Chinese dragon

Chinese Dragon
GroupingMythical creature
Sub groupingDragon
FolkloreChinese mythology
CountryChina
Chinese dragon
"Dragon" in oracle bone script (top left), bronze script (top right), seal script (middle left), Traditional (middle right), Japanese new-style (shinjitai, bottom left), and Simplified (bottom right) Chinese characters
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Literal meaningDragon In Asian, including Asian Cultural, Including East Asian Cultural Translations, including Asian Translations, including East Asian Translations
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinlóng
Bopomofoㄌㄨㄥˊ
Gwoyeu RomatzyhLighu Júng
Wade–Gileslung2
Tongyong PinyinLihúng Juhng
Yale RomanizationLiuháng Humng
MPS2Ligu húng
IPA[lʊ̌ŋ]
other Mandarin
Xiao'erjingتنين
DunganЛонг
Sichuanese PinyinLihú4 ng4
Wu
RomanizationLuhí-ng
Shanghainese
Romanization
lon3
Suzhouneselón
Gan
RomanizationLiú
hng
Xiang
IPALihú33-ng24
Hakka
RomanizationLíhúng24-áng2
Pha̍k-fa-sṳLíhúng-ng
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationlùhng
Jyutpinglung4
IPA[lʊŋ˩]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJLíuh-ng
Tâi-lôlîng (col.)
liông (lit.)
Eastern Min
Fuzhou BUCLhioung-hong
Pu-Xian Min
Hinghwa BUCLhoiun-hong
Northern Min
Jian'ou RomanizedLhoi-hong
Middle Chinese
Middle Chineselɨoŋ
Old Chinese
Baxter–Sagart (2014)*mə-roŋ
Zhengzhang*b·roŋ or *mroːŋ
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabetLong
Chữ Hán
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Transcriptions
Revised Romanizationyong
McCune–Reischaueryong
Japanese name
Kanji /
Transcriptions
Romanizationryū

The Chinese dragon (Chinese: ; pinyin: lóng), also loong, is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology, Chinese folklore, and Chinese culture at large.[1] Chinese dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles and fish, but are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs. Academicians have identified four reliable theories on the origin of the Chinese dragon: snakes, Chinese alligators, thunder worship and nature worship.[2] They traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water.[3]

  1. ^ Lau, Chris (16 February 2024). "Happy New Year of the Dragon - or should that be 'Loong'?". CNN. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  2. ^ Meccarelli 2021, pp. 123–142.
  3. ^ Carlson, Kathie; Flanagin, Michael N.; Martin, Kathleen; Martin, Mary E.; Mendelsohn, John; Rodgers, Priscilla Young; Ronnberg, Ami; Salman, Sherry; Wesley, Deborah A. (2010). Arm, Karen; Ueda, Kako; Thulin, Anne; Langerak, Allison; Kiley, Timothy Gus; Wolff, Mary (eds.). The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images. Köln: Taschen. p. 48. ISBN 978-3-8365-1448-4.