中国的“龙”文化

Chinese "Dragon" Culture

提起“龙”，相信大家都不陌生。龙在中国文化中根深蒂固，是最能象征中国的生物之一。但是龙在西方文化中通常被视为邪恶和不吉利的象征，所以当中国人说自己是“龙的传人”时，西方人可能是不理解的。因此，通过了解龙在中西文化中的差异，可以更好地帮助我们了解中国文化。

When it comes to "dragon", I believe everyone is familiar with it.Dragons are deeply rooted in Chinese culture, as the dragon is one of the most important creatures that can symbolize China. However, dragons are generally regarded as a symbol of evil and inauspiciousness in Western culture, so when Chinese people say that they are "descendants of the dragon", Westerners may not understand it. Therefore, understanding the differences between dragons in Chinese and Western cultures can better help us understand Chinese culture.

中国龙

在中国，龙被称为lóng（龙），是中国神话、中国民俗中的传说生物。在中国神话中，lóng（龙）有鹿角、骆驼头、兔眼、蛇颈、鲤鱼鳞、鹰爪、虎掌和牛耳。传统上，龙象征着强大和吉祥的力量，特别是对水、降雨、台风和洪水的控制。在中国文化中，优秀和杰出的人被比作龙，而没有能力、没有成就的人则被比作其他不受欢迎的生物。许多中国谚语和成语都提到了龙和其他不受欢迎的生物，例如“望子成龙”和“胆小如鼠”。

Chinese dragon

In China, the dragon is called lóng (dragon), and it is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology and Chinese folklore. In Chinese mythology, a lóng (dragon) has antlers, a camel's head, rabbit eyes, a snake neck, carp scales, eagle claws, tiger paws and bull ears. Dragons have traditionally symbolized powerful and auspicious forces, especially the control of water, rainfall, typhoons and floods. In Chinese culture, good and outstanding people are compared to dragons, while incompetent and unachievable people are compared to other undesirable creatures. Many Chinese proverbs and idioms refer to dragons and other undesirable creatures, such as "wàng zǐ chéng lóng"① and "dǎn xiǎo rú shǔ"②.(① means that you want your children to be as good as dragons.② means Timid like a mouse.)

龙在中国象征什么？

• 权力与权威

• 功成名就

在中国童话中，龙能升天，乘云驾雾，代表着向上和正能量。这就是为什么龙在中国人眼中是成功、高成就和繁荣的象征。

• success

In Chinese fairy tales, dragons can ascend to heaven,riding the clouds and driving the fog, representing upward and positive energy. That's why the dragon is a symbol of success, high achievement and prosperity in Chinese eyes.

• 正义、善意、善良

对于中华民族来说，龙代表着正义。在 中国民间传说中，东海龙王的三儿子未经玉皇大帝（最高皇帝）的许可，就下雨给一个村庄，违反了天理。他之所以这样做，是因为他不忍心看着这片土地的干旱给当地人带来的一切。为了纪念他，人们设立了二月二节（èr yuè èr jié二月二节），这是 中国传统节日，在农历二月初二举行。它还有一个名字：龙台头（lóng tái tóu龙顶头）节，龙台头意为“龙抬头”。

• Justiceandkindness

For the Chinese nation, the dragon represents justice. In Chinese folklore, the third son of the Dragon King of the East China Sea violated the laws of heaven by raining on a village without the permission of the Jade Emperor (the supreme emperor). He did this because he couldn't bear to watch what the drought in the land had done to the locals. To commemorate him, people set up February 2nd Festival (èr yuè èr jiéFebruary 2nd Festival), which is a traditional Chinese festival held on the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar. It also has a name: Longtaitou (lóng tái tóu龙抬头) festival. Longtaitou means "dragon raises its head".

• 财运吉祥

• Wealth is auspicious

Dragons are always associated with water in China. In Chinese legends, the Dragon King is believed to be the ruler of weather and water, such as rainfall, waterfalls, rivers and oceans. In ancient agricultural societies, abundant water sources often meant abundant grains, so dragons were also associated with abundant grains and a prosperous and comfortable life.

龙在西方象征什么？

在西方，龙的形象与中国龙的形象截然不同。在西方文化中，龙不会带来好运，而是会喷火的怪物。西方龙更多的是一个反面人物，一个蛮横的怪物，这使得打败并杀死恶龙的英雄们英勇善战。就像在启示录中一样，撒旦以大红龙的形象出现。

What does the dragon symbolize in the West?

In the West, the image of the dragon is quite different from that of the Chinese dragon. In Western culture, dragons are not good luck, but fire-breathing monsters. The western dragon is more of a villain, a savage monster, which makes the heroes who defeat and slay the dragon heroic. Just like in the Apocalypse, Satan appears as the great red dragon.

中国龙与西方龙的差异，正是中西文化差异的一个缩影。关注我们了解更多有趣的中国文化知识吧！

The difference between Chinese dragons and Western dragons is just a microcosm of the cultural differences between China and the West. Follow us to learn more interesting Chinese cultural knowledge!