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
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]
State symbol
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
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]
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]
Jade-carved dragon
garment ornament from
the Warring States
period (403 BC-221
BC).
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
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.
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]
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,
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.
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
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.
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]
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.
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
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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December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
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".
9. Dr Zai, J. Taoism and Science: Cosmology, Evolution, Morality, Health and more (https://books.google.com/books?i
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.
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838-841. doi:10.1038/news041011-7 (https://dx.doi.org/10.1038%2Fnews041011-7)
de Visser, Marinus Willem (1913), The Dragon in China and Japan, Verhandelingen der Koninklijke akademie van
wetenschappen te Amsterdam. Afdeeling Letterkunde. Nieuwe reeks, deel xiii, no. 2, Amsterdam: Johannes Mller,
p. 70 (Also available at University of Georgia Library (http://fax.libs.uga.edu/GR830xD7xV8/))
Dor, Henri. 1917. Researches into Chinese Superstitions (http://openlibrary.org/b/OL13587109M/Researches-intoChinese-superstitions). M. Kennelly, D.J. Finn, and L.F. McGreat, trs. T'usewei. Ch'eng-wen reprint 1966, 681.
Tom (1989), p. 55.
Hayes, L. (1923). The Chinese Dragon. Shanghai, China: Commercial Press Ltd. Retrieved from
https://archive.org/stream/chinesedragon00hayeuoft#page/n7/mode/2up
Zhiya Hua. Dragon's Name: A Folk Religion in a Village in South-Central Hebei Province. Shanghai People's
Publishing House, 2013. ISBN 7208113297
"Chinese Dragon". The Walters Art Museum.
Hung-Sying Jing, Allen Batteau. The Dragon in the Cockpit: How Western Aviation Concepts Conflict with ... Taylor
& Francis. p. 83. ISBN 9781317035299.
John Onians (26 April 2004). Atlas of World Art. Laurence King Publishing. p. 46. ISBN 978-1856693776.
"Jade coiled dragon, Hongshan Culture (c. 4700-2920 B.C.)" (http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/china1999/037_010.ht
m), National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Retrieved on 23-02-2007.
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
Zhaozhe (http://www.renditions.org/renditions/authors/xiezz.html)), Five Sundry Bands (in "Disease and Its Impact
on Politics, Diplomacy, and the Military ... (http://jhmas.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pdf_extract/57/2/177?ck=nck)") or
Five Miscellanies (in Changing clothes in China: fashion, history, nation (https://books.google.com/books?id=Ju3N4
VeiQ28C&pg=PA48), p. 48).
(Wu Sansheng) (2006), (Eight thousand words and expressions viewed against the
background of Chinese culture) (in Chinese), () (Commercial Press, Hong Kong), p. 345,
ISBN 962-07-1846-1
(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)
"Famous Japanese Dragons".
"". The History of Yuan.
"". The History of Yuan, Emperor Shundi (), compiled under Song Lian
(), AD 1370. ""
U. pumila 'Pendula', 'Inventory of Seeds and Plants Imported ... AprilJune 1915' (March 1918), arsgrin.gov/npgs/pi_books/scans/pi043.pdf
U. pumila 'Pendula', "". Cfh.ac.cn. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
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Nikaido, Yoshihiro (2015). Asian Folk Religion and Cultural Interaction. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
ISBN 3847004859.
Overmyer, Daniel L. (2009). Local Religion in North China in the Twentieth Century: The Structure
and Organization of Community Rituals and Beliefs. Brill. ISBN 900417592X.
Tom, K. S. (1989). Echoes from Old China: Life, Legends, and Lore of the Middle Kingdom.
University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824812859.
External links
Categories: Chinese culture Chinese mythology Chinese dragons Chinese legendary creatures
National symbols of China National personifications Monsters Dragons Asian legendary creatures
Heraldic beasts
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