Chinese dragons are powerful and benevolent symbols in Chinese culture, with supposed control over water phenomena, such as summoning rain during a drought. Dragons are everywhere in China: in legends, festivals, astrology, art, names, and idiomatic expressions.
Dragons are seen in Chinese symbolism as lucky and good, very different from the evil, dangerous, fire-breathing dragons of most Western stories.
1. The Origin of the Dragon in China
A series of legends about the origin of the dragon emerged in the course of Chinese history, of which the totem cult theory is more popular than the others.
The Yellow Emperor (Huangdi, a legendary tribal leader) waged a series of wars against nine tribes in the Yellow River Valley and incorporated the totems of the other tribes into his own dragon totem after defeating them.
This explains why the dragon has attributes belonging to nine other creatures: eyes like a shrimp, antlers like a deer, a large mouth like a bull, a nose like a dog, whiskers like a catfish, a lion’s mane, a long tail like a snake, scales like a fish, and claws like a hawk.
2. The Chinese dragon in mythology.
Its origins are still uncertain, and there are several academic opinions. Some believe that it originated from the serpent or Nuwa, a mythological Chinese goddess with a serpent’s tail and a human torso. Others believe that the dragon was formed by integrating the symbols of several tribes that united in the past into a single animal.
The Chinese people began to make offerings to this mythological being in times of drought, as it was believed to bring rain, as in the legend of the creation of the Chinese rivers. Later, pottery and other utensils related to dragon decoration became symbols of good fortune, greatness, and wisdom.
The Chinese dragon, unlike the Western dragon, is a kind and wise creature, not a representation of evil. It makes crops prosper, not destroy them. The dragon is an aquatic creature that lives in seas and rivers, so it does not breathe fire. It has no wings, but it can fly with its magic.
3. The 9 types of Chinese dragons
According to Chinese mythology, the dragon has nine children with different personalities, and their images are widely used in architectural decoration, especially in imperial palaces. The nine children are often used in decorations and sculptures on buildings.
The work of the nine Chinese dragons
- The Tianlong (celestial dragon): protects the celestial palace.
- Shenlong (spiritual dragon): controls the wind, rain, and clouds. It is blue.
- Fucanglong (dragon of hidden treasures): they live underground protecting precious stones and rare minerals.
- Dilong (dragon of the underworld): earth dragons that run rivers or streams. They are said to be the female counterparts of the Shenlong and can appear with them.
- Yinglong (winged dragon): According to legend, he was a servant of the Yellow Emperor who became a dragon forever.
- Jiaolong (the name is very ambiguous, it can mean water dragon, mother dragon, snake dragon): a reptile-like water dragon. It is the most primitive type.
- Panlong (spiral dragon): A water dragon similar to Jiaolong. It also controls the weather.
- Huanglong (Yellow Dragon): It is said that the Yellow Emperor will become this dragon at the end of his life. It is also said that the yellow dragon taught the goddess Fuxi how to write and that she controls the seasons and time. Its element is earth.
- Long Wang (dragon king): According to mythology, there are only four dragons. Each one owns a sea of China and lives in crystal palaces under the sea. They can also manipulate the weather and cause rain.
Names of the 9 types of Chinese dragons
- Bixi: He is the largest of the Chinese dragons, shaped like a turtle with sharp teeth, fond of carrying heavy objects, often found in tombs and monuments.
- Qiuniu: a yellow, scaly dragon who loves and excels at music; he often adorns musical instruments.
- Yazi: This Chinese dragon has a snake’s belly and a leopard’s head. He is interested in fighting and killing and often decorates sword hilts.
- Chaofeng: instinctively adventurous; often adorns the roof ridges of palaces.
- Pulao: Known for its loud cry; often found on bell handles.
- Chiwen: Lives in the sea, with a harsh voice, delights in devouring creatures; often found on the edges of palace eaves.
- Bi’an: likes fighting, often found near prison doors.
- Suanni: lion-shaped, delights in sitting cross-legged and smelling incense; often found on incense burners and seats in Buddhist temples.
- Fuxi: this is another of the major Chinese dragons; he is often engraved on stone tablets.
4. Symbols of the Chinese dragon
Dragons are found in many aspects of Chinese culture, from legends about Chinese ancestry to modern mascots, from festival events to astrology and idioms.
Ancestor of the Chinese people
It was said that thousands of years ago, Yandi (a legendary tribal leader) was born through telepathy between his mother and a powerful dragon. With the help of the dragon, and allied with Huangdi (a legendary tribal leader), they ushered in the dawn of Chinese civilization; Yandi and Huangdi were then considered the ancestors of the Chinese people.
Over time, the Chinese have referred to themselves as the descendants of Yandi and Huangdi, as well as the descendants of the Chinese dragon.
A spirit of “relentless and pioneering”
The dragon has been transformed from an imaginary prodigy to a mascot from ancient times to the present. It represents the relentless and pioneering spirit of the Chinese people in keeping pace with the times.
Dragons are not only prevalent in China, but are also very popular among Chinese people living abroad; they have become the symbol of China and Chinese culture.
5. The dragon in the Chinese zodiac
The dragon is one of the most important mythological animals in the Chinese horoscope. Symbolizing fortune and good luck, people born in the year of the dragon are often charismatic, strong-willed, proud, and noble. But they are also sentimental and generous with their family and those most important to the dragon sign.
It is also said that the yellow dragon taught the goddess Fuxi how to write and that she controls the seasons and time. Its element is earth.
Emperors in ancient China were identified as sons of dragons. At that time, ordinary people were not allowed to have items with images of dragons on them.
Chinese zodiac sign of the Dragon: each year within each 12-year cycle of the lunar calendar is represented in Chinese mythology by one of the 12 animals. People born in the years 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, or 2024 belong to the Dragon zodiac sign.
6. Associated with festivals and celebrations
Dragon dance A dragon dance. The dragon dance is performed at many celebrations, such as Chinese New Year. In general, there is a long dragon, up to 70 meters long, made of bamboo hoops covered with bright fabrics and held up by dancers.
7. The importance of the dragon in Chinese culture
Time was highly revered by the people, so much so that even today the dragon dance is performed (a dance performed by several people who hold a dragon and make it move). This dance can be seen at the Chinese New Year festival.
Because they were so revered, Chinese emperors (from the Han and Qin dynasties) took the dragon as an imperial symbol and even forbade others from using the dragon symbol (which is why the communists later associated the Chinese dragon with imperialism and tried to impose it). The panda as a symbol).
8. Evolution of Chinese dragons
Chinese dragons do not exist in real life, but you can see many dragon elements in China. The following three suggestions are just a few examples of where Chinese dragons “exist.”
In ancient imperial buildings such as the Forbidden City
The Chinese dragon symbolizes the sovereignty of emperors, and everything related to it was exclusively for emperors in feudal Chinese society. Ancient emperors called their sons “dragon seeds,” their robes were “dragon robes,” and their chairs were “dragon chairs.”
When you enter the Forbidden City, you can see elements of Chinese dragons almost everywhere: the nine sons of the dragon on the golden roof, on the stone floor, the decoration of the imperial chair, wooden sculptures on pillars and handrails.
Embroidery on imperial robes and museum artifacts
When you visit a Chinese museum with ancient relics, you can see many imperial garments embroidered with Chinese dragons.
You may find them boring, because they all look the same. But if you pay attention to the color, the number of fingers, and the gestures of each dragon, you will find that they are different.
The dragon pattern on an emperor’s robe has four legs with five toes on each, while the dragon on a vassal’s robe only has four toes on each leg, highlighting the supremacy of the ancient emperors.
Dragons in Chinese opera
There are many Chinese opera performances with “dragon” in the title. In addition, you can see Chinese dragons on imperial robes in an opera performance when there are roles representing an imperial family.
