What does the dragon symbolize in China: meaning and description

, traditional hieroglyph
龍
,
lóng
) is one of the most famous symbols of China, a hero of ancient myths, the owner of strength and the most noble qualities.

The Chinese endowed their object of worship with kindness and wisdom, unlike representatives of other countries, where these creatures became the personification of evil and danger. To this day, the people of the Celestial Empire believe that dragons bring them luck, wealth and prosperity.

The most interesting things about dragons

Dragon hieroglyph

Dragon (simplified hieroglyph龙

, the traditional spelling of the character
龍
, pronounced lóng) has become a symbol of Chinese culture and influences almost every aspect of society in China.
From a traditional point of view, the dragon symbolizes positive elements in life such as wealth, success, power, etc.

Types and meaning of dragons according to Feng Shui

According to legend, the mythical lizards were very rich and jealously guarded their treasures from encroachment. The golden dragon symbolizes wisdom and wealth. The emblem depicting a yellow mythical creature was common among rulers.

Today, figurines of golden dragons are very popular among tourists. They serve as talismans that attract money, help improve business relationships with partners and protect against bad people. There is also an opinion that an image or figurine of a golden dragon can scare away negativity and protect the house from various troubles.

So, what does the golden dragon symbolize in Feng Shui? In addition to wealth and good luck in the business sphere, its owner will also receive protection from negativity and bad people.

The blue dragon symbolizes power and prosperity. It represents the sign of the emperor. The blue dragon is a symbol of heavenly protection. In China it is called "Long" and is considered the supreme among the mythical reptiles.

The red dragon symbolizes vitality and strength. It is noteworthy that the snake-like lizard is found not only in China, but also on the ancient emblem of Wales and the national flag of Scotland. There he was a symbol of patriotism and love for ancestors.

What does the black dragon symbolize among the Chinese? It represents the test that must be passed, as well as calmness and indestructibility. Therefore, black mythical creatures are practically never found in souvenir shops. In the mythology of other countries, the black dragon is the embodiment of darkness and death. Thus, Scandinavian legends tell of the lizard Nidhogg, who gnaws the roots of the Yggdrasil tree.

Dragons in Chinese culture

The Chinese believe that they are descendants of dragons.
The ancestors of the Chinese people, occupying a central place in Chinese mythology, are the leaders Yandi (炎帝) and Huangdi, (黄帝） who lived more than 5 thousand years ago. Both legendary emperor-inventors are inextricably linked with the fire-breathing creature of Chinese mythology: Yandi was born from a union earthly woman and the Dragon, and subsequently, with the help of the Dragon, united with his brother Huangdi, laying the foundation of the centralized Chinese statehood with their union. Since then, the emperors of China began to be called “Dragons” or “sons of the Dragon,” and their throne “the seat of the Dragon.”

Chinese culture and mythology

In Chinese mythology, the magical animal occupies a dominant position. This essence is the king of folk legends and tales. There were a lot of legends, myths, and fairy tales, since he himself is a fantastic creature.

A book called “Journey to the West” gained great popular popularity. It is written in Chinese and occupies an important place in the country's literature. The main characters of the book are dragons.

The dragon in Chinese culture means wisdom, life, light. In old times, the creature was the guardian of jewelry, later it was considered the patron of fertility. The appearance of an animal is a joyful omen. On this day great and brilliant people are born. There is a legend about Confucius: when he was born, two winged mythical beasts descended into his house - harbingers of a joyful event.

There is a belief that the creature is the personification of masculinity, strength, and power. And a long time ago, people believed about his relationship with girls. If a woman saw an entity in a dream or in the sky above her house, then an outstanding sovereign, an emperor, will definitely be born to her or appear in her family.

What does a Chinese dragon look like?

Dragons in China combine the features of several animals.

• In ancient records one can find a description of these creatures with a head like a camel, horns like a deer, demon eyes, a neck like a snake, scales like a carp, eagle claws, tiger paws and ears like a cow.
• In traditional depictions, most Chinese dragons have long bodies like snakes and sharp claws like hawks or eagles, a long tongue and sharp teeth. They can fly, although they do not always have wings (those who do not have them use a special bump on their head to fly). The first images of dragons were found on the border with Mongolia more than 7 thousand years ago!

Dragon symbol - meaning of tattoo

The dragon has no gender, therefore it is a universal symbol that can be applied to both the body of a man and a woman. First of all, his image is associated with power and strength. It is also a symbol of nobility, tranquility and great wisdom. The tattoo speaks of the justice and determination of its owner. It is filled with people who strive to find their way in life.

The golden dragon tattoo symbolizes the thirst for knowledge and the desire to comprehend all the secrets of the Universe. The heavenly dragon strengthens faith. If a mythical creature is depicted with horns, this indicates that the bearer of the tattoo has determination and fearlessness. The red dragon is a symbol of passion and love, aggression and fearlessness, and the black one is respect.

What does the dragon represent?

The dragon is the embodiment of Yang 阳 (male) energy, which is complemented by the phoenix bird （凤凰 “fènghuáng”） with Yin 阴 (female) energy.

The dragon represents cold, strong wind and rain, while the Phoenix represents warmth and even fiery heat. According to Chinese mythology, the coexistence of the Dragon and Phoenix represents peace, harmony and happiness, as well as the balance of energies in the Feng Shui system.

Which symbol to choose

The material, size and color, as well as the technique of making the talisman are selected individually:

1. If things are generally in order, then choose a small figurine. Huge figurines represent excess male energy, which can cause conflicts in the family. For the same reason, do not purchase several figurines or paintings with a sacred animal. Don't let him dominate, balance him with other animals.
2. Feng Shui experts recommend buying dragons that have four claws on their feet.

You can often find a figurine with a pearl in homes. This detail symbolizes the sun, vitality and fulfillment of desires. For financial success, be sure to choose a dragon with a golden pearl in its paws.

1. Two carp jumping over the Dragon Gate - this symbolism is useful for people who want to develop courage and patience, as well as for those who want to harmonize their married life and increase the flow of finances.

2. An alternative to figurines are images, small pictures or luxurious canvases and panels. An animal pattern is used on the wall fan. This is double protection of the house from ill-wishers.
3. Dragon figurines are made from different materials: wood, metal, glass and even stone. The crystal figurine has special properties. It will be in harmony with other talismans in the house.

Dragon on the national flag of China

From 1888 to 1912, the dragon was featured on the official flag of the Qing Empire.

A blue dragon on a bright yellow background with a red fruit became the first National Flag of China (黄龙旗 "huánglóngqí"） at the end of China's last Qing dynasty. After the overthrow of the monarchy and the Xinhai Revolution, China abandoned the illustration of the dragon due to the controversial perception of this creature by other countries .

Varieties of moons

Breeds

The Chinese have about a hundred species of dragons. Let's name the most famous of them:

• Tian

Lives in the sky, flies, guards the gods, and carries them in chariots. Transforms stone blocks into gold bars, breathes fire flames and exhales clouds. Symbolizing powerful and domineering qualities, it appears to be the strongest species.

• Futsang

Living underground, he protects underground wealth in the form of precious stones and metals. Capable of causing volcanic eruptions and creating new mountains. He hides a pearl in the lower part of his face as the personification of wealth and is considered the wisest.

• Di

The earthly moon, lives in the depths of the water in the castle, rules the water resources. He often comes into contact with humanity and even marries ordinary women, as a result of which creatures are born - half people, half dragons.

• In

Submitting to the gods of the moons with wings, he controls the weather, sending downpours, thunderstorms, and winds.

• Shen

Has a human face, a huge belly, blue skin color. Controls winds and clouds, determines whether the harvest will be good or bad.

Meaning by colors

Dragons are also distinguished by colors, each of which carries a specific meaning:

• green (and sometimes azure) Qinglong - compassion, mercy, change for the better;
• blue Jiulong – fertility, depicted with horns or scales;
• red Zhulong - happy future, success, favor;
• yellow Huanglong - goodwill, forgiveness;
• white Bailong - purity, purity, virtue;
• black Xuanlong - silence, calm, harmony;
• golden - wealth, nobility.

The color of a dragon depends on what kind of gold it was born from. You can also use it to find out how old the moon is: for example, Huanglong, Zhulong, Bailong, Xuanlong are 1000, and Jiulun is 800.

Dragons in modern Chinese culture

The Chinese love to have a dragon accompany them through life.

Last name

(lóng, “dragon”) is not on the list of the most common in the PRC, so its owners are especially proud of it.
The character 龙 is often used in a child's full name, regardless of gender. Surely many people know that the beloved Jackie Chan in China is known under the name成龙
("chéng lóng", lit. "who became a dragon"), while the no less famous Bruce Lee was called 小龙 （ "xiǎolóng", lit. . "little Dragon").

Modern China respects the zodiac sign of this animal. Young parents even try to predict the birth of a child in the year of the dragon. About children they say “望子成龙

” (“wàng zǐ chéng lóng”), or hope that they will achieve great success in life, literally “the son will become a dragon.”

Behind the scenes, the Chinese agree that all influential people were born in the year of the dragon - Deng Xiaoping (1904), Bruce Lee (1940), Vladimir Putin (1952) and many others.

Feng Shui dragon

If you purchased a figurine of a Chinese dragon (we discussed what it symbolizes above), it must be placed correctly. Firstly, it is worth noting that it is recommended to purchase a green or blue souvenir. The material in this case is unimportant. If you want it to attract prosperity, there must be a pearl in the reptile's paws. The size of the figurine should be small, otherwise the dragon will attract too much yang energy, which is not always useful. You cannot place more than 5 figurines in a house.

Please note that the dragon can have four or five fingers. The latter is an imperial symbol and carries colossal energy, which is not always possible to cope with. Therefore, it is recommended to buy a four-toed dragon.

It is advisable to place the figurine in the room where life and activity are in full swing. For example, in the living room. It cannot be placed in the bedroom or bathroom.

It is important that the dragon is no higher than the eye level of the owner of the house, otherwise the latter will lose power in his own home.

It is recommended to place the dragon in the eastern part of the house, to the left of the front door (as viewed from the house), where it will protect the home from attacking negative energy. It is better to place the dragon in the air flow if possible. The movement of air will activate it and give the greatest magical power.

Dragon Festival in China

The Dragon Boat Festival (端午节 “duānwǔ jié”) is an occasion to remember dragons.

This is one of the favorite traditional holidays, which is celebrated according to the lunar calendar on the 5th day of the 5th month of every year. This colorful festival symbolizes the beginning of summer, so people celebrate it with special joy by organizing boat rowing competitions. Rowers compete not only to be the first to reach the finish line, but also to decorate their boat (龙舟 "lóngzhōu"). The head of the dragon is located at the bow of the boat, and the tail is at the stern. Everything else is the body, which is also brightly and colorfully painted. Similar competitions are held in many cities in China and are remembered by spectators for their unforgettable beauty.

Appearance

Old legends and numerous Chinese sources describe the dragon's appearance in detail:

• camel head;
• bull horns;
• carp scales, of which there must certainly be 81 or 117;
• snake neck;
• eagle claws;
• tiger paws;
• cow ears;
• goat beard;
• catfish mustache as a symbol of wisdom.

Sometimes a bump is added to this description, which can be seen on the top of the animal’s head. She helps him soar above the ground without wings.

Height can vary - from one to three hundred meters. Dragons appear from eggs, but this happens infrequently, sometimes a millennium may pass. Such an event makes itself felt by meteorites, natural disasters, and strong storms.

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Myths and Legends * Chinese Dragons

Chinese Dragons

Chinese dragons Chinese dragons are specially highlighted for a reason. They are central to Chinese mythology. We are more familiar with Western European dragons - evil, bloodthirsty and simply greedy. Chinese dragons are completely different, although, according to scientists, they are the ancestors of European ones. But this time the apple fell quite far from the tree. The dragon in China, in the Celestial Empire, was, as a rule, a kind, gracious creature, merciful to people. For this, the Chinese loved their dragons and gave them high honors.

Among the emperor's many titles, the most honorable was "living dragon." The imperial throne* was called the “dragon throne.” The state's coat of arms featured a dragon. The legendary ruler of China, Fuxi, according to legend, introduced ranks and ranks for officials and assigned a special dragon patron to each class. Thus, the ceremonial robes of officials of the highest, seventh rank were decorated with a moon dragon embroidered with gold threads, which had five claws on its paws. The attire of lesser dignitaries was befitting of a man dragon, which had only four claws. And so on. Dragons were divided not only by the number of claws. At the highest level of the dragon hierarchy were dragons that could fly. They had dragon spirits under their command. Then - earthly dragons: they were once flying, but for various reasons they lost this ability. Closing the list were underground dragons, whose duty was to protect treasures.

Scarlet Chinese dragon

But that's not all. The Chinese divided dragons into yellow - huang, green - qing, red - zhu, white - bai and black - xuan, scaly - jiao, horned - qiu and hornless - ni. There were also more detailed divisions: yun-chi - cloud hornless dragon, yun-qiu - cloud horned. Dragons played an important role in Chinese zoology. According to an ancient manuscript, “10 thousand creatures, feathered, furry, scaly and armored, descended from dragons.” The inhabitants of the Celestial Empire had a pretty good idea of ​​the dragon and its habits. Here is a description of dragons from an ancient dictionary. The Chauwen dictionary (1st century AD) says the following about the dragon: “A dragon is a long, scaly creature. It can hide, it can appear, it can become thin, it can become huge... On the day of the spring equinox it flies into the sky; on the day of the autumn equinox he dives into the abyss.” “The dragon goes into hibernation. If a dragon doesn’t sleep in winter, the cold will kill it.” “The dragon has the antlers of a deer, the head of a camel, the eyes of a rabbit, the ears of a bull, the neck of a snake, the scales of a carp, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger.” “The dragon can direct clouds and rain. He inhales air and exhales a cloud.” This is probably one of its most important qualities: dragons command the elements - rain, winds, floods. If dragons enter into battle with each other, a terrible rain falls on the earth. When a dragon, being in the sky, wants to drink, it attracts water to itself - and huge waves rise on the sea and tornadoes form. Dragons have been familiar creatures to the Chinese since ancient times. According to the ancient author Sima Qian, some families even raised dragons: “A certain Dong, who knew the secret of feeding and taming, received from Emperor Shun (2255-2204 BC!) the title of “feeding the dragon.”

Here is another story: “When King Kun Jia ascended the throne, two dragons descended from the sky to him. Kong Jia did not know how to maintain them, so he appointed a certain Liu Lei as caretaker.” This Liu Lei turned out to be a charlatan, he didn’t know how to handle dragons, and the female quickly died. Liu Lei was executed, and another caretaker, more experienced, was found. As a result, the male dragon “soon became cheerful and vigorous again, frolicking in the pool. Kong Jia loved to feed the dragon.” Not only ordinary people, emperors, mandarins, generals, writers and artists, but also serious scientists believed in the existence of good monsters and could even logically prove it. One “contemporary of dragons,” Wang Chong, reasoned this way: “A dragon has a form. If it has a shape, it can move. If he moves, he must eat. If he eats, then he is of a material nature. A being of a material nature is real.” There were a great variety of dragons - from gigantic to very tiny. There were even stories about a dragon the size of a little finger.

Dragon Lung-wan

Lung-wan is the master of the water element, the lord of dragons. It is distinguished by its extraordinary size (about one li - about half a kilometer - in length) and unprecedented wealth. This is what his underwater palace looked like, located at the bottom of the Eastern Sea: “This is a huge structure with long arcades, a roof curved at the corners, fancy covered passages and round windows and doors. All its halls are filled with such riches that people on earth have no idea about: golden carved artistic doors decorated with precious stones, coral lattices, mosaic paintings made of rare stones; walls speckled with pearls and turquoise; jasper floors - everywhere a combination of brilliance, beauty and prosperity. In the back rooms there were piles of jewelry piled directly on the floor; in the pantries there are inexhaustible supplies of extremely tasty foods and excellent wines.” Lung Wang was not only a rich ruler, but also a powerful one. One of the legends describes his preparation for the battle: “Couriers - the fastest fish - rushed in all directions, delivering orders. All the luminous sea fish and animals lit their lanterns, and by their light preparations were made for the upcoming march: swords and saw-fish were sharpening their weapons, hammer-fish were renewing the upholstery on both sides of their clubs, crabs were renewing the tubercles of their claws..."

Lung-wan - master of the water element, lord of dragons

There are many legends about the dragon king Lung-wan. According to one legend, one day the dragon king fell ill. Among the inhabitants of the water kingdom there was no doctor who could cure him, and Lun-wan had no choice but to take the form of an old man and go to the people. The lord of the sea visited many doctors, but none of them could determine what kind of illness he had. Finally he got to the famous healer, who, having felt the patient’s pulse, was very surprised to discover that the heart beats completely differently from that of ordinary people. The doctor told the old man about this. And he was forced to admit that he was the king of dragons. The healer stated that he could identify the disease and cure him only if the old man turned into a dragon again. Although dragons are usually not shown to people, this time the lord of the waters, in order to be healed of his illness, agreed to fulfill the healer’s request. On the appointed day, the doctor came to the seashore, and the dragon appeared above the waves. The doctor examined him and discovered that a centipede had crawled behind the scales of the dragon on his lower back, which was causing him severe pain. Having removed the centipede, the doctor smeared the damaged scales with ointment, and the pain went away. As a token of gratitude for the healing, the king of the dragons promised the healer to send down to people, at their request, good weather, beneficial rains and complete well-being. Since then, every year on this day (Healing Day), a dragon dance is performed throughout China. According to traditional beliefs, the dragon symbolizes happiness. Drought and flood brought ruin, poverty, and hunger to the Chinese people. Who could help in the fight against natural disasters? Of course, the king of dragons. If an area experienced drought or flood, the locals would perform a ritual dragon dance, begging the lord of the sea to send down rain. Prolonged drought was seen as the dragon's refusal to send rain. Then prayers were held in front of the image of the dragon. If after this the fields remained dry, then the ritual of “flagellation of the dragon” was performed: an image of a dragon made of clay or other material was struck with a whip or a bamboo stick, demanding to send down rain.

Dragon Lung-wan

The cult of Long Wang was extremely widespread in old China. Temples dedicated to him were built in cities, villages, near rivers, lakes, crossings and wells. His intercession was asked by sailors, fishermen, farmers, as well as water carriers, who believed that the underground springs in the wells were controlled by Lun-wan and connected underground with the sea. During a drought, the statue of Lun-wan was taken out of the temple and placed in the sun, and during a flood it was carried around the surrounding area to show Lun-wan the extent of the disaster and to reassure him. If this did not help, then the statue was drowned in water.

Dragon Ying-long The Heavenly Lord had a magical two-winged dragon Ying-long. He lived in the northeastern corner of the Great Wasteland on the southern slope of Xiongli Hill, and could store water and pour it out as rain. In difficult situations, the Heavenly Lord resorted to the help of Ying-long. For example, once during a flood, the dragon was ordered to divert bottomless waters from the earth to the ocean. He set to work zealously. This is how it happened, according to the old story: “Ying-long crawled, his tail dragging along the ground. Rivers and canals broke through in the direction indicated by Ying-moon's tail. The rivers reached the Eastern Ocean. They have survived to this day."

Ying-Long Dragon of the Heavenly Lord

Another time, Ying-long took part in a very important battle. He was tasked with flooding the enemy with torrents of rain. The dragon flew up and laid out rain clouds on a special stand. But - this has to happen! — he set the stand askew, and an unprecedented rain poured on his own army. The Heavenly Sovereign was very annoyed. But in the end he still won - and not without the help of Ying-long. The dragon, with a terrifying cry of “ga-ha,” rushed from the sky at the enemies; Those who did not have time to escape were killed. However, the Heavenly Lord was dissatisfied with the awkward dragon: the exhausted Ying-long, who had lost the ability to fly, was left on the battlefield - which is why there, in the south of China, precipitation has been so frequent since then.

The Jiao-long dragon is a scaly water monster. This is a rare evil dragon for China that devours people. In addition to human flesh, he loves fried swallows, but is afraid of iron and five-color threads. Therefore, when crossing a water barrier in a place where Jiao-long may live, it is recommended to put a metal plate and several balls of colored thread in your pocket. But beware of eating swallows before this - this increases the danger of a dragon attack! In order not to confuse the evil Jiao-long with someone else, you should firmly remember the description given in the ancient book “List of Trees and Herbs”: “Jiao refers to dragons. More than a zhang long (3.2 meters). Similar to a snake, but has four legs. Small head and thin neck. There is a white necklace on the throat. The front of the chest is red. There are dark spots on the back. There seem to be patterns on the sides. There are horns on the head. Teeth protrude from lips. The eggs he lays are very large.”

Qing-long - Green Dragon In Chinese mythology, Qing-long is the Green Dragon, Guardian of the East. This scary-looking green monster is actually extremely friendly towards people.

Qing-long - Green Dragon, Guardian of the East

The green color of the Qing-long dragon simply represents spring. Meeting him promises people wealth. His entire body, as befits a dragon, is covered with scales - but not ordinary ones, but made of gold coins. Soaring in multi-colored clouds, Qing-long sprinkles pearls, gold, silver, and corals on the ground. Koreans call the dragon that guards the east of the country Cheongnyeon.

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Legends and myths about dragons

Legends about dragons have been preserved in different parts of the world, on different continents. The older the mythological image of the dragon, the more positive role it plays in the beliefs of the people. The fresher this image is in the human ethnos, the more evil is associated with it.

Ancient dragons are creatures who were respected and sung, whose role in the development of human civilization was clearly positive. These are sages, legislators, mentors of rulers.

The flying feathered serpent (bird-like serpent) Quetzalcoatl was one of the supreme deities of the Aztecs and other Indian tribes of Central America. The Mayan Indians called it Kukulcan .

Quetzalcoatl-Kukulcan

Quetzalcoatl-Kukulkan was considered the god of the elements of fire and air, water and wind, who founded royal dynasties and large cities. He also taught the tribes many important practical functions, for example, he gave them counting and writing, created a calendar, helped them master crafts, etc.

In Chinese tradition, the dragon is a sacred symbol of the Chinese nation as a whole, and previously of imperial power. The emperor's throne was called the Dragon Throne. The dragon is a symbol of Yang energy , a positive principle. Like the Indian tribes, the Chinese considered their dragon multifunctional . Over time, the image of the dragon acquired several varieties, each with its own specialization:

The main dragon breeds are as follows:

• Tianlong – guard and “transport” of the gods, heavenly dragon ;
• Futsanglong - underground dragon , keeper of hidden treasures - minerals and underground energy;
• Dilun – ruler of rivers and seas, earth dragon ;
• Yinglong is a divine dragon , on whom weather, wind, rain depend and which thunders from the sky.

Chinese dragons can be winged or fly due to the cone on the top of their head, that is, using magical power and the power of the Mind. They were also endowed with the ability to take on a human form .

All eastern cultures (Japan, Vietnam, Korea) value and respect dragons .

In Western and Christian culture , on the contrary, Dragons are those creatures to whom it was necessary to make sacrifices and with whom brave knights fought. Greek and biblical monsters were often depicted as dragon-like. The images of the serpent and the dragon could be identical and not separate in human perception.

The dragon is essentially the Slavic Serpent Gorynych , who is part of the “grouping” of negative characters in Russian fairy tales along with Baba Yaga and Koshchei the Immortal. Brave heroes - positive fairy-tale heroes - were forced to fight him, cutting off all his heads in turn. The Serpent Gorynych was famous for his accelerated regeneration (his severed limbs and heads grew back), he could breathe fire and fly through the air.

Monument to the Serpent Gorynych - erected in the Lipetsk region on Kudykina Mountain

That is, in Christianity and among the Slavs, snakes and dragons were often synonymous with the devil and evil , which explains the myth of the serpent fighters , . ”

Recently, a positive attitude towards the image of the dragon - with the help of science fiction and fantasy. In modern perception, dragons are powerful magical creatures that belong more likely to the Yang elements - fire and air. Their qualities are wisdom, strength and power.