We all know how much the Chinese worship dragons. These mythical creatures in the East bear only favorable significance and are mentioned in numerous myths. Why do the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom worship dragons so much? What does this symbol carry today?
Where did the dragon myths come from?
The dragon is a magnificent huge reptile, which is mentioned in the myths and legends of different civilizations. Moreover, all these myths are very similar to each other. Scientists believe that the serpent became the prototype of the dragon. Others are sure that the descendants of the dinosaurs, which people saw with their own eyes, were called so. On the other hand, many sailors swear that they saw in the oceans creatures similar to lizards. Yes, and Komodo lizards are somewhat similar to these mythical creatures.
It is known that in ancient mythology dragons were directly involved in the creation of the world. They controlled the elements and subjugated people. It is noteworthy that in the East, the dragon is considered good, and in the West - evil. The most popular is the Chinese dragon, which today is very revered.
Why exactly a dragon?
According to legend, before the legendary emperor Huangdi united the lands of China, the bear was a totem animal. However, after the unification, the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom began to honor the dragon, which was depicted on the emblem of the emperor. Moreover, the Chinese believed that the ancestors of their ruler were dragons. The latter were subsequently portrayed very unusual: with the body of a snake and the head of a bear. By the way, some consider the prototype of the dragon a fish, others are convinced that it was a crocodile. There is also the opinion of some historians who are sure that dinosaurs were the prototype of the dragon.
Descendants of the dragons
Chinese culture can be safely called "dragon." The emperors of the Celestial Empire considered themselves the descendants of these reptiles, and ordinary people worshiped them like gods. At the same time, they also believed that there were evil dragons who lived high in the mountains and sent curses on people.
Even today, the surname Lun is common among the Chinese (this is the name of the character meaning dragon). About 2.8 million inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom wear it. This is because they believe: a child in whose name is "moons" will be strong and reach heights. By the way, in the real names of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee there is this character.
Dragon image
The dragon combines the features of various animals, which makes it a collective, collective way. Therefore, his images on objects of applied art, paintings and cave paintings vary. Most often, dragons were depicted in the form of long snake-like creatures with four legs. Moreover, sometimes dragons possessed cow ears, tiger claws, demonic eyes, and even deer horns.
In ancient manuscripts you can find references to the fact that this mythical creature can become invisible, decrease in size and take the form of any creature or object. When dragons enter battle with each other, terrible storms and thunderstorms fall on the earth, the Chinese are sure. All because they command all the elements and have immense power.
What does the dragon symbolize in China?
The Chinese dragon moon is one of the four sacred animals. The three remaining are the tortoise, the unicorn, and the phoenix. The meaning of a symbol is very multifaceted. The dragon is the personification of Yang - an active male principle, as well as the Chinese nation as a whole. It is supplemented by the passive female principle of yin, which is embodied by the Chinese phoenix bird.
The dragon is associated among the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom with the elements of water. And water, as you know, gives the earth fertility. Therefore, the dragon among the Chinese was strongly associated with life and prosperity. The inhabitants of the Celestial Empire believed that the universe arose from the body of this serpentine creature. The cosmic energy of qi flows in his body, which activates the potential of people on three levels: mind, soul and body.
The Chinese believed that this creature was able to plunge into the deepest crevices of the bottom of the sea, and then rise as high into the sky as no one else.
Being a winged serpent, the dragon combines spirit and matter. It symbolizes the waters that carry life, and the breath of life. He subordinates to himself all four elements, therefore he symbolizes supernatural power and the highest spiritual wisdom.
The reptile personified change, the power of nature, the divine transformation, infinity. In Chinese mythology, about 100 species of dragons. Each of them has its own function.
What does the dragon symbolize in China today? His image became more mundane and material, as, indeed, people. He personifies wealth, power, wisdom and strength. In memory of this mythical creature, the Chinese celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival.
The types and meaning of feng shui dragons
According to legend, mythical lizards were very rich and zealously guarded their treasures from encroachments. The golden dragon symbolizes wisdom and wealth. An emblem depicting a yellow mythical creature was distributed among the rulers.
Today the statues of golden dragons are very popular among tourists. They serve as talismans that attract money, help improve business relationships with partners and protect against bad people. It is also believed that the image or figurine of a golden dragon can scare away the negative and protect the house from various troubles.
So what does the golden dragon in feng shui stand for? In addition to wealth and good luck in the business sphere, its owner will also be protected from negativity and bad people.
The blue dragon symbolizes power and prosperity. He is a sign of the emperor. The blue dragon is a symbol of heavenly protection. In China, it is called the "Moon" and is considered the supreme among the mythical reptiles.
The red dragon symbolizes vitality and strength. It is noteworthy that the serpentine lizard is found not only in China, but also on the ancient emblem of Wales and the national flag of Scotland. There he was a symbol of patriotism and love for the ancestors.
What does the black dragon symbolize for the Chinese? He personifies the test that needs to be passed, as well as calm and invincibility. Therefore, in souvenir shops, mythical creatures of black color are almost never found. In the mythology of other countries, the black dragon is the embodiment of darkness and death. So, the Scandinavian legends tell of the lizard Nidhegg, which bites the roots of the tree Yggdrasil.
Dragon symbol - meaning tattoo
The dragon has no gender, therefore it is a universal symbol that can be applied both to the body of a man and a woman. First of all, his image is associated with power and strength. It is also a symbol of nobility, tranquility and great wisdom. A tattoo speaks of the justice and determination of its owner. It is filled with people who seek to find their way in life.
The golden dragon tattoo symbolizes the desire for knowledge and the desire to comprehend all the secrets of the universe. The heavenly dragon strengthens the faith. If the mythical creature is depicted with horns, this suggests that the tattoo holder has determination and fearlessness. The red dragon is a symbol of passion and love, aggression and fearlessness, and the black - respect.
Feng shui dragon
If you purchased a Chinese dragon figurine (which it symbolizes, we discussed above), you need to place it correctly. Firstly, it is worth noting that it is recommended to purchase a souvenir in green or blue. The material in this case is unimportant. If you want it to attract well-being, there must be a pearl in the claws of a reptile. The size of the figurine should be small, otherwise the dragon will attract too much yang energy, which is not always useful. The house can not accommodate more than 5 statuettes.
Note that the dragon can be four- and five-fingered. The latter is an imperial symbol and carries enormous energy, which is not always possible to cope with. Therefore, it is recommended to buy a four-toed dragon.
It is advisable to place the figurine in the room where life and activity are in full swing. For example, in the living room. You can not put it in the bedroom and bathroom.
It is important that the dragon is no higher than the eye level of the owner of the house, otherwise the latter will lose power in his own home.
It is recommended to place the dragon in the eastern part of the house, to the left of the front door (if you look from the house), where it will protect the home from attacking negative energy. It is better to place the dragon, if possible, in a stream of air. The movement of air activates it and gives the greatest magical power.
Conclusion
So, we discussed what the dragon symbolizes in China. The description of this symbol is very multifaceted and goes back to ancient times. Historians claim that the dragon symbol was revered as early as the 5th millennium BC.