What Is The Meaning Of The Dragon In Chinese Culture?

More than a few things about Chinese culture have managed to capture the world’s attention. From savory Chinese cuisine to the Great Wall, China has carved out a particular cultural niche. One such celebrated cynosure of Chinese culture is marvelous Dragon paintings.

What is the first word that comes to mind when you hear the term Chinese Dragon? Dangerous? Ferocious? Flames? Evil? Surprisingly, those are attributes of the Western or European Dragon, and the Chinese Dragon is quite the opposite.

Graceful and serpentine, the Dragon is a representative of good fortune and a harbinger of prosperity in China. Contrary to its aggressive, fire-breathing Western counterpart, the Chinese Dragon is a rain deity who controls water and weather phenomena. Read on to unravel the mystery surrounding the Chinese Dragon.

Origin of the Dragon

The history behind the origin of the Chinese Dragon is vast – a complex web of several interconnected myths. Of these, the worship of totems by ancient Chinese tribes is the most popular. The earliest dragon-like motif discovered so far belongs to the Xinglongwa culture (6200-5400 BC). This theory proposes that the Dragon is created by the coalescence of nine animals, namely stag, camel, tiger, clam, carp, snake, eagle, cow, and demon.

The story starts with a legendary Chinese leader named Yandi, who lived during the pre-dynasty times. People believe him to have descended from a mighty dragon. Yandi, in partnership with a great tribal leader Huang Di, conquered nine different tribes in the Yellow River Valley. They incorporated nine other tribal totems into a single dragon totem which is the origin of the Chinese Dragon of today. Their victory and consequent leadership are believed to have unified China and pioneered Chinese civilization.

Significance of the Dragon

The symbolism and significance associated with the Chinese Dragon are of epic proportions. First, the Dragon signifies prosperity – success in business, plentiful harvests, and excellent health. Secondly, dragons are also associated with personal and professional safety and protection. Therefore, many Chinese New Year traditions include a vibrant Dragon Dance to pray for prosperity and well-being.

The Chinese Dragon is representative of masculinity, which commanded influence and authority in traditional Chinese society. As discussed earlier, contrary to their Western counterparts, Chinese dragons are a symbol of kindness, warmth, and harmony. Dragons are also regarded as deities of water and weather and are considered responsible for rains and seasonal … Read the rest

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