The year 2023 is coming to an end, and it is known for being the luckiest attribute of dragons. This year, the number of young people getting married has increased unusually high, and people have taken brides or daughters in the hope of giving birth to a smart and healthy dragon baby. Dragons have a very high status in Chinese culture and can bring good luck and auspiciousness. The image of the dragon appeared very early in ancient Chinese literature. The earliest oracle bone inscriptions contain the word "dragon" and can be directly identified as a pictograph. The ancient dictionary Shuowen Jie Zi explains the word "dragon" as a scaly image that has changed a lot and has become closer to what it is now familiar with. According to legend, the Yellow Emperor created the image of a dragon in ancient times. It is said that when the Yellow Emperor unified the various tribes, he fused the totemic images of the tribes together to create a snake-like body, a deer-like beautiful horn, rabbit-like eyes, a camel-like head, and a mirage-like belly. This newly created dragon totem became an object of worship among the tribes. Since then, the dragon has become a symbol of the Chinese nation and has been passed down from generation to generation. However, the image of the dragon is not fixed and has evolved over the course of history. Before the Spring and Autumn period, the image of the dragon was more related to reptile features. After the Warring States period, the image of the dragon gradually became like a snake, and began to move closer to flying animals. By the time of the Song Dynasty, the image of the dragon was very similar to the image of the dragon as we know it today. No matter what form the dragon appears in, its status in the minds of the people is supreme. Since the Qin and Han dynasties, the rulers of all dynasties have regarded the dragon as a symbol of the emperor, they sit in the dragon court, sleep on the dragon bed, show the dragon's face, and make the dragon mighty. At the same time, ordinary people also respect the dragon very much, because they believe that the dragon is the divine beast of Si Yu, as long as the dragon fulfills the duty of Shi Yun Buyu, it can make heaven and earth yang, the five grains are abundant, and the people will not starve. In order to worship the dragon, in addition to kowtowing and burning incense, people will also dance dragons and row dragon boats on specific days. Although most people believe that dragons are fictional, there are some people who have always believed that dragons are real and have been working to find their traces.
A few years ago, some people claimed that a cave was found on the mountain behind Shimen Village, Linwu County, Hunan Province, and there was a dragon pond in it, in which a long dragon was entrenched. It is said that the elderly people in Shimen Village have heard the elders say that there is a dragon cave on the mountain behind the village, and there is a dragon in the cave. A local cattle herder discovered the cave while looking for cattle in the mountains and saw a giant dragon lying in the dragon pond. The news spread quickly, and someone even uploaded the ** of the Dragon Cave on the Internet. After hearing this, the geographer organized an exploration team to enter the cave to investigate. Experts eventually found a 13-meter-long stone dragon, but they believed that it was only an underground cave carved by natural factors, not a real dragon. Since then, there have been a few more similar claims, but none of them have been conclusively substantiated. Some netizens questioned the expert's conclusion, believing that the dragon, as one of the 12 zodiac signs, could not be fictional, and it may just not be found yet.
Although no real dragons have been found, this does not affect people's love for dragons. As a symbol of the Chinese nation, the dragon has always had mystical and supernatural powers in people's hearts. Especially in the era of low marriage and birth rates, young couples hope to give birth to a baby dragon, with good wishes and expectations for the future. At the same time, the dragon is also an important painting, sculpture and decorative element in Chinese culture, and after thousands of years of inheritance and development, a unique dragon culture has been formed. Dragon dance, dragon boat racing, dragon carving, dragon patterns, etc. have all become an important part of traditional Chinese culture. By participating in and passing on these dragon cultural activities, people will pass on the power and charm of the motherland's culture to future generations.
In short, the dragon, as an important image in Chinese culture, has a profound historical background and meaning. Although there is no conclusive evidence that dragons actually exist, people's love for dragons and their beautiful yearning for auspiciousness have always existed. Through the mysterious power and historical evolution of the dragon, we can feel the exploration and desire of the Chinese nation for nature and human destiny. The inheritance and development of dragon culture also provides us with an opportunity to understand and inherit traditional culture.