The dragon is an important symbol of traditional Chinese culture and the totem of the Chinese nation. In Chinese mythology, legends, art, architecture, festivals, etc., there are dragons. The image of the Chinese dragon is a combination of the characteristics of a variety of animals, with a horse's head, antlers, fish scales, snake body, eagle claws, etc., implying wisdom, majesty, auspiciousness, strength, etc. The Chinese dragon also has the magical ability to control wind and rain, regulate yin and yang, and bless the people, and is a sacred beast in the minds of the Chinese.
However, when we want to express the Chinese dragon in English, we will encounter a problem: the word dragon in English refers to the dragon in Western culture, which is very different from the Chinese dragon. The image of the Western dragon is a winged, fire-breathing terrifying creature, often the embodiment of **, an opponent of a hero or saint. The image of the Western dragon is far from the cultural connotation and aesthetic value of the Chinese dragon in European myths, legends, literature, movies, etc.
So, how do we distinguish Chinese dragons from Western dragons in English? In recent years, there has been a practice of translating the Chinese dragon as loong, rather than dragon. The purpose of this practice is to reflect the essential difference between Chinese dragons and Western dragons, and also to convey the cultural information of Chinese dragons to English-speaking readers. In fact, the word loong has been included in the Oxford English Dictionary, which defines it as "a mythical animal resembling a dragon, typically depicted as h**ing a long sinuous body, four legs, and horns on its head, and associated with water and the sky." in Chinese culture" (a mythical animal associated with water and sky in Chinese culture, similar to a dragon, often depicted with a long, zigzag body, four legs, and horns on its head).
The use of the word loong to refer to the Chinese dragon has also been recognized and supported by some Chinese. For example, the mascot "Long Chenchen" released at the 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala uses Loong Chenchen as its English name, and explains the meaning of Loong in the official introduction3. In addition, some Chinese games, anime, literature and other works will also use the word loong to show the characteristics of the Chinese dragon.
Of course, not everyone is in favor of using the word loong to translate the Chinese dragon. Some people believe that the word loong is not a standard English word, but a transliterated word that may cause confusion or misunderstanding among English readers. Some people believe that the word dragon has become so widely used that it has become a universal concept and there is no need to distinguish between Chinese dragons and Western dragons. Some people believe that the cultural connotation and aesthetic value of the Chinese dragon cannot be expressed by a single word, but needs to be realized through more cultural exchanges and dissemination.
In any case, the Chinese dragon is called loong instead of dragon, which is an attempt and an option. It reflects the confidence and pride of Chinese in their own culture, and also reflects Chinese's respect and tolerance for foreign cultures. It also reminds us that language is the carrier of culture, and culture is the soul of language. In the era of globalization, we should use more ways to let the world understand China and let China go global.
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