Chinese dragon is a symbol of prosperity

The Chinese dragon (moons) is China's most famous mythical creature , if not the entire East Asian culture. Symbolizing abundance, prosperity, luck, it differs from dragons in Western European cultures, which, as a rule, are associated with evil. The appearance of the moon combines the features of nine animals: a camel (head), a snake's neck), a bull (ears), a deer (horns), carp (scales), tiger (paws), eagle (claws), lobster (eyes), whale (tail). Thanks to a bump on the head, the moon can fly without wings. True, in artistic creations he is portrayed as a serpentine scaly creature with four paws. Its mythological origins in Chinese culture have been lost in centuries, but it is traditionally believed that it is the ruler of water bodies.

Since primitive times People believed This mysterious creature, possesses supernatural powers, capable of blessing and influencing their life. When many tribal entities were united into one community, the Chinese dragon became a national symbol and deity of rain, thunder, rainbow and stars. In a society engaged in agricultural labor, almost everything depends on nature, so the moon was worshiped as the source of everything related to well-being. Even today in rural areas, people turn to local deities in the person of dragons (who, according to popular beliefs, live in rivers, lakes, bays) when they ask that it starts to rain. Faith in the magical powers of the moon was maintained for thousands of years.

With the formation of a feudal society in the Middle Kingdom, the Chinese dragon became the exclusive symbol of the emperor, personifying his power and strength. According to the concept of opposites of ancient Chinese natural philosophy, the moon - yang, fenghuang (phoenix) - yin. They personify heaven and earth (emperor and empress), thus, control the destiny of mankind.

The Mongols, who conquered the Chinese lands in the thirteenth century, accepted the symbols and distributed them in the countries of the Middle East, which they also conquered. Of course, for Middle Eastern art they were an innovation in the thirteenth century. But later, the stylized images of the Chinese dragon and phoenix are increasingly appearing on carpets, metal products.

For millennia, the image of the moon has undergone a number of changes - from the ferocious and mysterious on the primitive products of the Bronze Age to the elegant and tamed in works of art from the time of the Song dynasty. It can be of different colors - yellow, blue, black, white, red. The most revered - yellow, associated with the legendary first emperor Fu Xi.

Mythological creature, as is known, is also popular in Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese cultures. The Chinese dragon plays an important role in festivals. So, the dance of the moon, which has a long history, was popular already in the time of the Song dynasty.

The most amazing embodiment of the motive is "Jiulongby" (the wall of nine dragons). Such walls were in the imperial palaces and gardens, they performed a protective function. There are nine main species of this creature, among them the most powerful is the horned Chinese dragon. The tattoo that depicts it is very popular today in different cultures.