The Dragon: A Symbol of Power, Prosperity, and Imperial Majesty in Chinese Culture
The people of China have a long-held belief that they are descendents of the dragon, a tradition that is firmly embedded in their culture and one that is encountered across all aspects of Chinese society and in the minds of its people.In China the dragon is held in high esteem for its dignity and power for good.
From primitive times people have regarded the dragon as an auspicious creature with the power to bless and influence their lives. As tribes fought for domination and came to be united under a common banner, the dragon was adopted as a national icon. Such was the mysterious creature’s power that it was regarded as the god of rain, thunder, the rainbow, and the stars. In a society that was founded upon agriculture and animal husbandry totally reliant upon its natural environment and in particular the climate, the dragon was worshipped as the source of all that was beneficial to communal well-being. This concept has been sustained for thousands of years as more and more deification was bestowed upon the dragon ranging from being a bringer of joy to prophecy and miracles. In feudal society, emperors compared themselves to the dragon thereby making it the exclusive symbol of imperial majesty. Anyone who subsequently used the dragon as a symbol either intentionally or erroneously could be regarded as offending their ruler and be condemned to death.
The Symbolism of the Dragon and Its Role in Celebrations
A dragon is a combination of the features of animals with which people were familiar. It has a protruding forehead indicating wisdom and antlers signifying longevity. Its ox’s ears denote success in the imperial examination; it has tiger’s eyes as a sign of power; eagle’s claws shows bravery; a fish’s tail implies flexibility; the horse’s teeth are a mark of diligence and so on.
The most vibrant and spectacular way of expressing fondness for the dragon is the dragon dance. This has evolved from what was a ritual rain dance into a popular entertainment performed during the period from the Spring Festival until the Lantern Festival. The second day of the second lunar month is the Han people’s special time Dragon Heads-raising Day. People could not tonsure their hair from the start of the lunar New Year until then. The activities for celebration are still for a good rain. Other big festivals related to the dragon include the Dragon Boat Festival and those of ethnic groups like Zhuang, Yao, Hani, and so on.
The Revered Four: Dragon, Phoenix, Tortoise, and Kylin in Ancient Chinese Culture
The dragon, phoenix, tortoise, and kylin are the four most revered animals of ancient China. Of these only the tortoise is real, the others being entirely fictitious; each was a symbol of good fortune and this is why people paid them so much respect.
The phoenix is splendid and regarded as the king of birds. Usually it is paired with the dragon, and in wedding celebrations the pair is a wish for a harmonious marriage for the new couple. Once the dragon became a totem of the emperor, the phoenix was accorded a similar significance to empress. For generations, people have named food, musical instruments, and even girls with the Chinese character (phoenix), in the expectation that they are as splendid as the phoenix.
The Tortoise, Kylin, and Pixiu: Symbols of Longevity, Wealth, and Protection in Chinese Culture
The tortoise is one of the animals that has endured longest on earth; it is a symbol of longevity and wealth because it is thought that the tortoise evolved while collecting the nimbus of nature. Consequently it is favorable to present a statue of tortoise to the senior or breed tortoises in a place that can bring enrichment according to the theory of “Feng Shui”.
The kylin has a compound appearance with dragon’s head, antlers, horse’s hoofs, an oxtail, wolf’s forehead and a colorful scute. It is lively, intelligent, and gentle, but valorous to ward off devils.Traditionally people in some regions believe that the kylin will give them a son.So a common theme in paper-cutting works and paintings is for this mythical beast to be shown carrying a plump baby.
“Pixiu”,a fierce but auspicious beast,was the ninth son of the dragon.It had a dragon’s head,a horseÕs body,kylin’s feet,a long beard and wings but no anus,which was its most distinctive feature symbolizing the bringing and accumulating of wealth.In the art of Feng Shui,it also functioned to exorcise undesirable influences.For this reason hosts would have a statue of Pixiu on certain fur
