Chinese dragon facts for kids
Chinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology and Chinese folklore. The dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles and fish, but are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs. Chinese dragons traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, typhoons, and floods. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people who are worthy of it. With this, the Emperor of China usually used the dragon as a symbol of his imperial power and strength.
In Chinese daily language, excellent and outstanding people are compared to a dragon, while incapable people with no achievements are compared with other, disesteemed creatures, such as a worm. A number of Chinese proverbs and idioms feature references to a dragon, such as "Hoping one's son will become a dragon"
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Symbolic value
Historically, the dragon was associated with the Emperor of China and used a symbol to represent imperial power. The dragon is sometimes used in the West as a national emblem of China. However, this usage within either the People's Republic of China or the Republic of China on Taiwan as the symbol of nation is not common. Instead, it is generally used as the symbol of culture.
Origin
The ancient Chinese self-identified as "the descendants of the dragon" because the Chinese dragon is an imagined reptile that represents evolution from the ancestors and qi energy. The presence of dragons within Chinese culture dates back several thousands of years with the discovery of a dragon statue dating back to the fifth millennium BC from the Yangshao culture in Henan in 1987.
Ruler of weather and water
Chinese dragons are strongly associated with water and weather in popular religion. They are believed to be the rulers of moving bodies of water, such as waterfalls, rivers, or seas.
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 Qinghai Lake and beyond), and the North Sea (sometimes seen as Lake Baikal).
Number nine
The number nine is special in China as it is seen as number of the heaven, and Chinese dragons are frequently connected with it. For example, a Chinese dragon is normally described in terms of nine attributes.
There are a number of places in China called "Nine Dragons", the most famous being Kowloon (in Cantonese) in Hong Kong. The part of the Mekong in Vietnam is known as Cửu Long, with the same meaning.
Dragon dancing
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, drama, and music. They also wore good clothing made of silk.
Images for kids
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Bronze dragon from Sanxingdui, Shang dynasty
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Dragon carving on a tomb, Liao dynasty (916–1125)
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Dragon decoration at the base of a pillar, Song dynasty
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Dragon crown, Liao dynasty
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Yellow dragon on a black vase, Yuan dynasty
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Textile with dragon design, Yuan dynasty
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A dragon seen floating among clouds, on a golden canteen made during the 15th century, Ming dynasty
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Bronze dragon, Qing dynasty
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Double dragons on a piece of textile, Qing dynasty
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Jade-carved dragon ornament from the Warring States period (403–221 BC).
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Detail of an embroidered silk gauze ritual garment from a 4th-century BC Zhou era tomb at Mashan, Hubei province, China. The flowing, curvilinear design incorporates dragons, phoenixes, and tigers.
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Pulao on a bell in Wudang Palace, Yangzhou
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Five-clawed dragon on porcelain ball, Qing dynasty
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Reverse of bronze mirror, 8th century, Tang dynasty, showing a dragon with three toes on each foot
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Wall tile depicting the Azure Dragon of the East, Ilkhanate
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Mural depicting the Azure Dragon of the East in a Goryeo tomb
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The Nine-Dragon Wall in Datong, built in 1392, Ming dynasty
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Pillar with dragon decoration from the Yingzao Fashi, Song dynasty
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Column with dragon design at Temple of Confucius, Qufu, constructed in 1730, Qing dynasty
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Stone relief of dragons between a flight of stairs in the Forbidden City
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Dragon symbols on the eaves-tiles of the Forbidden City
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Emperor Taizong of Tang in dragon robes
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Dragon images on the borders of Empress Yang's robes, Song dynasty
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The Hongwu Emperor in a dragon robe, Ming dynasty
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The Qianlong Emperor in ceremonial armor decorated with numerous images of dragons, Qing dynasty
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Ceremonial Qing dynasty armour with dragon imagery, 18th c.
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Court robe with nine dragons, Qing dynasty
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Court robe with nine dragons, Qing dynasty
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Azure Dragon of the East, Han dynasty
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Boats with dragon heads, Yuan dynasty, 14th century
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Cloud Dragon by Anonymous, Ming dynasty, 15th-16th century
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Constellation deity riding a dragon, Ming dynasty, 16th c.
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Bronze dragon head handle, Han dynasty
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Gold seal with dragon handle, given to Nanyue by the Han dynasty
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Lobed mirror, Tang dynasty
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Gilt gold dragon, Tang dynasty
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Dragon and phoenix crowns, Liao dynasty
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Jade belt plaque, Yuan dynasty
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Jade belt plaque, Ming dynasty
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Jade belt plaque, Ming dynasty
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Pot with black dragon design, Song dynasty
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Dragon on blue and white vase from the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), Jingdezhen, unearthed in Jiangxi Province.
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Lidded jar with yellow dragon, Ming dynasty
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Blue-and-white porcelain plate with a dragon, Ming dynasty
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Cup depicting a seaside dragon, Ming dynasty
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Plate with two dragons, Qing dynasty
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Bowl with red dragon, Qing dynasty
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Non-Imperial Chinese dragon in Shanghai
See also
- In Spanish: Dragón chino