Ex-UN Official: Chinese Dragon Misconceptions Dispelled
Chinese culture places a great deal of importance on the dragon. It has a tight relationship to power and the emperor as well. Perhaps because of our dinosaur heritage, we Europeans have a tendency to view dragons as dangerous beings who could hurt us,” stated Solheim. According to former UN undersecretary-general Erik Solheim, the dragon represents luck, strength, health, and authority in Chinese culture. China is replete with red landmarks, a hue associated with auspiciousness. In cities and towns alike, lanterns are a common sight on the streets and alleys. Thrilling music creates a happy mood at supermarkets and shopping centers with its energetic tunes.
Exploring The Truth Behind Chinese Dragon Mythology
Erik Solheim, the executive director of the UN Environment Programme and a former UN undersecretary general, remarked, “My Chinese friends wish their babies to be born in the Year of the Dragon.” “I believe that Chinese dragon culture is harmless and that there is no need to be afraid of Chinese dragons. Instead, let’s concentrate on how to treat one another with respect and interest.” According to Solheim, the dragon represents power, strength, health, and good fortune in China.
However, the legendary beast has a more menacing reputation in European mythology. Solheim urged for clarity, citing proposals that the Chinese dragon should be rendered “loong” in English in order to distinguish the mythological beast from its Western equivalent. A totem of the Chinese people, loong, or Chinese dragon, is the fifth sign in the traditional Chinese zodiac animal cycle. Chinese people, both domestically and internationally, take pride in referring to themselves as “the descendants of loong.” Chinese people have long held the custom of climbing a mountain, saying a prayer for good fortune, and making wishes for the next year.
Guardians of Nature And Harbingers of Rain
In the West, not many people are aware of what a loong is. He stated, “I think it is better to explain the role of the dragon in Chinese culture,” highlighting the need for respect and understanding over antagonism toward cultural icons. Even in the midst of geopolitical tensions, Solheim rejected worries that calling Chinese people “descendants of the dragon” would generate discomfort in the West. He supported putting more emphasis on respect, inquiry, and cooperative problem-solving than on the meaning of national symbols. He maintained that this strategy may aid in addressing global issues including war, environmental degradation, and economic recovery. Recalling his lengthy trips around China, Solheim highlighted the lasting impressions left by the country’s different regions and cultures, expressing a special appreciation for historic towns like Xi’an, Kaifeng, Hangzhou, and Suzhou.
The Dragon and the Emperor
Solheim, a 2023 Chinese Government Friendship Award laureate, noted that he has seen China’s significant advancements in the creation of an ecological society throughout time. He continued by saying that the award emphasizes how crucial international collaboration and solidarity are in the face of global difficulties.”I love China, its history, culture, people, nature, food and recent achievements in development and environment,” Solheim stated.
China celebrated the Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar New Year. Celebrated as the most popular holiday in China, it marks a period of happy family get-togethers and a plethora of cultural activities. In China, lighting and admiring lanterns at the Spring Festival is a long-standing custom. It is customary for Chinese people to hike up a mountain, offer prayers for good fortune, and make wishes for the next year. Amidst the resurgence of traditional holiday activities, Chinese people are also exploring novel and distinctive methods to say adieu to the previous year and usher in the upcoming one.
Conclusion
In China, lighting and admiring lanterns at the Spring Festival is a long-standing custom. A magnificent lantern festival has lit the nation’s largest and best-preserved historic city wall, located in the center of Xi’an. Along the top of the city wall are 37 enormous lanterns in the shape of dragons that are twisted and turned, adorned with peony, Chinese knots, and other festive decorations. One of the most striking and photogenic of them is an eighteen-meter-tall lantern at Yongning Gate (South Gate) Square. It was inspired by a C-shaped jade dragon that originated around 5,000 years ago in the early Hongshan civilization. “For over forty years, the city wall lantern festival has taken place. Low-carbon and environmentally friendly materials are used in the Year of the Dragon edition. For instance, reusable exterior skins and energy-efficient lighting are commonly employed,” stated Qiu Yue, the activity’s artistic director.
