Dragons and pandas are two ever-present symbols that have been deeply engraved in Chinese culture for generations. Despite their obvious visual differences, both have come to serve as two of China’s most beloved emblems. For millions both domestically and internationally, these famed creatures are the perfect embodiments of China’s identity.
Dragons
Dragons (龙; lóng in Chinese) have existed in Chinese mythology for millenia. Unlike their perception in American media as fearsome, evil reptiles, Chinese dragons are considered benevolent and wise, and were heavily worshipped. The Ancient Chinese believed that dragons were the cause of the seasonal rains and floods that were crucial to the cultivation of crops. In fact, many retellings of the zodiac story say that the dragon finished fifth in the race because it had to make a detour midway to bring rain to a struggling village!
Due to their influence over the weather, dragons became a sign of luck and strength. Arising from their compassionate nature, they were often used to symbolize Imperial Chinese emperors to represent their generosity and power. Additionally, in times of distress, villagers would hold an intricate procession to induce dragons into bringing them rain; this later evolved into modern-day Chinese New Year dragon dances. These mythical animals were so incredibly prevalent in Ancient Chinese society that over 40 rivers had the word “dragon” in them, and they also played a significant role in some of China’s largest religions, such as Chan Buddhism and Taoism.
Even nowadays, dragons are seen as auspicious creatures and as symbols of resilience, power, fortitude, and wealth. Excellent and extraordinary people are often compared to dragons, there are more babies born during dragon years of the Chinese zodiac, and there are a number of Chinese idioms referencing dragons; one such example is 望子成龙 (wàng zǐ chéng lóng, to hope that one’s child will become a dragon), meaning to hope that one’s child will be successful in life. Evidently, the cultural impact they have had on Chinese society cannot be understated.
Pandas
When people think of China, their first thought will often be about the panda. Unlike dragons, giant pandas (熊猫; xióngmāo in Chinese) do not have a long history of appearing in Chinese mythology; rather, their rise has been fueled by their friendly appearance and nature. In recent years, the panda has replaced the dragon as China’s most widely known international symbol.
Hailing from the Sichuan Province in central China, these endangered animals are a symbol of friendship and peace. Pandas have been described as a “Chinese national treasure,” and their distinctive black and white coat is told to represent the yin and yang. Owing to their gentle disposition, the Chinese regard it as their international symbol. Gifts of giant pandas to American and Japanese zoos in the 1970s formed the basis of diplomatic relations between the Chinese government and other countries. Dubbed “panda diplomacy,” these gifts were one of the first cultural exchanges between China and the West. In addition, as a sign of international peace and cooperation, the Chinese designed a character based on a panda as one of the mascots of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Pandas play a large part in connecting China with the rest of the international community, and will continue to be used in the future as a sign of goodwill.
Sources:
- https://www.ancient.eu/article/1125/the-dragon-in-ancient-china/
- https://chinese.yabla.com/chinese-english-pinyin-dictionary.php?define=wang+zi+cheng+long
- https://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx
- https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/article-chinese-dragons.htm
- https://www.tour-beijing.com/china_travel_guide/culture/chinese_symbols/giant_panda/
- https://sites.google.com/site/bamboo257/pandas-in-chinese-culture
- https://myanimals.com/animals/wild-animals-animals/the-giant-panda-a-symbol-of-culture-and-tradition/
- https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2019/01/18/why-china-rents-out-its-pandas
It was interesting to learn that the Americans characterized dragons as evil and scary when the Chinese worshipped them and thought to them as wise and mighty. They symbolized luck and strength for the Chinese. I liked the section of pandas because I love pandas. I loved leaving about their connection to China.
This is so interesting. Both dragons and pandas play a big part in my life. My brother is the year of a dragon and we would always have so many dragon paintings in my house. Pandas are my favorite animals and I have a huge collection of panda items in my house. I remember going to China and my exchange student gave me a panda plushie as a souvenir and anytime someone comes from China visiting my family, they would bring pandas as souvenirs. I can see why the dragon has played an important role in Chinese culture.
Great article! It’s amazing to see how different these two animals are yet they both play great parts in the Chinese culture. I also learned how pandas were one of the first gifts exchanged between China and the West.
Bro I love dragons and pandas. This article is very interesting as of how dragons and pandas are symbolized in Chinese history and culture. The article was informative and helpful with my understanding of the two. Keep up the good work.