Dragon is an animal that is not available in reality. China's ancient religious totem and culture have created the image of the dragon and gradually improved and improved, which has formed a modern image that has been circulating to this day.Therefore, from a cultural perspective, it is necessary to accept the diversification of the Chinese image of the dragon, as well as the various elements of the dragon, and understand the historical changes of the dragon image.
According to the Ganzhi Chronicle and the lunar calendar, 2024 is the year of Jiachenlong.For the upcoming dragon years, like the different animals of the 12 zodiac signs, there are a large number of dragon patterns, portraits, and images appear to celebrate the New Year.However, there are also controversy about the image of the dragon. Among them, the most controversial is to measure whether the dragon's claws and toes are measured whether it is a real dragon or a fake dragon.
China Post issued the "Golden Dragon Xianrui" Lunar Calendar's Jiachen Dragon Year Stamp Stamp Memorial Stock Collection Book. The United Nations also launched 10 series of dragon stamps, each with exquisite pictures of dragons.Where there are traditional Chinese and Chinese traditions, there are dragon drawings and decorations.For example, Singapore's ox cart water tensor lamps, the lighting is mainly dragon's image.
A little observation, most of these dragons have claws, most of them are five claws, other three claws, and four claws.No one expected that on the issue of dragon claws, someone who was interested picked up a big problem.
Apple mobile phone launched the special model of AirPods Pro 2 Dragon Year. It is also available on the official website. The new dragon year mobile phone case is also drawn. A four -claw dragon is drawn on the mobile phone case, and it is equipped with a big red tone.This phone case is carefully drawn by well -known illustrator Yulong LLI. It uses gorgeous peony fireworks patterns, curled lines and bright colors to vividly show the brave spirit of the dragon, which means auspicious and auspiciousness.
However, the image of the dragon on this mobile phone shell has been voiced by Chinese netizens, calling on the Chinese culture. If some netizens have pointed out: "The five claws in Chinese traditional culture are dragon four claws as python ', and python is really referring to python as a python as a python as a python as a python as a python as a python as a python as a python as a python as a python as a python as a python is the python as the python is the python."Dragon" "Python and Dragon are not comparable", "Since it is a Chinese limited, it is necessary to understand Chinese culture in depth."
Four claws are not wrong
For such criticisms, there is also the opposite voice that the dragon in traditional Chinese culture has five claws from the beginning, but developed from three claws, four claws to five -claws.The number of dragon claws is judged whether it is true dragons or fake dragons. Among them, there are both cultural flow and the formation and change of the Chinese social hierarchy system.If it is not in line with the determination of mainstream culture, it is obviously allergic to disrespect to Chinese culture.
Dragon is an animal that is not in reality. The ancient religious totem and culture of China have created the image of the dragon and gradually improved and improved, so as to form a modern image that has been circulating to this day.Therefore, from a cultural perspective, it is necessary to accept the diversification of the Chinese image of the dragon, as well as the various elements of the dragon, and understand the historical changes of the dragon image.
Erya records that the dragon "horns like deer, head like camel, rabbits like rabbits, Xiangxiang snakes, belly like 蜃, scales like fish, claws like eagles, palms like tigers, ears like cattle".This is also the image of the dragon from the origin of nine animals. It was later recognized by the people of all ages, and it was also reflected in the various paintings, patterns, architecture, and clothing of Dragon.
Since the paw of the dragon looks like an eagle, the dragon's claws should be four claws and toes of each claw, the first three and the latter.Therefore, the dragon image of the Apple mobile phone shell is not wrong, but in accordance with the provisions of historical and culture, and even respects the previous definition of the dragon image of the dragon.However, history is constantly developing, and the image of Long in culture is also evolving and developing.
Not only dragon claws, but even the image of the dragon is nine types of dragons, each of them, and in folklore, there are four types of dragons: dragons, Yinglong, Laurong, and Dragon.However, there are only three dragons corresponding to the dragon's claws, and the dragon, Yinglong and Jinlong.Correspondingly, the claws of the dragon are one -to -toe, which appeared in the Shang Dynasty to the Warring States Period.After that, Yinglong, three -claw toe, appeared in the Warring States Period to the Sui Dynasty; then the golden dragon, with three -claw toe, four -claw toe, and five -claw toe.Three -claw toe and four -claw toes appeared in the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, and the five -claw toe appeared from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty.
It can be seen that the dragon of the five -claw toe appears in the late time in Chinese history, and it has also become a major image and expression of dragons in Chinese culture.Accompanied by the supreme status of the dragon, the "true dragon emperor", which is the first level of the emperor's world.Therefore, the first stamp in China was the "Daqing Dragon Post" issued by the Qing Dynasty in 1897. The dragon on the stamp was five claws, indicating that this was the "true dragon emperor".
Based on the evolution of history, on January 19, the United Nations Post Administration issued a special edition stamp version of the Chinese Lunar New Year's Dragon Year in New York to celebrate the arrival of the Chinese Lunar New Year.The stamp version of the Dragon Year is composed of 10 stamps with a face value of $ 1.50, and the entire version is priced at $ 17.95.Each stamp issued by the United Nations has the image of the dragon, and the dragon's claws are five claws.
The stamp dragon pattern is created by Chinese designer Pan Hu, which is reflected in the style of Chinese gongbi style.This shows that the Chinese designer of the United Nations Dragon Stamp also agrees that Dragon's toes are five claws.However, the illustrator of the Apple mobile phone shell is also Chinese and is also immersed in Chinese culture, but the dragon drawn is four claws.This shows that the author still agrees with Yinglong of the four claws.
The dragon image on the dragon light of the Singapore ox cart is also four claws, three front paws, and one rear claw.Dragon Lantern was designed by 13 students from Singapore University of Science and Technology Design University.Of course, they also considered the tradition of Chinese culture, but they were integrated into modern elements, so they did not stick to the five claws on the dragon claws.
From the perspective of global and local images, and layout, dragon claws are just a part. As long as the overall image of the dragon comes from nine animals, most of them are consistent with the dragon shape in traditional Chinese culture.The drawing is loyal to Chinese culture.Whether it is the dragon painting picture of Apple's mobile phone case, or the image of the dragon lighting on the United Nations stamps and Singapore Dragon lights, it is lifelike. For example, the dragon is in the sky, and the clouds are foggy, reflecting the mysterious and fierce majesty of the legendary dragon.
Dragon is just a legend. There is no need to recognize death. It does not matter if the dragon is three claws, four claws or five claws, or no claws.As long as the overall image is in line with the definition of Chinese culture, that is, the dragon is derived from nine animals, and it should be grasped and small, and there is no need to catch small.
The author is Beijing scholar
