Chinese Dragons — Facts, Culture, and Art
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/article-chinese-dragons.htm
ARTICLE SUMMARY
This article is written to describe the cultural values of the Chinese dragon. It is the symbol of luck and fortune instead of evil or dangerous which we usually perceive from the western point of view toward the dragons. They are considered lucky charm that brings the rain during the environmental crises. The author also describes the various facts related to the dragon in Chinese culture: existence, zodiac sign, emperor’s history, luck phenomena, shape, and location of the dragon where we can find them.
These dragons are linked to their ancestry and modern days and can be found in their cultural festivals being used as mascots to represent their values towards them. It further describes the ancestor Yandi’s birth (Tribe Leader) to his mother, also supported by a dragon and Huangdi (Tribe Leader). These two were the leaders who led the civilization in china and the ancestors of the Chinese people. Over time, the people of china started calling themselves the descendants of Yandi, Huangdi, and Chinese dragons according to belief in the birth of their tribe leader. The dragons were an imaginary object in ancient times, but they have started portraying them as mascots in recent days to keep the essence of their beliefs and rituals. The symbol of the dragon represents the culture not only in China but all around the world.
Chinese New Year is celebrated by dancing, and the dragon is used as a mascot by dancers, which is usually 70 meters long. There is another Dragon Boat Festival where boats are decorated like Chinese dragons to attract the people toward their custom. The dragon has nine sons as per the Chinese belief, and they are used in architectural decoration all over China. We can find the origin of the dragon in Totem-worship theory in Chinese history. The Forbidden City is where one can see all the nine sons, and the dress embroidered with a Chinese dragon is kept in the museum.
PERSONAL REVIEW
This article covers almost all the information related to Chinese dragon culture and is interesting at the same time. First, the author briefly explained the origin of the dragon in Chinese culture and how it is celebrated in recent days. This culture has a lot of significance for the people of China, and I appreciate the fact that they adapt the dragon’s attributes in their lifestyle to stay firmer and motivated. However, the dragon has nothing to do with the human race, and there is no scientific proof, but the dragon is considered a part of ancestors in Chinese belief. It should merely be a symbol and signify the qualities. It is celebrated will full passion in China and around the world by Chinese people, which seems very attractive.
Mascots are decorated with colors, and fantastic artwork is used to manufacture these dragons, which is quite a remarkable job and requires creative skills. This culture is unique in celebration as it requires enough training and rehearsal to perform during the occasions. These cultures are visible in real life. We have seen many movies and video games that represent the value of Chinese culture. I believe that every nation must remember its cultural values as it keeps the nations on the same page and united. It also reminds the hardship that our ancestors faced, and we should use the same fact to progress further as a nation. Also, people are valued and respected by other nations. Lastly, we must respect everyone’s culture and make things easier instead of bullying and cursing as it promotes peacetime and harmony in the society and helps nations progress.
REFERENCES
Pang, K. (2014). Chinese Dragons — Facts, Culture, Origins, and Art. China Highlights. https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/article-chinese-dragons.htm
