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Encyclopedia > Chinese Dragons
Chinese dragons
Chinese dragons

The Chinese dragon or Oriental dragon (Traditional:龍; Simplifed:龙; pinyin: lóng; Cantonese Yale: lùhng; Japanese: ryū or tatsu 竜; Korean: ryong; hangul: 룡; Thai: มังกรจีน mungkorn; Vietnamese: Rồng) is a mythical Chinese creature that also appears in other East Asian cultures. Usually depicted as a long, snake-like creature with numerous claws, it has long been a potent symbol of auspicious power in Chinese folklore and art. It is also the embodiment of the concept of yang and associated with the weather as the bringer of rain and water in general. Source: http://www. ... Source: http://www. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiǎntǐzì; also called 简化字/簡化字, jiǎnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... The Yale romanizations are four systems created during World War II for use by United States military personnel. ... Hangul also refers to a word processing application widely used in Korea. ... // The word mythology (Greek: μυθολογία, from μυθος mythos, a story or legend, and λογος logos, an account or speech) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use supernatural events or characters to explain the nature of the universe and humanity. ... Geographic scope of East Asia East Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms. ... Taoists Taijitu The concept of yin and yang (Traditional Chinese: 陰陽; Simplified Chinese: 阴阳; Pinyin: yÄ«nyáng; Korean hangul: 음양; hanja: 陰陽; revised: eumyang; McCune-Reischauer: Å­myang; Vietnamese: ; Japanese: ; Thai: ) originates in ancient Chinese philosophy and metaphysics, which describes two primal opposing but complementary forces found in all things in the universe. ...


The dragon is sometimes used in the West as a national emblem of China. However, this usage within both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan is extremely rare. Firstly, the dragon was the sign of the Emperor, and was on the national flag of the late Qing dynasty. These monarchist connotations run counter to recent Chinese ideologies. Secondly, the dragon has aggressive, warlike connotations which Chinese governments wish to avoid. It is for the latter reason that the giant panda is far more often used within China as a national emblem than the dragon. A national emblem symbolically represents a nation. ... Motto: None Anthem: National Anthem of the ROC Capital Taipei City (de facto) Nanjing (de jure) 1 Largest city Taipei City Official language(s) Mandarin (Guoyü) Government • President • Vice President • Premier Multiparty democracy Chen Shui-bian Annette Lu Su Tseng-chang Establishment • Xinhai Revolution Declared  October 10, 1911 Established  January... The emperor or huángdì (皇帝) of China was the head of government and head of state of China from the Qin dynasty in 221 BC until the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911. ... This is a list of current and historical flags used in the geographic area of China, including both the Peoples Republic of China (Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau) and the Republic of China (Taiwan). ... The Qing Dynasty (Manchu: daicing gurun; Chinese: 清朝; Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: ching chao), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was a dynasty founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China, expanded into China proper and the surrounding territories of Inner Asia, establishing the Empire... The United States detonated an atomic bomb over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, effectively ending World War II. The bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima (on August 6) immediately killed between 100,000 and 200,000 people and are the only known instances nuclear weapons have ever been used in war. ... This article is on the politics of Mainland China. ... Binomial name Ailuropoda melanoleuca (David, 1869) The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca black-and-white cat-foot) is a mammal classified in the bear family, Ursidae, native to central and southern China. ...


Despite this, the dragon still commands much respect in the Chinese culture. It is a taboo to disfigure a depiction of a dragon; for example, an advertisement campaign commissioned by Nike, which featured the American basketball player LeBron James slaying a dragon (as well as beating up an old Kung Fu master), was immediately censored by the Chinese government after public outcry over the disrespect of the dragon. Moreover, Chinese people often use the term "Descendants of the dragon" as a sign of ethnic identity. This is the current collaboration of the week! Please help improve it to featured article standard. ... A taboo is a strong social prohibition (or ban) relating to any area of human activity or social custom declared as sacred and forbidden; breaking of the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society. ... Generally speaking, advertising is the paid promotion of goods, services, companies and ideas by an identified sponsor. ... Nike, Inc. ... Sara Giauro shoots a three-point shot, FIBA Europe Cup for Women Finals 2005 For other uses, see Basketball (disambiguation). ... LeBron Raymone James (IPA: , born December 30, 1984 in Akron, Ohio), commonly nicknamed King James or The Chosen One, is an American All-Star NBA basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. ... Alternative meaning: Kung Fu (TV series) Kung fu or gongfu (功夫, Pinyin: gōngfu) is a well-known Chinese term used in the West to designate Chinese martial arts. ... This article is on the politics of Mainland China. ...


A number of Chinese proverbs and idioms also feature references to the dragon, for example: "Hoping one's child will become a dragon (望子成龍, ie. be as successful and powerful as a dragon)". This article is in need of improvement. ... An idiom is an expression (i. ...

Non-imperial Chinese dragon
Non-imperial Chinese dragon

Contents

Three or four toe dragon at a former private garden in Shanghai, China Image taken late September, 2002 by User:Leonard G. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Three or four toe dragon at a former private garden in Shanghai, China Image taken late September, 2002 by User:Leonard G. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...


Dragon Worship

Origin

There is no consensus on the origin of mythical Chinese dragon, but many scholars agree that it came from totems of different tribes in China. Some have suggested that it comes from a stylized depiction of existing animals, such as snakes, fish, or crocodiles. For example, the Banpo site of the Yangshao culture in Shaanxi featured an elongated, snake-like fish motif. Archaeologists believe the "long fish" to have evolved into images of the Chinese dragon. The association with fish is reflected in the legend that a carp which is able to leap over the mythical "Dragon Gate" would become a dragon. Several waterfalls and cataracts in China are believed to be the location of the Dragon Gate. This legend is used as an allegory for the drive and effort needed to overcome obstacles and achieve success. A totem is any natural or supernatural object, being or animal which has personal symbolic meaning to an individual and to whose phenomena and energy one feels closely associated with during ones life. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Yangshao culture (仰韶文化) was a Neolithic culture that existed extensively along the central Yellow River in China. ... Shaanxi (Simplified Chinese: 陕西; Traditional Chinese: 陝西; Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Shan-hsi; Postal System Pinyin: Shensi, pronounced like Shahn-shee) is a north-central province of the Peoples Republic of China, and includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River as well as the Qinling... Genera Abramis Aristichthys Barbodes Carassius Cirrhinus Ctenopharyngodon Cyprinus Epalzeorhynchos Henicorhynchus Hypophthalmichthys Labeo Mylopharyngodon and others A carp is any of various freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. ...


An alternative view, advocated by He Xin, is that the early dragon depicted a species of crocodile. Specifically, Crocodilus Porosis, an ancient, giant crocodile. The crocodile is known to be able to accurately sense changes in air pressure, and be able to sense coming rain. This may have been the origin of the dragon's mythical attributes in controlling the weather, especially the rain. In addition, there is evidence of crocodile worship in the ancient civilizations in Babylon, India, and Maya. The association with the crocodile is also supported by the view in ancient times that large crocodiles are a variety of dragon. For example, in the Story of Zhou Chu, about the life of a Jin Dynasty warrior, he is said to have killed a "dragon" that infested the waters of his home village, which appears to have been a crocodile. Babylon is the Greek variant of Akkadian Babilu (bāb-ilû, meaning Gateway of the god, translating Sumerian Kadingirra), an ancient city in Mesopotamia (modern Al Hillah, Iraq). ... The word Maya or maya can refer to: The Maya – a Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America the modern Maya people the pre-Columbian Maya civilization the Maya language Maya – a concept in Hindu/Vedic philosophy a state of misperception of reality the inherent force of... Jin may refer to: Jin Dynasty (265-420) Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) (Jinn) Jin, a state in China during the Spring and Autumn Period Later Jin Dynasty, founded in 1616 by Nurhaci Jin, a ruler of the Xia dynasty The Jin state of late Bronze Age Korea Jin, Chinese American...


Others have proposed that its shape is the merger of totems of various tribes as the result of the merger of tribes. Some scholars report that the first legendary emperor of China Huang Di (Yellow Emperor) used a snake for his coat of arms. Every time he conquered another tribe, he incorporated his defeated enemy's emblem into his own. That explains why the dragon appears to have features of various animals. Yellow Emperor The Yellow Emperor (黄帝 Hu ng D ) is a Chinese mythical character, a culture hero said in legend to be the ancestor of all Chinese people. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ...


There is no apparent connection to the western dragon. Saint George versus the dragon, Gustave Moreau, c. ...


The dragon as mythical creature

From its origins as totems or the stylized depiction of natural creatures, the Chinese dragon evolved to become a mythical animal. By the Han Dynasty, the dragon's appearance is described as having a body of a snake; the scales and tail of a fish; the antlers of a stag; the face of a camel; and two pairs of talons of eagles; ears of a bull; feet of a tiger and the eyes of a demon. It has a flaming pearl under its chin. Chinese dragons are occasionally depicted with bat-like wings growing out of the front limbs, but most do not have wings. The Han Dynasty (Traditional Chinese: 漢朝; Simplified Chinese: 汉朝; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Han Chau; 206 BC–AD 220) followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. ... Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenopeltidae Typhlopoidea Anomalepididae Leptotyphlopidae Typhlopidae Xenophidia Acrochordidae Atractaspididae Colubridae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Viperidae Snakes (from Old English snaca, and ultimately from PIE base *snag- or *sneg-, to crawl), also known as ophidians, are cold blooded legless reptiles closely... Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus: one of the most abundant species of fish in the world. ... Genera About 15 in 4 subfamilies. ... Species Camelus bactrianus Camelus dromedarius A camel is either of the two species of large even-toed ungulate in the genus Camelus, the Dromedary (single hump) and the Bactrian Camel (double hump). ... Genera Several, see below. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (called cows in vernacular usage, kine archaic, or ky as the Scots plural of coo) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... Binomial name Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) Tigers (Panthera tigris) are mammals of the Felidae family and one of four big cats in the panthera genus. ...


This description accords with the artistic depictions of the dragon down to the present day. The dragon has also acquired a wide range of supernatural powers. It is said to be able to disguise itself as a silkworm, or be so large that it covers the sky. It can fly among the clouds or hide in water (according to the Guanzi). It can form clouds, can turn into water or fire, can become invisible or glow in the dark (according to the Shuowen Jiezi). a version of Shuowen Jiezi Shuōwén Jiězì (說文解字, Explaining Simple and Analyzing Compound Characters) was the first Chinese character dictionary, compiled by Xǔ Shèn between 100 CE and 121 CE in Han Dynasty China. ...


The dragon as ruler of weather and water

Main article: Dragon King

Chinese dragons are strongly associated with water in popular belief. They are believed to be the rulers of moving bodies of water, such as waterfalls, rivers, or seas. They can show themselves as water spouts (tornado or twister over water). 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. The four Dragon Kings (龍王; pinyin: L ng W ng) are, in Chinese mythology, the divine rulers of the four seas (each sea corresponds to one of the cardinal directions). ... Union City, Oklahoma tornado (1973) A tornado is a violently rotating column of air which is in contact with both a cumulonimbus (or, in rare cases, cumulus) cloud base and the surface of the earth. ... Anthropomorphism, also referred to as personification or prosopopeia, is the attribution of human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, forces of nature, and others. ...


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 Indian Ocean and beyond), and the North Sea (sometimes seen as Lake Baikal). The four Dragon Kings (龍王; pinyin: Lóng Wáng) are, in Chinese mythology, the divine rulers of the four seas (each sea corresponds to one of the cardinal directions). ... The East China Sea is a marginal sea and part of the Pacific Ocean. ... The South China Sea, showing surrounding countries and neighbouring seas and oceans The South China Sea is a marginal sea, part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the Strait of Taiwan of around 3,500,000 km². It is the largest sea body after the five... Lake Baikal The Yenisei River basin, Lake Baikal, and the cities of Dikson, Dudinka, Turukhansk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk Lake Baikal is the largest (by volume), deepest and oldest freshwater lake in the world. ...


Because of this association, they are seen as "in charge" of water-related weather phenomenon. 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 Wu-Yue 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 seas. Kingdom of Wuyue (Traditional Chinese: 吳越國; Simplified Chinese: 吴越国, Pinyin: Wuyueguo), 852-988 AD, was a small independent coastal kingdom founded by King Qian Liu and covered what is today Shanghai, all of Zhejiang Province, the southern portion of Jiangsu Province, and (later) the northern portion of Fujian Province. ... Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (Traditional Chinese: 五代十國 Simplified Chinese: 五代十国 Hanyu pinyin: Wǔdàishíguó) (907-960) was a period of political upheaval in China, between the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty. ... The four Dragon Kings (龍王; pinyin: L ng W ng) are, in Chinese mythology, the divine rulers of the four seas (each sea corresponds to one of the cardinal directions). ...


The dragon as symbol of imperial authority

An imperial robe from Qing Dynasty
An imperial robe from Qing Dynasty

At the end of his reign, the first legendary emperor Huang Di was said to have been immortalized into a dragon that resembled his emblem, and ascended to Heaven. Since the Chinese consider Huang Di as their ancestor, they sometimes refer to themselves as "the descendants of the dragons". This legend also contributed towards the use of the Chinese dragon as a symbol of imperial power. Download high resolution version (480x640, 154 KB)A replica of a Qing Dynasty dragon robe. ... Download high resolution version (480x640, 154 KB)A replica of a Qing Dynasty dragon robe. ... Yellow Emperor The Yellow Emperor (黄帝 Hu ng D ) is a Chinese mythical character, a culture hero said in legend to be the ancestor of all Chinese people. ...


The dragon was a symbol for the emperor in many Chinese dynasties. The imperial throne was called the Dragon Throne. During the late Qing dynasty, the dragon was even adopted as the national flag. It was a capital offense for commoners to wear clothes with a dragon symbol. The dragon is featured in the carvings on the steps of imperial palaces and tombs, such as the Forbidden City. China is the worlds oldest continuous major civilization, with written records dating back about 3,500 years and with 5,000 years being commonly used by Chinese as the age of their civilization. ... The Qing Dynasty (Manchu: daicing gurun; Chinese: 清朝; Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: ching chao), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was a dynasty founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China, expanded into China proper and the surrounding territories of Inner Asia, establishing the Empire... This is a list of current and historical flags used in the geographic area of China, including both the Peoples Republic of China (Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau) and the Republic of China (Taiwan). ... Overview of the Forbidden City The Forbidden City or Forbidden Palace (Chinese: 紫禁城; Pinyin: Zǐjìn Chéng; literally Purple Forbidden City), located at the exact center of the ancient city of Beijing, was the imperial palace during the mid-Ming and the Qing dynasties. ...


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. Chinese mythology is the mythology of Chinese civilization. ... A birthmark, is a blemish on the skin formed before birth. ...


The empress was often identified with the phoenix. Chinese Phoenix sculpture, Nanning city, Guangxi province. ...


Modern belief in the Chinese dragon

In modern times, belief in the dragon appears to be sporadic at best. There appear to be very few who would see the dragon as a literally real creature. The worship of the Dragon Kings as rulers of water and weather continues in many areas, and is deeply ingrained in cultural traditions such as New Year celebrations. The four Dragon Kings (龍王; pinyin: L ng W ng) are, in Chinese mythology, the divine rulers of the four seas (each sea corresponds to one of the cardinal directions). ... Hand-painted Chinese New Years poetry pasted on the sides of doors leading to peoples homes, Old Town, Lijiang, Yunnan. ...


Depictions of the dragon

Neolithic depictions

Dragons or dragon-like depictions have been found extensively in neolithic-period archaeological sites throughout China. Yangshao culture sites in Xi'an have produced clay pots with dragon motifs. The Liangzhu culture also produced dragon-like patterns. The Hongshan culture sites in present-day Inner Mongolia produced jade dragon amulets in the form of pig dragons. Yangshao culture (仰韶文化) was a Neolithic culture that existed extensively along the central Yellow River in China. ... Nickname: Changan Official website: http://www. ... The Liangzhu jade culture (3400-2250 BC) was the last Neolithic jade culture in the Yangtze River delta of China and was spaced over a period of about 1300 years. ... The Hongshan culture (红山文化) was a Neolithic culture in northeastern China. ... Inner Mongolia (Mongolian: ᠥᠪᠦᠷ ᠮᠣᠨᠺᠤᠯᠤᠨ ᠥᠪᠡᠷᠲᠡᠺᠡᠨ ᠵᠠᠰᠠᠬᠤ ᠣᠷᠤᠨ r Mongghul-un bertegen Jasaqu Orun; Chinese: 内蒙古自治区; Hanyu Pinyin: N i Měnggǔ Z qū) is an Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China. ... A pig dragon or zhulong (Chinese 猪龍) is a type of jade artifact from neolithic China. ...


One such early form was the pig dragon. For an example see [1]. It is a coiled, elongated creature with a head resembling a boar. The character for "dragon" in the earliest Chinese writing has a similar coiled form, as do later jade dragon amulets from the Shang period. A pig dragon or zhulong (Chinese 猪龍) is a type of jade artifact from neolithic China. ... Binomial name Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 The Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) is the wild ancestor of the domesticated pig. ... 漢字 Chinese character in hànzì, hanja, kanji. ... A selection of antique, hand-crafted Chinese jadeite jade buttons Jade An ornamental stone, jade is a name applied to two different silicate minerals. ... An amulet from the Black Pullet grimoire An amulet (from Latin amuletum, meaning A means of protection) or a talisman (from Arabic tilasm, ultimately from Greek telesma or from the Greek word talein wich means to initiate into the mysteries. ... Shang Dynasty (Chinese: 商朝) or Yin Dynasty (殷代) (1600 BC - 1046 BC) followed the legendary Xia Dynasty and preceded the Zhou Dynasty (1122 BC - 256 BC) in China. ...


Classical depictions

There are "Nine Classical Types" of dragons as depicted in Chinese art and literature, nine being an auscpicious number in Chinese culture. These are:

  • Tianlong (天龍), The Celestial Dragon
  • Shenlong (神龍), the Spiritual Dragon
  • Fucanglong (伏藏龍), the Dragon of Hidden Treasures
  • Dilong (地龍), the Underground Dragon
  • Yinglong (應龍), the Winged Dragon
  • Jiaolong (虯龍), the Horned Dragon
  • Panlong (蟠龍), the Coiling Dragon: inhabits the waters
  • Huanglong (黃龍), Yellow Dragon, which emerged from the River Luo to show Fuxi the elements of writing
  • Dragon King (龍王)

Besides these, there are Nine Dragon Children, which feature prominently in architectural and monumental decorations: In Chinese mythology, Tianlong or Tien-long (天龍, literally heaven dragon) are the celestial dragons who pull the chariots of the gods and guard their palaces. ... Shenlong (神龍) is a Chinese spiritual dragon that controls wind and rain. ... In Chinese mythology the Futs-Lung (伏藏龍 Pinyin: Fúcánglóng), or Futs-Long, are the Chinese underworld dragons which guard buried treasures, both natural and man-made. ... In Chinese mythology, Dilong or Ti-Lung (地龍; pinyin: dì lóng) are earth dragons whose task it is to preside over rivers and streams. ... Yinglung was a dragon believed to be a powerful servant of Huang Di, the yellow emperor, who was later immortalized as a dragon. ... In Chinese mythology, Qiulong is the horned dragon, one of the nine Chinese dragons. ... In Chinese mythology the Panlong are water dragons believed to mostly inhabit the lakes of the Orient. ... The colorful limestone pools of Huanglonggou and scenic mountains attract many tourists to the Huanglong area. ... Fu Hsi (伏羲; pinyin fú xī; Pao-hsi), was the mythical First Emperor of China. ... The four Dragon Kings (龍王; pinyin: L ng W ng) are, in Chinese mythology, the divine rulers of the four seas (each sea corresponds to one of the cardinal directions). ...

  • The first son is called bixi (贔屭 pinyin: bìxì), which looks like a giant tortoise and is good at carrying weight. It is often found as the carved stone base of monumental tablets.
  • The second son is called chiwen (螭吻 pinyin chǐwěn), which looks like a beast and likes to see very far. It is always found on the roof.
  • The third son is called pulao (蒲牢 pinyin pǔláo), which looks like a small dragon, and likes to roar. Thus it is always found on bells.
  • The fourth son is called bi'an (狴犴 pinyin bì'àn), which looks like a tiger, and is powerful. It is often found on prison doors to frighten the prisoners.
  • The fifth son is called taotie (饕餮 pinyin tāotiè), which loves to eat and is found on food-related wares.
  • The sixth son is called baxia (蚣蝮 pinyin gōngfù or bāxià), which likes to be in water, and is found on bridges.
  • The seventh son is called yazi (睚眥 pinyin yázī), which likes to kill, and is found on swords and knives.
  • The eighth son is called suanni (狻猊 pinyin suānní), which looks like a lion and likes smoke. It is usually found on incense burners.
  • The youngest is called jiaotu (椒圖 pinyin jiāotú), which looks like a conch or clam and does not like to be disturbed. It is used on the front door or the doorstep.

There are two other (inferior) dragon species, the jiao and the li, both hornless. The jiao is sometimes said to be female dragons. The word is also used to refer to crocodiles and other large reptiles. The li is said to be a yellow version of the jiao. Whereas the dragon is mostly seen as auscpicious or holy, the jiao and the li are often depicted as evil or malicious. Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ...


Dragon toes

Chinese or Korean Imperial dragons have five toes on each foot; Indonesian dragons have four and Japanese dragons have three. To explain this phenomenon, Chinese legend states that although dragons originated in China, the further away from China a dragon went the fewer toes it had, and dragons only exist in China, Korea, Indonesia, and Japan because if they traveled further they would have no toes to continue. Japanese legend has an opposing story made up after the Chinese one, namely that dragons originated in Japan, and the further they traveled the more toes they grew and as a result, if they went too far they would have too many toes to continue to walk properly. These theories are rejected in Korea and Indonesia. Toes on your mom is gayfoot. ...


Another interpretation: according to several sources, including historical official documents, ordinary Chinese dragons had four toes - but the Imperial Dragon had five. It was a capital offense for anyone other than the emperor to use the five-clawed dragon motif. Korean sources seem to disagree (or perhaps agree) with this theory, as the Imperial dragon in Gyeongbok Palace has seven claws, implying its superiority over the Chinese Dragon; of course, this dragon image is hidden in the rafters of the palace and is not entirely in view, even to those who know it is there, suggesting that while the ancient Koreans viewed it as superior, they also knew that it would be offensive to the Imperial Chinese Court. The Han style dragon is also 3 clawed, which explains how the 3 clawed dragon went to Japan in the Tang or pre-Tang period. In art, a motif is a repeated idea, pattern, image, or theme. ... Gyeongbokgung is a palace located in Seoul, South Korea. ... // Han in China Chinese (æ¼¢), an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese. ... For the band, see Tang Dynasty (band). ...


Cultural references

Number nine

The number nine is considered lucky in China 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 scales - 81 (9x9) male and 36 (9x4) female. 9 (nine) is the natural number following 8 and preceding 10. ...


This is also why there are nine forms of the dragon and the dragon has nine children (see Classical depictions above). The "Nine Dragon Wall" is a screen wall with images of nine different dragons, and is found in imperial palaces and gardens.


There are a number of places in China called "Nine Dragons", the most famous being Kowloon in Hong Kong. The part of the Mekong in Vietnam is known as Cửu Long, with the same meaning. Location within China In modern day Hong Kong, Kowloon (九龍; Cantonese IPA:; Jyutping: gau2 lung4; Mandarin Pinyin: JiÇ”lóng; lit. ... View of the Mekong before the sunset The Mekong is one of the worlds major rivers. ...


Chinese zodiac

Main Article Dragon (Zodiac) The Dragon is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. ...


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. Chinese astrology (占星術 pinyin: zhan4 xing1 shu4; 星學 pinyin: xing1 xue2; 七政四餘 pinyin: qi1 zheng4 si4 yu2; and 果老星宗 pinyin: guo3 lao3 xing1 zong1) is related to the Chinese calendar, particularly its 12-year cycle of animals (aka Chinese Zodiac), and the fortune-telling aspects according to movement of heavenly... The Chinese calendar (Traditional Chinese:農曆; Simplified Chinese: 农历; pinyin: nónglì) is a lunisolar calendar incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. ...


Constellations

The Green Dragon - Qing Long - 青龍 is considered to be the primary of the four celestial guardians, the other three being the Zhu Que - 朱雀 (red phoenix), Bai Hu - 白虎 (white tiger) and Xuan Wu - 玄武 (black tortoise-like creature). In this context the dragon is associated with the element of Wood - see Five elements (Chinese). Seiryu as it is called in Japanese culture is also known as Qin Long in Chinese culture which translates to mean roughly Green Dragon or Holy Dragon. ... Chinese constellations are different from the western constellations, due to the independent development of ancient Chinese astronomy. ... Suzaku can refer to: Emperor Suzaku of Japan, the 61st Emperor of Japan. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Byakko as it is called in Japanese culture is also known as Bai Hu in Chinese culture, which roughly translates to White Tiger or Jade Tiger. ... Binomial name Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) Tigers (Panthera tigris) are mammals of the Felidae family and one of four big cats in the panthera genus. ... A black land tortoise in Oriental mythology, known as Bixi (贔屭) in China and genbu in Japan. ... Genera Chersina Dipsochelys Furculachelys Geochelone Gopherus Homopus Indotestudo Kinixys Malacochersus Manouria Psammobates Pyxis Testudo A tortoise is a land-dwelling reptile of the order Testudines. ... In traditional Chinese philosophy, natural phenomena can be classified into the Five Elements (Chinese: 五行; pinyin: ): wood, fire, earth, metal, and water (木, 火, 土, 金, æ°´; mù, huÇ’, tÇ”, jÄ«n, shÇ”i). ...


Dragonboat racing

Main article Dragon boat A dragon boat (Chinese: 龍舟, 龍船; Simplified Chinese: 龙舟, 龙船, Mandarin Pinyin: lóng zhōu, lóng chuán) is a very long and narrow human powered boat used in the team paddling sport of dragon boat racing, which may also be known as dragonboating. ...


At special festivals, especially the Duan Wu festival, dragon boat races are an important part of festivities. Typically, these are boats rowed by a team of up to 12 rowers, and with a carved dragon as the head of the boat. Dragon boat racing is also an important part of celebrations outside of China, such as at Chinese New Year. A more specific term for dragon boat as a sport is dragon boat race, which is a team paddling sport on water, using painted boats to which are attached decorative dragon heads and tails. ... Hand-painted Chinese New Years poetry pasted on the sides of doors leading to peoples homes, Old Town, Lijiang, Yunnan. ...


Dragon dancing

Main article Dragon dance Head of dragon dance costume Double dragon dance at Chongqing, China, September 28, 2002, during a weeklong celebration of modern Chinas National Day (October 1st) Dragon dance (Chinese: 舞龍; pinyin: wǔ lóng) is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture. ...


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 and music. Hand-painted Chinese New Years poetry pasted on the sides of doors leading to peoples homes, Old Town, Lijiang, Yunnan. ...


Dragons and Tigers

Tigers have always been an 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 techniques, while "tiger style" is based on raw strength. Binomial name Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) Tigers (Panthera tigris) are mammals of the Felidae family, one of four big cats that belong to the Panthera genus. ... Four-character idioms, or chéng yǔ (成語, literally to become (part of) the language) are widely used in 文言 wényán. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ...


Dragons in fiction

As a part of traditional folklore, dragons appear in a variety of mythological fiction.

In recent years, the Dragon features in the Japanese comic Dragon Ball, which has proved popular throughout Asia. The four heros of the story, left to right: Sun Wukong, Xuanzang, Zhu Wuneng, and Sha Wujing. ... The four Dragon Kings (龍王; pinyin: L ng W ng) are, in Chinese mythology, the divine rulers of the four seas (each sea corresponds to one of the cardinal directions). ... Fengshen Yanyi (Traditional Chinese: 封神演義; Simplified Chinese: 封神演义) (translated as The Investiture of the Gods or The Creation of the Gods), also known as Fengshen Bang (Traditional Chinese: 封神榜; Simplified Chinese: 封神榜), is one of the major works of classical Chinese literature created in Ming dynasty. ... Nezha (哪吒) is a deity, the enfant terrible Trickster of Chinese mythology. ... The four Dragon Kings (龍王; pinyin: Lóng Wáng) are, in Chinese mythology, the divine rulers of the four seas (each sea corresponds to one of the cardinal directions). ... Dragon Ball tankōbon volume 1 (Japanese version). ...


See also

At the moment this article is only a list. ... A more specific term for dragon boat as a sport is dragon boat race, which is a team paddling sport on water, using very long and very narrow painted boats to which are attached decorative dragon heads and tails. ... Head of dragon dance costume Double dragon dance at Chongqing, China, September 28, 2002, during a weeklong celebration of modern Chinas National Day (October 1st) Dragon dance (Chinese: 舞龍; pinyin: wǔ lóng) is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture. ... Costumed southern lion dancer in action at a Chinese New Year celebration Lion dance (Chinese: 舞獅; pinyin: wǔshī) is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic the lions movements in a lion costume. ... Zahak, Zahhak, Zahak-e Tāzi or (Arab Zahak) also knwon as Bivar-Asp, which means [he who has] 10,000 horses in the Pahlavi (middle Persian) language, and Avestan Āži-Dahāk) is a mythical figure of ancient Persia (Iran). ... Chinese dragon, colour engraving on wood, Chinese school, 19th Century A dragon is a legendary creature, typically depicted as a large and powerful serpent or other reptile, with magical or spiritual qualities. ... Saint George versus the dragon, Gustave Moreau, c. ... This is a list of individual dragons. ... Chinese Phoenix sculpture, Nanning city, Guangxi province. ... Chinese dragons Dragon Kung Fu (龍形 Loong Ying) is one of the five animal styles of Shaolin Kung Fu. ... In Chinese mythology, Long Mu (Pinyin) (龍母;) or Mother of Dragons (Wade-Giles: Lung Mo) was a Chinese woman who was deified as a goddess after raising five infant dragons. ... An Instinct for Dragons is a book by University of Central Florida anthropologist David E. Jones, which seeks to explain the apparent universality of dragon images in the folklore of human societies. ...

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Chinese Dragons (2555 words)
The colors of Chinese dragons are evidently quite variable, but in the case of the chiao type its back is striped with green, its sides are yellow, and it is crimson underneath.
The Chinese dragon is as a symbol of auspicious power in Chinese folklore and art, it is the embodiment of the concept of yang [male] and associated with the weather and water as the bringer of rain.
Chinese dragons are believed to be the rulers of moving bodies of water, such as waterfalls, rivers, or seas.
The Legend of the Chinese Dragon (344 words)
Unlike the evil dragon the West, the Chinese Dragon is a beneficent and gracious creature and is worshipped as the divine ruler of Lakes, Rivers and Seas.
The Dragon first appeared in the sky, legend tells us, while an heir to the throne was born, and the country was blessed with peace and prosperity for many generation thereafter.
In parade appearance, the dragon performs its gyrations in pursuits of a costumed figure who holds aloft a pole with a ball on the end called the "Precious Pearl." The creature’s movement and tempo are controlled by this leader who manipulated the "pearl" according to plan, accompanied by drums and gongs.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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