A number of Chinese proverbs and idioms also feature references to the dragon,for example:“Hoping ones son will become a dragon” (be as successful and powerful as a dragon).
The origin of Chinese dragon is not certain,but many scholars agree that it originated from totems of different tribes in China.Some have suggested that it comes from a stylized depiction of existing animals,such as snakes,fish,or crocodiles.For example,the Banpo site of the Yangshao culture in Shaanxi featured an elongated,snakelike fish motif to be the location of the Dragon Gate.This legend is used as an allegory for the drive and effort needed to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
An alternative view,advocated by some scholars,is that the early dragon depicted a species of crocodile.Specifically,it is an ancient,giant crocodile.The crocodile is known to be able to accurately sense changes in air pressure,and be able to sense coming rain.This may have been the origin of the dragons mythical attributes in controlling the weather,especially the rain.In addition,there is evidence of crocodile worship in ancient Babylonian,Indian,and Mayan civilizations.The association with the crocodile is also supported by the view in ancient times that large crocodiles are a variety of dragon.(480)
depictv描述;刻畫
scaledadj有鱗的
portrayv刻畫
potentn凶兆
auspiciousadj幸運的;吉兆的
embodimentn具體化;化身
connotationn含義
taboon禁忌;禁忌語
disfigurev損毀……的外形
depictionn描寫;敘述
slayv殺害;毀滅
censorn檢察官
outcryn喊叫;怒號
elongatev使長壽
allegoryn比喻；預言
infestv大量出沒;侵擾
ⅠAnswer the questions.
1What is the difference between Chinese dragon and Western dragon?
2Why didnt China use dragon as the national emblem?
3What is Chinese dragons status in China?
4Do you like dragon? Why?
5Why Chinese use “the descendants of the dragon” to describe them?
ⅡTranslate the following sentences into Chinese.
1The Chinese dragon is traditionally also the embodiment of the concept of yang (male) and associated with the weather as the bringer of rain and water in an agriculturally waterdriven nation.
2In Europeaninfluenced cultures,the dragon has aggressive,warlike connotations.
3An alternative view,advocated by some scholars,is that the early dragon depicted a species of crocodile.
4The crocodile is known to be able to accurately sense changes in air pressure,and be able to sense coming rain.
5In addition,there is evidence of crocodile worship in ancient Babylonian,Indian,and Mayan civilizations.
Images of an ancient bird have appeared in China for over 7,000 years,the earliest as Shang Dynasty pottery motifs,then appearing decorating bronzes,as well as jade figurines (many of the most beautiful from the Liao Period).Some believe they may have been a goodluck totem,believing that it is a totem of eastern tribes in ancient China.Current theories suggest that it is likely based in partfor example the snakelike neckon folk memory of the Asian Ostrich which was common in prehistoric China but became extinct several thousand years ago.
The phoenix is a mythical bird.Fenghuang seems to have no connection with the phoenix of the Western world,which derives from Egyptian mythology.Peculiarly,the “Western” (actually:Ancient Egyptian) phoenix may also in part refer to a prehistoric bird,the Bennu Heron.Unlike the Fenghuang,which is a chimera not very much like any actual bird (though elements of a cock and a cursorial groundbird probably best interpreted as an ostrich are recognizable),the Egyptian phoenix was a rather conventional animal most often considered similar to a heron or eagle which “merely” had a supernatural lifestyle.In Western mythology it consumes itself with fire every five hundred years,with another phoenix emanating from its ashes,and is thus associated with immortality.In Chinese mythology,it does not undergo this cycle of rebirth.The Chinese phoenix has the head of the golden pheasant,the beak of the parrot,the body of the mandarin duck,the wings of the roc,the legs of the crane,and the feathers of the peacock.The phoenix has long been highly regarded in China,symbolizing beauty,harmony,luck,female energy.Together with its dragon counterpart,the phoenix serves in classical literature and art as a metaphor for talent,beauty,and virtue,as well as for matrimonial unity and harmony.Dragon and phoenix dances are popular at many Chinese festivals.
motifn主題
figurinen小雕像
totemn圖騰
ostrichn鴕鳥
campsiten營地
derivev獲得；起源於
chimeran怪物
heronn蒼鷺
mythologyn神話
consumev消耗;消費
emanatev散發;發出
immortalityn不朽;不朽的聲名
undergov遭受;經曆;忍受
pheasantn雉
beakn鳥嘴
parrotn鸚鵡
rocn巨鳥;大鵬
cranen鶴
peacockn孔雀
counterpartn相似之物;對應物
metaphorn隱喻;暗喻
matrimonialadj婚姻的;婚禮的
unityn和諧;協調
differentiatev區別;區分;辨別
serratedadj.鋸齒形的
depictv刻畫
auspiciousnessn吉祥
emblemn象征；標記
mandarin duck鴛鴦
ⅠAnswer the questions.
1When did the Phoenix first appear?
2What did phoenix represent?
3What is your opinion to phoenix?
4What is the relationship between phoenix and dragon?
ⅡTranslate the following sentences into Chinese.
1Fenghuang seems to have no connection with the phoenix of the Western world,which derives from Egyptian mythology.
2Images of an ancient bird have appeared in China for over 7,000 years,the earliest as Shang Dynasty pottery motifs,then appearing decorating bronzes,as well as jade figurines.
3The phoenix represented power sent from the heavens to the Empress.
4During the Han Dynasty (2,200 years ago) two phoenixes,one a male (feng) and the other a female (huang) were often shown together facing each other.
5Some believe phoenix may have been a goodluck totem,believing that it is a totem of eastern tribes in ancient China.