Some of you may have noticed that the Chinese and western dragons are distinct in ways beyond just their image. Aside from the obvious visual differences, this blog has a wealth of other information about the Chinese dragon to glean from.
There are as many aspects of the Chinese language and culture to master as there are of dragons. Dragons have been a staple of Chinese art from the dawn of Chinese civilization. Depictions of this creature can be seen in nearly every medium, from sculpture to paintings.
For example, there are several occasions in Chinese culture where a dragon dance is performed, including Chinese New Year, when it is believed that the year would be prosperous for businesses. The dance is performed to honor the dragon gods and to pray for their blessing for the coming business year.
We’re here to let you know that a wide variety of Chinese dragons are out there. But before we rush onto that list, let’s get a handle on what distinguishes Chinese dragons from their Western counterparts.
Chinese Dragon VS Western Dragon
The Western or European dragon is often shown as a gigantic, fire-breathing scaly, horned lizard-like monster with leathery, bat-like wings, four legs, and a long, muscular, prehensile tail, especially in and after the early Middle Ages. Dragon’s blood is said to have remarkable capabilities in several folktales, such as extending a dragon’s life or making its drinker very toxic or poisonous.
In Christian mythology, the dragon guards a treasure palace or a cavern. Generally speaking, nice dragons are thought to offer encouragement or good advice, whereas evil ones are linked to heroic figures who try to destroy them.
In Chinese mythology, folklore, and popular culture, the dragon (龙, Lóng, sometimes pronounced as loong, or lung – ) plays a significant role. Some depictions of Chinese dragons are of turtles or fish, but the four-legged snake kind is by far the most common.
Experts have settled on four competing explanations for the Chinese dragon’s creation: snakes, Chinese alligators, thunder, and respect for nature. Furthermore, as we shall see below, the dragon in Chinese culture typically denotes good fortune, which may differ from Western cultures.
What Do Chinese Dragons Symbolize?
As a traditional Chinese sign of strength and good fortune, they are often associated with the ability to control the elements of nature, such as the weather and water flow. Imperial China’s emperors frequently employed dragon imagery to demonstrate their authority and power.
In the modern day, the Chinese dragon symbolizes good fortune, power, and health. It also represents Yang, the masculine principle. Furthermore, there are more births in the Chinese zodiac year of the dragon than any other animal since the dragon is the sole legendary creature in the calendar.
Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that many Chinese sayings and idioms include references to dragons, such as “Hoping one’s child would become a dragon,” or 望子成龙, wàng zǐ chéng lóng .
There Are Five Distinct Dragon Colors, Did You Know That?
Chinese dragons have been categorized in several ways by Chinese academics. For example, Song dynasty Emperor Huizong recognized five different colored dragons as “kings.” So, let’s see how to call those dragons in the Chinese language.
The Many Types Of Chinese Dragons
There are several different habitats for Chinese dragons. For instance, there is the heavenly dragon, who resides in the heavens, and the seagoing, coiled dragon, who calls the depths of the ocean home. According to Chinese mythology, some dragons inhabit the ocean, while others fly through the clouds.
Check out the table below for some instances of Chinese dragons so you can learn to identify them accurately.
In Summary
Dragons are a fascinating part of Chinese culture and have existed since ancient times. We’ve discovered together that dragons heavily influence Chinese Chinese culture. Therefore, familiarity with the Chinese dragon is similar to familiarity with the local culture. We hope this blog will inspire you to study the Chinese language so that you may one day discuss Chinese dragons with the locals.
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