The rat, for instance, finishes in first place by convincing the ox to carry it across the river it represents cunning and tenacity. The dragon is the only mythological creature in the Chinese zodiac system.Įach zodiac animal’s competition strategy is indicative of that sign’s traits. The first 12 animals to complete the course will be included in the zodiac calendar, with their position in the cycle determined by the order in which they arrive at the finish line. In it, a deity often identified as the Jade Emperor calls upon all animals to participate in a race. The accompanying zodiac legend varies across Buddhist and Taoist belief systems, but the overarching narrative remains relatively consistent. “The system that included these 12 animals continues to be developed and represented, and evolved in connection with folklore from then on,” says Strassberg. But the classification scheme was only widely adopted during the Han dynasty, which presided over China from 206 B.C.E. Zodiac creatures are represented in artifacts and depicted in Chinese literature as early as the Warring States period, which spanned 475 to 221 B.C.E., and some scholars assert that a Chinese zodiac system has existed since the reign of Qin Shi Huang, the first Qin emperor, who ruled immediately after that period. The 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle has ancient origins, but exactly when it became associated with specific animal symbols is subject to debate. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons The birth of the zodiac This year, the dragon will take the helm from the rabbit on February 10, ushering in a long-anticipated period of prosperity unique to the mythical being. Though this perception is often a self-fulfilling prophecy, with parents investing greater resources in their dragon child, the extraordinary expectations surrounding the zodiac creature speak to its deep associations with intelligence, authority and good fortune. Many parents believe that a child born during this year, a lucky dragon baby, will be destined for success. When the Year of the Dragon arrives, birth rates in China tend to boom. “There an overwhelming mixture of respect and hope in invoking the dragon’s powers.” Strassberg, an expert on Chinese culture and the author of A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures From the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas. It “catalyzes all the powers of nine animals and is therefore considered very supreme,” says Richard E. Its character guides the course of the year, and individuals born under its sign are said to adopt its behavior, character traits and compatibility standards.Īrriving fifth in the sequence, the dragon is the most potent-and most desired-zodiac symbol. Every Lunar New Year, a new zodiac animal takes over the reins of fate. Though the timing of the Lunar New Year changes based on cycles of the moon, the celebration generally falls between January 21 and February 20, beginning with the second new moon after the winter solstice. The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 animals-the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig-that alternate every Lunar New Year. And, as the only mythological animal in the Chinese zodiac system, the dragon takes on yet another layer of meaning.Ī Zhou dynasty wine vessel featuring a depiction of a dragon Its symbolism builds on thousands of years of folklore and Chinese history. Initially a vague motif in ancient Chinese art, the dragon is now an emblem of benevolent divinity, imperial power and sweeping unity. Ancient legends depict the mythical being, called long in Chinese, descending to the ground with the fog and rising out of the ocean with the sun, moving the seasons in its wake. Pieced together, these disparate physical features yield an illustrious creature of Chinese legend: the dragon.īelieved to soar through the waters and heavens as a nature deity ruling over the rains, the dragon is a dominant figure in Chinese mythology, perched at the center of longstanding creation tales. A carp’s scales, an eagle’s claws and a tiger’s paws. A bull’s ears, a snake’s neck and a clam’s belly. A camel’s head, a deer’s horns and a demon’s eyes.
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