The Year of the Dragon

The Year of the Dragon (Chinese: 龙年) is among the cycle of 12 Chinese zodiac years, symbolized by corresponding animals. The year 2012 is the Chinese Year of the Dragon, and it starts on the first day of Chinese Lunar New year, which falls on Jan. 23 in line with the Gregorian calendar.

The 11 other animals of the Chinese zodiac are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Of the 12, the dragon is the only mythical animal.

Historically, the image of the dragon, with its fierce appearance, symbolism of the supreme power of royal dynasties, and aggressive overtones has sparked debate and controversy regarding China’s modern image. Added to this, the dragon also has a negative image in the Western world.

The dragon, though, is derived from Chinese folk culture. In ancient China, the animal was characterized as having the physical attributes of a number of different species. Being an auspicious beast, the dragon is said to be able to bring precipitation to parched land.

Some linguists have argued that the word “dragon” might not be an accurate translation of the Chinese character “龙”. Instead, they suggest, the pinyin word “Loong” may convey the profound culture of this mythical animal. However, the word “dragon” still dominates translations in spite of the difference in opinion.

In contrast to the suspicion in which the dragon is held in the West, Chinese people embrace this unique zodiac symbol with great affection and enthusiasm. Indeed, it’s reported that many cities, such as Shanghai, Shenzhen and Shenyang, will witness a baby boom during the coming Year of the Dragon. The anticipated boom has also resulted in a surge in the share prices of baby products on the Hong Kong stock market at the beginning of 2012, according to a report in Chengdu’s Huaxi Metropolis Daily newspaper.