Difficulty: Challenger (Stage 2)
Congratulations on your Dragon Year! These mythical creatures are often considered strong and lucky. Continue reading to learn more about the role of dragons in Chinese culture.
What does a dragon look like?
There is no evidence that dragons are based on real animals. Most Chinese legends depict them with long bodies, scales, and claws.
According to mythology, this creature has the body of a serpent, the scales of a fish, the horns of a deer, the face of a camel, the ears of a bull, the claws of an eagle, the belly of a clam, and the legs of a tiger. They also had power over the weather and water.
symbol of nobility and power
In the past, the dragon symbolized the power of the emperor, who was called the “true dragon,” and only members of the royal family could use its appearance on clothing and furniture. Emperors used dragon symbols on their robes to show that they were superior to everyone else.
Only the emperor and his immediate family can wear the most special five-clawed dragon.
The Chinese are often called “descendants of the dragon.” This is because people believe that China’s first emperor, Qin Shihuang, had dragon blood in his veins.
wisdom and success
Zhuge Liang, an imperial advisor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, was also known as “Wolong” or “Hidden Dragon.” He was given this nickname because he was a great strategist and talented general who was often underestimated by his people.
Today, ambitious, talented and accomplished people are sometimes called dragons.
There is also a Chinese proverb that says, “I pray that my son will become a dragon.” This means that parents expect success and a great career for their son.
Test your knowledge of the vocabulary in the story using the crossword below.
Recommended answer
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before reading: The dragon is considered a symbol of power in Chinese culture, as it was used only by the emperor, the most powerful person of the time.
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calm down and think: Dragons in Chinese folklore usually have long bodies with scales and claws. They are usually very strong and can often fly or breathe fire.
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consider: This represents the wishes of parents for their child to succeed and achieve great things in life.