Abstract:Long is the symbol of the Chinese nation. In China, the image of long is the most sincere and moving in the Chinese national civilized history, so it has become the symbol of our great nation with a long history and splendid culture. Through a great deal of literature researches, in order to further promote cultural communication between the Chinese long and western dragon and build the harmonious long culture, this thesis aims at giving a detailed analysis of the differences between Chinese long and western dragon reflected in mythology from the perspective of symbolism, even though they literally had the same concept. Therefore, through exploring the mythical Chinese long and western dragon and their symbolic significance, it may correct the misconceptions that western people treat the Chinese long and enhance the image of Chinese long.

Key words: Chinese long；western dragon; the differences; mythology; Symbolism; harmonious dragon culture

Table of Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. The Symbolism-2

2.1. The Definition of the symbolism-2

2.2. The differences from the symbolic significance-2

2.3 .The Development of the symbolism-2

2.4. The pro-symbolism and post-symbolism.-3

3.The Dragon in Mythology-4

3.1 . Chinese long in mythology-4

3.2 . Western “dragon” in mythology-4

4. The Symbolic Significance of Chinese Long and Western Dragon-6

4.1. The symbolic significance of Chinese long-6

4.1.1. The Chinese long was regarded as God-6

4.1.2. The symbol of the emperor and imperial power.-6

4.1.3. The embodiment of the beauty and kindness and the symbol of the justice and bravery.-6

4.1.4. The symbol of the auspicious sign and imagery of the kindness.-7

4.1.5. The symbol of the Chinese nation and the pride of the Chinese long’s descendant-7

4.1.6. The Chinese traditional mascot .-8

4.2. The symbolic significance of western dragon-11

4.2.1. The western dragon was regarded as the demon.-11

4.2.2. The symbol of the war.-11

4.2.3. The embodiment of ugliness and evil and the symbol of violence and wickedness-11

4.3. The difference between Chinese long and western dragon from the perspective of symbolism .12

5.Conclusion-13

Bibliography-14

Acknowledgements-15