As the heir of the dragon, we cannot be ignorant of China's dragon culture. If you don't understand dragon culture, you can't understand the ancient Chinese civilization. What is the original form of the dragon? How was the concept of dragon formed? How did its image and cultural meaning develop and change? What is the influence of the dragon in Chinese culture? These questions have been plaguing people in different ways since ancient times, and have not yet been fully resolved, giving people a sense of confusion.
Here, we will trace the trail of the dragon, enter the ancient history and the world of the dragon, to understand and explore the mystery of the dragon ......
Records about the dragon
According to ancient scriptures, the dragon is a creation with deer-like horns, the head of a camel, the eyes of a hare, and the neck of a giant snake. Its belly looked like a "Shen" (a fictional water dragon resembling a crocodile). Its claws are like eagles, its fingers are like tigers, and its ears are similar to those of a water buffalo. The dragon has the ability to change from one object to another in an instant; from fat to thin, from tall to short. It can also fly up into the sky as well as down to the bottom of the sea. Seemingly, the dragon seems to be a creation with superhuman powers, capable of transforming into various forms. In China, the dragon symbol was created during the Shang and Yin dynasties (16th-11th centuries B.C., during the earliest hieroglyphic writing in China), and it was carved into the bones of animals and the shells of sea turtles. These carvings depicted a horned reptile with teeth, scales and in some cases claws. The above symbols usually indicate that the dragon was regarded as a cruel, sinful and unfortunate creation. Based on these symbols, Chinese scientists concluded that it was actually an alligator fish. Over the centuries, scientists have come up with many explanations and speculations about the dragon. Undoubtedly, the dragon in its original image must have been a reptile, a snake, an alligator or a lizard. Fossils and monuments dating back 5,000-6,000 years indicate that lizards, alligators and dragons were adapted from totems and religions that symbolized honor. By studying these found images, we can trace the earliest images of the dragon, its evolutionary history to its current appearance.
Although the first dragons had only a single image, as the ancient Chinese became more and more connected to each other, people began to portray their totems more imaginatively. Over a long period of time, this iconography evolved into a dragon or totem of an entirely different nature.
Thus, the dragon is a crystallization of people's imagination, a mysterious creation that has been worshipped for centuries. In modern Chinese paintings, dragons also appear in various forms. Ethnic minorities have depicted dragons as everything from a fish to a crocodile and a man.
Types of Dragons
Kui Long: Imaginative, monopodal god-monster creature, the germination of the dragon. The Classic of Mountains and Seas - The Great Desert East Classic describes Kui as: "the shape of a cow, a pale body without horns, a foot, in and out of the water then there will be wind and rain, its light is like the sun and moon, and its sound is like thunder, its name is Kui". But more ancient texts say kui is a snake-like monster. "Kui, the divine phantom is also like a dragon with one foot." (Shuowen Jiezi) "Kui, one foot, ? Excelsior and walks." ("Six Posts") in the late Shang and Western Zhou period bronze decoration, kui dragons pattern is one of the main decorations, the image is mostly open mouth, curled tail of the long strip, the shape of the bronze finish with the structure of the line is suitable for the main straight line, curved lines as a supplement, with the beauty of the ancient and clumsy.
Vermin: is an early dragon, to reptiles - snake as a model imagined, often in the water. "The viper turns into a jiao in 500 years, and the jiao turns into a dragon in 1000 years." It is the juvenile stage of the dragon, which appeared on bronze decoration at the end of the Western Zhou Dynasty, but not much.
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The chi dragon is a serpentine creature of the dragon genus, a kind of early dragon without horns, "Guangya" collection has "no horns said chi dragon" account. There are also two ways of saying chi dragons, one refers to the yellow hornless dragon, the other refers to female dragons, in the "Book of Han - Sima Xiangru biography" in the "red chi dragons, female dragons," the note, so in the unearthed jade pendant of the Warring States period there are dragons and chi dragons in the shape of the decoration, which means the male and female cross-tailed. From the Spring and Autumn period to the time of Qin and Han, bronze, jade carving, bronze mirror or building, often coiled chi dragon shape for decoration, the form of a single chi dragon, two chi dragons, three chi dragons, five chi dragons and even a group of chi dragons a variety of. Or as a card, or as a ring, or as a scroll. In addition, there are Bogu chi dragon, ring body chi dragon and other variations.
Jiao: generally refers to the scaly dragon that can flood. Legend has it that the dragon is able to create clouds and fog, and to soar into space. It is often used as a metaphor for a talented person who gets the chance to show his talents in ancient texts. About the origin and shape of the auger, classical literature say different, some say "dragon without horns said auger", some say "scaly said auger dragon". And the "inkers waving rhinoceros" volume three is more specific: the shape of the jiao like a snake, its head like a tiger, the longest to several zhang, more than in the creek pools and caves under the rock, sound like a cow. If the jiao see the bank or the valley of the pedestrian, that is to the mouth of the fishy saliva around it, so that people fall into the water, that is, in the armpit to suck its blood, until the blood is exhausted before stopping. Shoremen and boatmen often suffer from it. In the Southern Song Dynasty, there is a story in Liu Yiqing's "Shishu Xinyi" that Zhou Zhi went into the water for three days and three nights and chopped off a jiao and returned. The jiao may be a crocodile.
Horned Dragon: refers to the dragon with horns. According to the "Records of the Descriptions of the Differences", "a thousand years of Jiao into a dragon, the dragon 500 years for the horned dragon", the horned dragon is the oldest of the dragons.
Yinglong: The dragon with wings is called Yinglong. According to the "Description of differences", "the dragon 500 years for the horned dragon, a thousand years for the Yinglong", the Yinglong is the essence of the dragon, so it has grown wings. Legend has it that Yinglong is the ancient period of the Yellow Emperor's dragon, it has been the Yellow Emperor's order to crusade against Chi You, and killed Chi You and become a meritocracy. In the Yu flood, the dragon had a tail sweeping the ground, channeling the flood and merit, this dragon is also known as the yellow dragon, yellow dragon is Yinglong, so Yinglong is also a minister of Yu. The Yinglong is characterized by its wings, scaly body with spines, large and long head, pointed muzzle, small nose, eyes and ears, large eye sockets, high brow arch, sharp teeth, protruding forehead, thin neck, large belly, long tail and strong limbs, just like a winged Yangzi crocodile. In the Warring States jade carvings, stone carvings, paintings and lacquer ware in the Han Dynasty, often appear in the image of Yinglong.
Fire Dragon: is a dragon with fire deterrent. The whole body has purple fire winding, wherever the fire dragon passes through, all objects are burnt.
Coiling Dragon: refers to the hibernation in the ground without ascending to the sky of the dragon, the shape of the dragon for the coiling around. In China's ancient architecture, generally coiled in the columns of the dragon and decorative Zhuang beams, the ceiling of the dragon are customarily called coiled dragon. In the "Taiping Yuban", the coiled dragon has another explanation: "coiled dragon, body length of four zhang, green and black, red belt such as Jinwen, often with the water and down into the sea. Poisonous, hurt people will die." The coiled dragon and the scaly dragon, snake and so on mixed together.
Qinglong: for the "four spirits" or "four gods" one, also known as the Canglong. China's ancient astronomers will be a number of stars in the sky is divided into twenty-eight star area, that is, twenty-eight hosts, to observe the operation of the moon and the division of seasons, and twenty-eight hosts are divided into four groups, each group of seven hosts, respectively, to the east, south, west, and north of the four directions, the green, red, white, and black four colors, as well as dragons, birds, tigers, and Xuanwu (tortoises and snakes intersected) four kinds of animals, known as the "Four Elephant "or "Four Palaces". The dragon represents the east, the color green, the prisoner is called "East Palace Qinglong". To the Qin and Han, the "four elephants" and become "four spirits" or "four gods" (dragon, phoenix, tortoise, Lin), the mysterious color is also getting stronger. Existing in Nanyang Han painting museum of the Han dynasty "East Palace Canglong constellation" portrait stone, is composed of a dragon and eighteen stars and carved with jade and toad moon, the dragon is the whole Canglong constellation of the sign. In the Han Dynasty, there are a large number of "four spirits" in the portrait bricks, stones and tiles.
Ichthyosaurus: a dragon with a fish body is a dragon, but also a "dragon and fish change" form, this form of ancient China has long been. Said the court" in the "former white dragon under the cold abyss into a fish" record, "Chang'an ballad" said the "East China Sea fish into a dragon" and folk legend of the carp jumped over the Dragon Gate, are about the relationship between the dragon and the fish change. This kind of shape appeared in jade carving as early as the late Shang Dynasty, and has been developed through the generations.
Forms of Dragon
Sitting Dragon: Sitting in a seated position, with its head facing forward, a fireball standing under its chin, its four claws reaching out to the four directions in different forms, and its body curled upwards and then curved downwards in an arc, with an upright posture. Sitting dragon is generally set up in the center, solemn and serious, up and down or left and right often lined with a running dragon. In feudal society, the sitting dragon is a kind of honorable dragon Xiang.
Row of dragons: a slow walking shape, the whole dragon for the horizontal state of the front side. Row of dragons often for double and double relative decorations, constituting a double dragon playing with pearls picture, often decorated in the front of the temple in the two Fang heart, the vessel's long and narrow decorative surface is often used. If the single phase appears, the dragon's head is often turned back, making the picture more vivid.
Rising dragon: the head is on the top, galloping and flying, showing the rising momentum. If the head rises to the upper left, it is called "left ascending dragon", and the head rises to the upper right, it is called "right ascending dragon". Rising dragon and there are slow and sharp points, rising more slowly, you "slow rising dragon". The more rapid ascending, called "rapid ascending dragon". The head on the ascending dragon and downward momentum, known as the "back down dragon".
The descending dragon: the head is on the bottom, fluttering and fluttering, showing a downward movement. If the dragon's head to the left downward movement, called the "left side of the descending dragon", the dragon's head to the right downward movement, called the "right side of the descending dragon". The descending dragon is also divided into slow and urgent, the one that descends more slowly is called "slow descending dragon". If the descending is more rapid, it is called "Rapid Descending Dragon". The head of the descending dragon under the upward momentum, known as the "rising dragon" or "upside down dragon".
Double Dragon Playing with Pearls: two dragons play (or snatch) a fire pearl form of expression. Its origin comes from the planetary chart in astronomy, and the fire bead is evolved from the moon. Since the Han Dynasty, double dragons playing with beads has become a kind of auspicious and festive decorative pattern, mostly used in architectural color paintings and noble and prosperous vessels decoration. The form of the double dragons depends on the area of the decoration, if it is a long strip, the two dragons will be symmetrically located on the left and right sides, in the form of a row of dragons. If they are square or round, (including blocks that resemble these forms) the two dragons are arranged diagonally above and below, with a descending dragon at the top and an ascending dragon at the bottom. Whether it is long, or block-shaped, fire beads are in the center, showing a lively momentum.
Cloud Dragon: generalized to refer to the dragon running in the clouds. The dragon and the cloud are combined together, the cloud, is the foundation of the dragon. And the dragon hush out of the gas will become clouds. Cloud dragon pattern is the cloud and dragon **** the same body, the dragon's head, tail, feet "broken up" and abstract cloud fusion together, showing a kind of cloud like non-cloud, like a dragon non-dragon mysterious pattern.
Grass dragon: is a kind of rolling grass pattern containing the image of the dragon, also known as "rolling grass tangled branches of the dragon". The head has obvious dragon head characteristics, and the body, tail and limbs have become a curly grass pattern. The overall pattern often shows the main theme of the "S" shape, and the "S" shape continues to be extended, creating a continuous and everlasting artistic effect. The rich changes of the head and the curly grass curl form a picture with different movement and static, echoing each other, and rich layers. In terms of composition, it adopts a balanced form, emphasizes the beauty of curves, and is rich in a sense of rhythm. In the form of expression, the use of romanticism, with the auspicious meaning of the "Ruyi pattern" content, synthesized into a picture, giving people room for imagination. Cursive twine pattern is often used in architecture, furniture and utensils on the decoration.
The dragon: originated from the grass dragon, but also from the grass dragon, forming a unique form of expression. The lines of the dragon are straight and tough, with rounded corners at the twists and turns. The head of the dragon is also square and round, the overall coordination, simple, bright, and has a certain decorative interest, often used in furniture, interior decoration and construction of the frame.
Duanlong: the shape of the dragon is suitable for the round called Duanlong. It originated in the Tang Dynasty, the Ming and Qing Dynasties when the use of more common. "Four regiment dragon", "eight regiment dragon" and other regimental flowers for the crown system at that time, that is, a dress with four or eight regiment dragon is the most honored. Later developed into ten regiments, twelve regiments, sixteen regiments, twenty-four regiments, more and more, the use of the scope of relaxation, brocade, embroidery, ceramics, architecture, furniture and other decorative regiments have dragons, regiments of strong applicability, but also maintains the integrity of the dragon, decorative flavor is also very strong, the use of a very wide range. The expression of the dragon is also very rich, there are "sitting dragon group", "ascending dragon group", "descending dragon group" and so on. The round edge of the dragon is also decorated with water waves, Ruyi, grass dragon and other patterns, so that the dragon pattern is gorgeous and rich.
Why do we say that the Chinese people are the heirs of the dragon?
In ancient Chinese mythology, human beings were created by Nuwa pinching the yellow earth. Nuwa created mankind, so who created Nuwa herself? According to the popular belief, Nvwa was first created by the people who worshiped the snake as their totem.
What is a totem? A totem is a symbol of a clan in primitive societies. Totem belief is a very primitive belief. And the colors of the snake totem can be clearly seen in the images of Nuwa, Fuxi and so on. Snake totems are widely distributed and are now mainly concentrated in the southeast and southwest of China. During thousands of years of continuous migration, the cultures of various ethnic groups have intermingled with each other, and the snake totem has spread all over the Yangtze River and the north and south of the Yangtze River, and there are remnants or customs of the snake totem among the Gaoshan ethnic group in Taiwan and the Li ethnic group in Hainan. In the area where the snake is the totem, people generally recognize "snake" as the original form of "dragon", "dragon" is "snake" of the divine display. So in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui area called home snake for the "Canglong", "Tianlong", "home dragon" and so on, in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and other places, some ethnic groups call themselves "dragon species", "dragon people", "dragon household" and build snake temple, snake worship God.
From this, we can see that the Chinese people are the descendants of the dragon, and have a deep historical origin. The dragon is the symbol of the Chinese people, the Chinese people proudly consider themselves "descendants of the dragon".