1 Dragon Occupies a Very Important Postion in Chinese Mythology. It
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Dragon occupies a very important postion The Chinese Dragon, or Long, symbolizes in Chinese mythology. It shows up in arts, power and excellence, valiancy and literature, poetry, architecture, songs, and boldness, heroism and perseverance, many aspects of the Chinese conscience. nobility and divinity. A dragon overcomes The origin of Chinese dragons is unknown, obstacles until success is his. He is but centainly pre-dates the written history. energetic, decisive, optimistic, intelligent and ambitious. Gilded bronze dragon Unlike the negative energies associated Tang Dynasty (AD618-906). with Western Dragons, most Eastern Excavated 1975, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province. Dragons are beautiful, friendly, and wise. Shaanxi History Museum They are the angels of the Orient. Instead of being hated, they are loved and worshipped. Temples and shrines have been built to honor them, for they control The Celestial Chinese Dragon is the rain, rivers, lakes, and seas. Many comparable as the symbol of the Chinese Chinese cities have pagodas where people race itself. Chinese around the world, used to burn incense and pray to dragons. proudly proclaim themselves Descendents Everything connected with Eastern Dragons is blessed. of the Dragon (simplified Chinese: 龙的传 人; traditional Chinese: 龍的傳人; pinyin: The Year of the Dragon, which takes place lóng de chuán rén). Dragons are referred ever twelve years, is lucky. Present-day to as the divine mythical creature that Oriental astrologers claim that children brings with it ultimate abundance, born during Dragon Years enjoy health, prosperity and good fortune. wealth, and long life. As the emblem of the Emperor1 and the There are 9 major types of Chinese Imperial command, the legend of the dragons: the celestial dragon (which Chinese Dragon permeates the ancient supports and protects the mansions of the Chinese gods), the spiritual dragon which generates civilization and wind and rain for the benefit of mankind), shaped their the underground dragon (master of streams culture until and rivers), the dragon of hidden treasures today. Its (which keeps guard over concealed benevolence wealth), the horned dragon (the mightiest), signifies the winged dragon (the only one that has greatness, goodness and blessings. wings), the coiling dragon (which lives in lakes), the yellow dragon (which 1 “The coat of arms of the Chinese Emperors [...] presented the legendary Emperor Fu Xi depicts a flying dragon [...] wuth 5 claws and this with the elements of writing), and the makes it different [from the common dragon, with dragon king (actually four dragons, each of 4 claws]. [...] there is no place or thing belonging to which rules over one of the four seas, the emperor where this dragon is nor depicted.” - N. those of the east, south, west, and north). Milescu Spătaru , Descrierea Chinei (p. 68). 1 The most powerful generalized type of Then, by thrashing about, dragons either Chinese dragon is the horned dragon, or stop making rain and cause water lung, which can produce rain and is totally shortages, or they breathe black clouds that deaf. Additionally, there is a homeless bring storms and floods. Small dragons do dragon that lives in the ocean and another minor mischief, such as making roofs leak, type that is scale-covered and usually or causing rice to be sticky. People set off inhabits marshes but also in the mountains. firecrackers and carry immense paper dragons in special parades. They also race There are also 9 ways the Chinese have dragon-shaped boats in water all to please traditionally represented these dragons, and appease their dragons. each one revealing a different dragon characteristic. The Dragon brings upon the essence of life, in the form of its celestial breath, known to There are dragons carved on the tops of many as sheng qi. He yields life and bells and gongs, because of the beast's bestows its power in the form of the habit of calling loudly when attacked. A second type is carved on the screws of seasons, bringing water from rain, warmth fiddles, since most dragons are fond of from the sunshine, wind from the seas and music. soil from the Earth. A third is carved on the tops of stone tablets, because of dragons' love of The Dragon is the ultimate representation literature. A fourth is found at the bottom of stone of the forces of Mother Nature, the monuments, as dragons can support heavy greatest divine force on Earth. weights. A fifth is placed on the eaves of temples, The Chinese Dragon is often seen as the as dragons are ever alert to danger. symbol of divine protection and vigilance. A sixth occurs on the beams of bridges, since dragons are fond of water. It is regarded as the Supreme Being A seventh is carved on Buddha's throne, amongst all creatures. It has the ability to as dragons like to rest. live in the seas, fly up the heavens and An eighth is placed on the hilts of swords, coiled up in the land in the form of since dragons are known to be capable of mountains. Being the divine mythical slaughter. The ninth is carved on prison gates, as animal, the Dragon can ward off these are dragons that are fond of wandering evil spirits, protect the innocent quarreling and trouble making. and bestow safety to all that hold his emblem. The Chinese Dragon is look upon The 9 major characteristics of a long type as the ultimate symbol of Good Fortune. dragon include a head like a camel's, horns like a deer's, eyes like a hare's, ears like a bull's, a neck like an iguana's, a belly like a Bibliography: http://www.123chinesenewyear.com/year-of- frog's, scales like a carp's, paws like a dragon.html tiger's, and claws like an eagle's. It has a http://chinesenewyear2012.net/ pair of large canine teeth in its upper jaw. http://www.cultural- The long, tendril-like whiskers extending china.com/Kaleidoscope/cultural_tool/Year_of_the from either side of its mouth are probably _Dragon/index.html used for feeling its way along the bottom http://traditions.cultural- of muddy ponds. china.com/en/13Traditions1324.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_dragon Eastern Dragons are vain, even though they are wise. They are insulted when a http://www.draconika.com/chinese.php ruler doesn't follow their advice, or when people do not honor their importance. 2 .