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Chinese Loong
精神圖騰-中國龍
龍在中國文化里是既威嚴又祥瑞的神獸。時至今日, 依然是中國人重要的精神圖騰, 象征著中華民族不屈不撓的開拓精神。
The dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles and fish, but are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs. They traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers.
Even till today, the Chinese Loong remains an important totem for us. It represents our unrelenting and pioneering spirit of keeping pace was the times.
Chinese Dragons
vs
Western Dragons
中國有龍，西方亦有龍，你可能要問二者區(qū)別是什么？其實，二者不論從外形還是寓意都有著本質(zhì)的區(qū)別：
住處不同:
Western dragons often live in lairs or caves and mountains; while Chinese dragons live at the bottom of lakes and rivers, and in cloudy skies.
西方的龍常住在幽暗山洞、巢穴；
中國的龍存在于江河湖海，天庭云端。
外貌不同:
Western dragons have large bat-like wings and big claws, they almost look like dinosaurs with wings; while Chinese dragons, have elements of many different animals, and looks more majestic.
西方的龍有著蝙蝠一樣的翅膀和巨爪，看上去就像是長了翅膀的恐龍，通常面目猙獰令人恐懼；
中國的龍則有很多不同動物身上的特征，比如：蝦眼、鹿角、牛嘴、狗鼻、鯰須、獅鬃、蛇尾、魚鱗、鷹爪，看上去莊重而威嚴。
性格不同:
Western dragons are depicted as dangerous creatures and symbols of evil usually; while Chinese dragons, by contrast, are believed to be auspicious and lucky, a symbol of great power, good fortune, wisdom, and health.
西方的龍通常是邪惡危險的存在；
因為中西方文化里龍的意向一正一邪，意義相去甚遠，于是也有學(xué)者建議“龍”直接翻譯為“Loong”.
Dragon Kings
水的統(tǒng)治者
大到四海龍王, 小到一口水井里的井龍王,，龍，在我們的民間信仰里一直都是水的掌控者。一直到今天, 中國江河沿岸的城鎮(zhèn)還保留著不少古時建城祈禱無旱無澇的龍王廟。
Chinese Loong are strongly associated with water and weather. They are believed to be the rulers of moving bodies of water such as rivers, seas, waterfalls. There are four major Dragon Kings representing each of the four seas.
The 9 Sons of the Chinese Dragon
龍生九子，九子不成龍，各有所好。
（九子有不同版本，以下僅供參考）
· Bixi (赑屃 Bìxì)
— eldest, turtle-shaped with sharp teeth, fond of carrying heavy objects; often on graves/monuments
“赑屃”形似龜，好負重，長年累月地馱載著石碑。人們常能在廟院祠堂里見到這位“大力士”。
· Qiuniu (囚牛 Qiúniú)
— yellow scaly dragon, likes and excels in music; often adorns musical instruments
因囚牛平時愛好音樂，它常被用來裝飾樂器。
· Yazi (睚眥 Yázì )
— snake belly and leopard head, keen on fighting/killing; often decorates sword grips
“睚眥必報”說的就是龍的這一個兒子。龍首豺身，生性好殺斗，經(jīng)常能在劍柄刀環(huán)的吞口上看到它。
· Chaofeng (嘲風(fēng) Cháofēng)
— instinctively adventurous; often adorns palace roof ridges
“嘲風(fēng)”，形似獸，好冒險也好望，所以常被用來裝飾宮殿屋脊。
· Pulao (蒲牢 Púláo)
— known for loud crying; often on bell handles
“蒲牢”天生大嗓門，好鳴好吼叫；所以，經(jīng)常能在洪鐘上看到它。
· Chiwen (螭吻 chīwěn)
— lives in the sea, harsh-voiced, delights in devouring creatures; often on palace ridgepole ends
“螭吻”，龍形吞脊獸，住在海里，口闊噪粗，平生好吞，常被用作鎮(zhèn)邪之物，用以避火。
· Bi'an (狴犴 Bì'àn)
— likes lawsuits, often stands by jail gates
“狴犴”，形如老虎，喜歡官司，訴訟；在以前的衙門正堂和牢房里可以看到它的身影。
· Suanni (狻猊 Suānní)
— lion-shaped, delights in sitting cross-legged and smelling incense; often on Buddhist temple incense burners and seats
“狻猊 ”喜靜不喜動，能坐著絕不站著，又尤愛焚香的味道，所以常在佛教寺廟的香爐座上看見它。
· Fuxi (負屃 Fùxì)
— most Chinese dragon-like; often on stone tablets
“負屃”身似龍，平生好文不喜武功，因其擁有著豐富的學(xué)識，所以常被立于碑文之上。
在另一版本中，則有大家都知道的“好吃”的“饕餮”。
· Taotie(饕餮 tāotiè)
— a hybrid of different beasts, a bit of a glutton who loves to eat; often found on food related wares
“饕餮”是典型的吃貨，經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)在青銅鼎等食物相關(guān)的器具上。
這一版本的九子分別是：
老大赑屃（bìxì）
老二螭吻（chǐwěn）
老三蒲牢（pǔláo）
老四狴犴（bìàn）
老五饕餮（tāotiè）
老六蚣蝮（gōngfù）
老七睚眥（yázì）
老八狻猊（suāní）
老九椒圖（jiāotú）
