Editing Chinese dragon (section)

== Cultural references ==

=== Number nine ===
{{Clear}}
The number [[9 (number)|nine]] is special in China as it is seen as the number of heaven, and Chinese dragons are frequently connected with it. For example, a Chinese dragon is normally described in terms of nine attributes and usually has 117 (9×13) scales—81 (9×9) Yang and 36 (9×4) Yin.
This is also why there are nine forms of the dragon and [[nine sons of the dragon]] (see [[#Classical depictions|Classical depictions]] above). The [[Nine-Dragon Wall]] is a [[spirit wall]] with images of nine different dragons, and is found in imperial Chinese palaces and gardens. Because nine was considered the number of the emperor, only the most senior officials were allowed to wear nine dragons on their robes—and then only with the robe completely covered with [[surcoat]]s. Lower-ranking officials had eight or five dragons on their robes, again covered with surcoats; even the emperor himself wore his dragon robe with one of its nine dragons hidden from view.

There are a number of places in China called "Nine Dragons", the most famous being [[Kowloon]] in Hong Kong. The part of the [[Mekong]] in Vietnam is known as ''Cửu Long'', with the same meaning.
{{Panorama|image = File:Chen Rong - Nine Dragons.jpg|height = 230|alt = |caption = A close up view of one full dragon (and the tail end and claw of another) from the ''[[Nine Dragons (painting)|Nine Dragons]]'' handscroll painted in 1244 by [[Song dynasty]] artist [[Chen Rong (painter)|Chen Rong]] |dir = rtl}}

=== Chinese zodiac ===
{{main|Dragon (zodiac)}}
[[File:BLW Wall-tile with Dragon.jpg|thumb|Wall tile depicting the Azure Dragon of the East, [[Ilkhanate]]]]
The [[Dragon (zodiac)|dragon]] is one of the 12 animals in the [[Chinese zodiac]] which is used to designate years in the [[Chinese calendar]]. It is thought that each animal is associated with certain personality traits. Dragon years are usually the most popular to have children.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2017/09/04/why-chinese-children-born-in-years-of-the-dragon-are-more-successful |title=Why Chinese children born in years of the dragon are more successful |newspaper=The Economist |date=4 September 2017}}</ref> There are more people born in [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] years than in any other animal years of the [[zodiac]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mocan |last2=Yu |first1=Naci H. |first2=Han |title=Can Superstition Create a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy? School Outcomes of Dragon Children of China |journal=The National Bureau of Economic Research |orig-date=August 2017 |date=May 2019 |issue=NBER Working Paper No. 23709 |pages=13, 47 |url=https://www.nber.org/papers/w23709.pdf |access-date=3 December 2019}}</ref>

=== Constellations ===
{{see also|Five elements (Chinese philosophy)}}
The Azure Dragon is considered to be the primary of the four [[Chinese constellation|celestial guardians]], the other three being the [[Vermilion Bird (Chinese constellation)|Vermilion Bird]], [[White Tiger (Chinese constellation)|White Tiger]], [[Black Tortoise (Chinese constellation)|Black Tortoise]]. In this context, the Azure Dragon is associated with the East and the element of Wood.

=== Dragon boat racing ===
{{main|Dragon boat}}
[[File:元 佚名 臨王振鵬 金明池圖 卷-Dragon Boat Regatta on Jinming Lake MET DP204603.jpg|thumb|Dragon boats racing in Hong Kong (14th century painting)]]
At special festivals, especially the [[Dragon Boat Festival]], dragon boat races are an important part of festivities. Typically, these are boats paddled by a team of up to 20 paddlers with a drummer and steersman. The boats have a carved dragon as the head and tail of the boat. Dragon boat racing is also an important part of celebrations outside of China, such as at [[Chinese New Year]]. A similar racing is popular in India in the state of Kerala called Vallamkali and there are records on Chinese traders visiting the seashores of Kerala centuries back (Ibn Batuta).{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

=== Dragon dance ===
{{main|Dragon dance}}
On auspicious occasions, including [[Chinese New Year]] and the opening of shops and residences, festivities often include dancing with dragon puppets. These are "life sized" cloth-and-wood puppets manipulated by a team of people, supporting the dragon with poles. They perform choreographed moves to the accompaniment of drums, drama, and music. They also wore good clothing made of silk.

=== With fenghuang ===
{{see also|Fenghuang}}
Fenghuang ({{zh|s=凤凰|t=鳳凰|p=fènghuáng|w=fêng<sup>4</sup>-huang<sup>2</sup>}}), known in Japanese as Hō-ō or Hou-ou, are [[Phoenix (mythology)|phoenix]]-like birds found in East Asian mythology that reign over all other birds. In Chinese symbolism, it is a feminine entity that is paired with the masculine Chinese dragon, as a visual metaphor of a balanced and blissful relationship, symbolic of both a happy marriage and a regent's long reign.

=== As nāga ===
[[File:Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkol Naga emerging from mouth of Makara.jpg|thumb|Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkol Naga emerging from mouth of Makara]]
In many Buddhist countries, the concept of the [[nāga]] has been merged with local traditions of great and wise serpents or dragons, as depicted in this stairway image of a multi-headed nāga emerging from the mouth of a [[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]] in the style of a Chinese dragon at Phra Maha [[stupa|Chedi]] Chai Mongkol on the premises of [[Wat]] Pha Namthip Thep Prasit Vararam in [[Amphoe Nong Phok#Places|Nong Phok District]], [[Roi Et Province]], Thailand.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

=== With tigers ===
The tiger is considered to be the eternal rival to the dragon, thus various artworks depict a dragon and tiger fighting an epic battle. A common [[chengyu]] to describe equal rivals is "dragon versus Tiger". In [[Chinese martial arts]], "Dragon style" is used to describe styles of fighting based more on understanding movement, while "Tiger style" is based on brute strength and memorization of techniques.{{citation needed|date=January 2011}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kwong |first=Kevin |date=25 June 2024 |title=Dragon, bear, horse, tiger, eagle ... the 12 animal fighting styles in Chinese martial arts |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3267763/12-animal-fighting-styles-chinese-martial-arts-sorry-no-panda |access-date=10 August 2024 |website=South China Morning Post}}</ref>

=== Botany ===
[[File:Ulmus pumila 'Pendula', 1908.jpg|thumb|right|'Dragon's-Claw Elm', [[Fengtai District|Fengtai]], 1908]]
The [[elm]] cultivar [[Ulmus pumila 'Pendula'|''Ulmus pumila'' 'Pendula']], from northern China, called 'weeping Chinese elm' in the West, is known locally as ''Lung chao yü shu'' ('Dragon's-claw elm') owing to its branching.<ref>U. pumila 'Pendula', '
[https://web.archive.org/web/20121009235909/http://ars-grin.gov/npgs/pi_books/scans/pi043.pdf "Inventory of Seeds and Plants Imported ... April–June 1915"]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211223345/http://www.nga.gov/education/chinatp_sl01.htm |date=20 December 2023}} (March 1918)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfh.ac.cn/(S(e02oru45kcxcxci21o5sw255)X(1))/Album/ShowPhoto.aspx?albumid=211b2456-906e-4ee5-8b00-72476a7c1eb8&&page=1&&photoid=edc2087a-46e1-4127-a773-eaa6287e54a4 |title=U. pumila 'Pendula' |script-title=zh:中国自然标本馆 |publisher=Cfh.ac.cn |access-date=30 August 2013}}</ref>

=== Language ===
A number of Chinese [[proverb]]s and [[Chengyu|idiom]]s feature references to a dragon, such as "Hoping one's child will become a dragon" ({{Zh|s=望子成龙|t=望子成龍|p=wàng zǐ chéng lóng|j=mong6 zi2 sing4 lung4}}).{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}