Kick off the Year of the Dragon with some useful Chinese “chengyu” about this mythical creature
The Year of the Dragon has always been one of China’s favorite years. As one of the country’s most beloved zodiac animals, dragons have been seen as symbols of the nation since ancient times. Chinese people often even refer to themselves as “descendants of dragons.”
In traditional Chinese culture, dragons are powerful divine beasts, symbolizing authority, nobility, and good fortune. Many believe being born in the year of the dragon will bring them good luck. The belief is pervasive: China often experiences higher birth rates in dragon years.
Sun Jiahui is a freelance writer and former editor at The World of Chinese. She writes about Chinese language, society and culture, and is especially passionate about sharing stories of China's ancient past with a wider audience. She has been writing for TWOC for over six years, and pens the Choice Chengyu column.
