragons became reserved for use by the
emperor while the princes used four-clawed dragons.[4] The usage of the
dragon motif was codified during the Yuan dynasty, and phoenixes and
five-clawed two-horned dragons may not be used on the robes of
officials and other objects such as plates and vessels.[4][32] It was further
stipulated that for commoners, "it is forbidden to wear any cloth with
patterns of Qilin, Male Fenghuang (Chinese phoenix), White rabbit,
Lingzhi, Five-Toe Two-Horn Dragon, Eight Dragons, Nine Dragons,
'Ten thousand years', Fortune-longevity character and Golden Yellow

Reverse of bronze mirror, 8th

century, Tang dynasty, showing a
dragon with three toes on each
foot

etc."[33]
The Hongwu Emperor of the Ming dynasty emulated the Yuan dynasty rules on the use of the dragon motif
and decreed that the dragon would be his emblem and that it would have five claws. The four-clawed dragon
would become typically for imperial nobility and certain high-ranking officials. The three clawed dragon
was used by lower ranks and the general public (widely seen on various Chinese goods in the Ming
dynasty). The dragon, however, was only for select royalty closely associated with the imperial family,
usually in various symbolic colors, while it was a capital offense for anyone other than the emperor
himself to ever use the completely gold-colored, five-clawed Long dragon motif. Improper use of claw

number or colors was considered treason, punishable by execution of the offender's entire clan. The
convention was carried into the Qing dynasty, and portraits of the Qing emperors were usually depicted with
five-clawed dragons.

Cultural references
Number nine

A close up view of one full dragon (and the tail end and claw of another) from the Nine Dragons handscroll painted in
AD 1244 by Chen Rong, an artist of the Song Dynasty

The number nine is special in China as it is seen as number of the heaven, and Chinese dragons are
frequently connected with it. For example, a Chinese dragon is normally described in terms of nine attributes
and usually has 117 (9x13) scales - 81 (9x9) Yang and 36 (9x4) Yin. This is also why there are nine forms of
the dragon and there are 9 sons of the dragon (see Classical depictions above). The Nine-Dragon Wall is a
spirit wall with images of nine different dragons, and is found in imperial Chinese palaces and gardens.
Because nine was considered the number of the emperor, only the most senior officials were allowed to wear
nine dragons on their robes and then only with the robe completely covered with surcoats. Lower-ranking
officials had eight or five dragons on their robes, again covered with surcoats; even the emperor himself
wore his dragon robe with one of its nine dragons hidden from view.
There are a number of places in China called "Nine Dragons", the most famous being Kowloon (in
Cantonese) in Hong Kong. The part of the Mekong in Vietnam is known as Cu Long, with the same
meaning.

Chinese zodiac
The Dragon is one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac which is used to designate years in the Chinese
calendar. It is thought that each animal is associated with certain personality traits. Dragon years are usually
the most popular to have children. There are more people born in Dragon years than in any other animal
years of the zodiac.

Constellations
The Azure Dragon - Qing Long - is considered to be the primary of the four celestial guardians, the
other three being the Zhu Que - (Vermilion Bird), Bai Hu - (White Tiger), Xuan Wu -
(Black Tortoise-like creature). In this context, the Azure Dragon is associated with the East and the element

of Wood.

Dragonboat racing
Main article Dragon boat
At special festivals, especially the Duanwu Festival, dragon boat races are an important part of festivities.
Typically, these are boats paddled by a team of up to 20 paddlers with a drummer and steersman. The boats
have a carved dragon as the head and tail of the boat. Dragon boat racing is also an important part of
celebrations outside of China, such as at Chinese New Year. A similar racing is popular in India in the state
of Kerala called Vallamkali and there are records on Chinese traders visiting the seashores of Kerala
centuries back (Ibn Batuta).

Dragon dancing
Main article Dragon dance
On auspicious occasions, including Chinese New Year and the opening
of shops and residences, festivities often include dancing with dragon
puppets. These are "life sized" cloth-and-wood puppets manipulated by
a team of people, supporting the dragon with poles. They perform
choreographed moves to the accompaniment of drums, drama, and
music. They also wore good clothing made of silk.

Dragons and ngas

In many Buddhist countries, the concept of the nga has been merged
with local traditions of great and wise serpents or dragons, as depicted
in this stairway image of a multi-headed nga emerging from the mouth
of a Makara in the style of a Chinese dragon at Phra Maha Chedi Chai
Mongkol on the premises of Wat Pha Namthip Thep Prasit Vararam in
Thailand's Roi Et Province Nong Phok District.

Detail of an embroidered silk

gauze ritual garment from a 4thcentury BC Zhou era tomb at
Mashan, Hubei province, China.
The flowing, curvilinear design
incorporates dragons, phoenixes,
and tigers.

Dragons and tigers

The tiger is considered to be the eternal rival to the dragon, thus various
artworks depict a dragon and tiger fighting an epic battle. A well used
Chinese idiom to describe equal rivals (often in sports nowadays) is
"Dragon versus Tiger". In Chinese martial arts, "Dragon style" is used
to describe styles of fighting based more on understanding movement,
while "Tiger style" is based on brute strength and memorization of
techniques.

Dragons and botany

'Dragon's-Claw Elm', Fengtai,

1908

The elm cultivar Ulmus pumila 'Pendula', from northern China, called 'Weeping Chinese Elm' in the West, is
known locally as Lung chao y shu (: 'Dragon's-claw elm') owing to its branching.[34][35]

Chinese dragons in popular culture

As a part of traditional folklore, dragons appear in a variety of mythological fiction. In the classical novel
Journey to the West, the son of the Dragon King of the West was condemned to serve as a horse for the
travellers because of his indiscretions at a party in the heavenly court. Sun Wukong's staff, the Ruyi Jingu
Bang, was robbed from Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea. In Fengshen Yanyi and other stories,
Nezha, the boy hero, defeats the Dragon Kings and tames the seas. Chinese dragons also appear in
innumerable Japanese anime movies and television shows, manga, and in Western political cartoons as a
personification of the People's Republic of China. The Chinese respect for dragons is emphasized in Naomi
Novik's Temeraire novels, where they were the first people to tame dragons and are treated as equals,
intellectuals, or even royalty, rather than beasts solely bred for war in the West. Manda is a large Chinese
dragon that appears in the Godzilla storyline. A golden three-headed dragon also appears in the comic book
series God Is Dead.
Red dragon is a symbol of China which appears in many mahjong games.
A Chinese Water-Dragon is used as the main antagonist in Season 3 of the Australian television series Mako
Mermaids. The Dragon is heavily based on Chinese Mythology to coincide with a new Chinese mermaid on
the show.

Regional variations across Asia

While depictions of the dragon in art and literature are consistent throughout the cultures in which it is
found, there are some regional differences.
For more information on peculiarities in the depiction of the dragon in other Asian cultures, see:
Druk, the Thunder Dragon of Bhutanese mythology
Japanese dragon
Korean dragon
Nga (or Naga), a Hindu and Buddhist deity often depicted as a king cobra
Makara, Sea Dragon in Hindu and Buddhist mythology
Yaazhi South Indian or Tamil mythical creature
Vietnamese dragon
Nepalese dragon as depicted with Bahirav
Bakunawa, a moon-eating sea dragon depicted in Philippine mythology.

Gallery

Non-Imperial Chinese
dragon in Shanghai

Nine-Dragon Wall,
Datong (detail)

Mini-Sculpture of a
Dragon on top of a
temple in Hsinchu,
Taiwan

Giant dragon statues

surrounded by the sea at
Sanggar Agung Temple,
Surabaya, Indonesia

The Chinese dragon

statue at Vihara
Dharmayana Kuta, Bali

See also
An Instinct for Dragons, hypothesis about the origin of dragon myths.
Chinese mythology
Fish in Chinese mythology
List of dragons in mythology and folklore
Long Mu (Dragon's Mother)
Radical 212
Snakes in Chinese mythology, mostly about less-dragonish types
China Dragon - hockey team playing in the Asia League Ice Hockey

References
Citations
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2. Diktter, Frank (10 November 1997). The Construction of Racial Identities in China and Japan. C Hurst & Co
Publishers Ltd. pp. 7677. ISBN 978-1850652878.
3. "Imperial Dragons". Kyoto National Museum.
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ISBN 9789047418573.
5. Sleeboom, Margaret. [2004] (2004). Academic Nations in China and Japan Framed in concepts of Nature, Culture
and the Universal. Routledge publishing. ISBN 0-415-31545-X
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7. BBC Article: Fiery Debate Over China's Dragon (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6171963.stm), an article
covering China's decision not to use a dragon mascot and the resulting disappointment.
8. "The Mongolian Message".
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d=-WzMCQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover1). Ultravisum, 2015.
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of New York Press. p. 126. ISBN 0-7914-5047-3.
11. Teaching Chinese Archeology (http://www.nga.gov/education/chinatp_sl01.htm), National Gallery of Art,
Washington, DC
12. Salviati, Filippo (2002). The Language of Adornment: Chinese Ornaments of Jade, Crystal, Amber and Glass, Fig.
17. Ten Speed Press. ISBN 1-58008-587-3.
13. Dong Zhiming (1992). Dinosaurian Faunas of China. China Ocean Press, Beijing. ISBN 3-540-52084-8.

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Zhiya Hua. Dragon's Name: A Folk Religion in a Village in South-Central Hebei Province. Shanghai People's
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"Jade coiled dragon, Hongshan Culture (c. 4700-2920 B.C.)" (http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/china1999/037_010.ht
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Carr, Michael. 1990. "Chinese Dragon Names" (http://sealang.net/sala/archives/pdf4/carr1990chinese.pdf),
Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 13.2:87-189. He classified them into seven categories: Rain-dragons, Flyingdragons, Snake-dragons, Wug-dragons [wug refers to "worms, bugs, and small reptiles"], Crocodile-dragons, Hilldragons, and Miscellaneous dragons.
Adapted from Dor 682.
de Visser 1913, pp. 101102. The primary source is Wu Za Zu, chapter 9, beginning with "...". The title of
Xie Zhaozhe's work, Wu Za Zu, has been variously translated into English as Five Assorted Offerings (in Xie
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on Politics, Diplomacy, and the Military ... (http://jhmas.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pdf_extract/57/2/177?ck=nck)") or
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(Wu Sansheng) (2006), (Eight thousand words and expressions viewed against the
background of Chinese culture) (in Chinese), () (Commercial Press, Hong Kong), p. 345,
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(1) (http://vip.book.sina.com.cn/book/chapter_69989_55313.html) ("Chapter
9, Dragon's derived and associated creatures: Nine children of the dragon (1)"), in Yang Jingrong and Liu Zhixiong
(2008). The full text of Shuyuan Zaji, from which Yang and Liu quote, is available in electronic format at a number
of sites, e.g. here: (http://xxgblog.tcip.net.cn/index.php/56/viewspace-3024.html)
CCT4243: 2012 lunar dragon nine sons of the dragon 20 coin set (https://www.coincompendium.com/w/index.php/C
CT4243)
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Sources
Nikaido, Yoshihiro (2015). Asian Folk Religion and Cultural Interaction. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
ISBN 3847004859.
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Tom, K. S. (1989). Echoes from Old China: Life, Legends, and Lore of the Middle Kingdom.
University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824812859.

External links

Media related to Chinese dragon at Wikimedia Commons

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National symbols of China National personifications Monsters Dragons Asian legendary creatures
Heraldic beasts
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