Chinese Loong

精神图腾-中国龙

龙在中国文化里是既威严又祥瑞的神兽。时至今日, 依然是中国人重要的精神图腾, 象征着中华民族不屈不挠的开拓精神。

The dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles and fish, but are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs. They traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers.

Even till today, the Chinese Loong remains an important totem for us. It represents our unrelenting and pioneering spirit of keeping pace was the times.

Chinese Dragons

vs

Western Dragons

中国有龙，西方亦有龙，你可能要问二者区别是什么？其实，二者不论从外形还是寓意都有着本质的区别：

住处不同:

Western dragons often live in lairs or caves and mountains; while Chinese dragons live at the bottom of lakes and rivers, and in cloudy skies.

西方的龙常住在幽暗山洞、巢穴；

中国的龙存在于江河湖海，天庭云端。

外貌不同:

Western dragons have large bat-like wings and big claws, they almost look like dinosaurs with wings; while Chinese dragons, have elements of many different animals, and looks more majestic.

西方的龙有着蝙蝠一样的翅膀和巨爪，看上去就像是长了翅膀的恐龙，通常面目狰狞令人恐惧；

中国的龙则有很多不同动物身上的特征，比如：虾眼、鹿角、牛嘴、狗鼻、鲶须、狮鬃、蛇尾、鱼鳞、鹰爪，看上去庄重而威严。

性格不同:

Western dragons are depicted as dangerous creatures and symbols of evil usually; while Chinese dragons, by contrast, are believed to be auspicious and lucky, a symbol of great power, good fortune, wisdom, and health.

西方的龙通常是邪恶危险的存在；

因为中西方文化里龙的意向一正一邪，意义相去甚远，于是也有学者建议“龙”直接翻译为“Loong”.

Dragon Kings

水的统治者

大到四海龙王, 小到一口水井里的井龙王,，龙，在我们的民间信仰里一直都是水的掌控者。一直到今天, 中国江河沿岸的城镇还保留着不少古时建城祈祷无旱无涝的龙王庙。

Chinese Loong are strongly associated with water and weather. They are believed to be the rulers of moving bodies of water such as rivers, seas, waterfalls. There are four major Dragon Kings representing each of the four seas.

The 9 Sons of the Chinese Dragon

龙生九子，九子不成龙，各有所好。

（九子有不同版本，以下仅供参考）

· Bixi (赑屃 Bìxì)

— eldest, turtle-shaped with sharp teeth, fond of carrying heavy objects; often on graves/monuments

“赑屃”形似龟，好负重，长年累月地驮载着石碑。人们常能在庙院祠堂里见到这位“大力士”。

· Qiuniu (囚牛 Qiúniú)

— yellow scaly dragon, likes and excels in music; often adorns musical instruments

因囚牛平时爱好音乐，它常被用来装饰乐器。

· Yazi (睚眦 Yázì )

— snake belly and leopard head, keen on fighting/killing; often decorates sword grips

“睚眦必报”说的就是龙的这一个儿子。龙首豺身，生性好杀斗，经常能在剑柄刀环的吞口上看到它。

· Chaofeng (嘲风 Cháofēng)

— instinctively adventurous; often adorns palace roof ridges

“嘲风”，形似兽，好冒险也好望，所以常被用来装饰宫殿屋脊。

· Pulao (蒲牢 Púláo)

— known for loud crying; often on bell handles

“蒲牢”天生大嗓门，好鸣好吼叫；所以，经常能在洪钟上看到它。

· Chiwen (螭吻 chīwěn)

— lives in the sea, harsh-voiced, delights in devouring creatures; often on palace ridgepole ends

“螭吻”，龙形吞脊兽，住在海里，口阔噪粗，平生好吞，常被用作镇邪之物，用以避火。

· Bi'an (狴犴 Bì'àn)

— likes lawsuits, often stands by jail gates

“狴犴”，形如老虎，喜欢官司，诉讼；在以前的衙门正堂和牢房里可以看到它的身影。

· Suanni (狻猊 Suānní)

— lion-shaped, delights in sitting cross-legged and smelling incense; often on Buddhist temple incense burners and seats

“狻猊 ”喜静不喜动，能坐着绝不站着，又尤爱焚香的味道，所以常在佛教寺庙的香炉座上看见它。

· Fuxi (负屃 Fùxì)

— most Chinese dragon-like; often on stone tablets

“负屃”身似龙，平生好文不喜武功，因其拥有着丰富的学识，所以常被立于碑文之上。

在另一版本中，则有大家都知道的“好吃”的“饕餮”。

· Taotie(饕餮 tāotiè)

— a hybrid of different beasts, a bit of a glutton who loves to eat; often found on food related wares

“饕餮”是典型的吃货，经常出现在青铜鼎等食物相关的器具上。

这一版本的九子分别是：

老大赑屃（bìxì）

老二螭吻（chǐwěn）

老三蒲牢（pǔláo）

老四狴犴（bìàn）

老五饕餮（tāotiè）

老六蚣蝮（gōngfù）

老七睚眦（yázì）

老八狻猊（suāní）

老九椒图（jiāotú）