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We will soon enter the Year of the Dragon. Or should that be the Year of the Loong? That is a question that has been a subject for debate in China, as some say there is a difference between the two in Chinese and Western mythology.

Mythical creatures described in Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas), an ancient work of Chinese literature, are recreated at the Yuyuan Garden Lantern Show in Paris.

They point to dragons in the West being usually depicted as malevolent, fire-breathing creatures that hoard treasure and terrorize villages. Dragons they say are typically seen as symbols of chaos and evil, portrayed as antagonists in Western mythology and literature, and often depicted as malevolent adversaries to be vanquished by valiant heroes. These depictions hark back to the archetypal myths of the ancient Mesopotamian and Near Eastern cultures, in which dragon-like creatures, such as Tiamat in Mesopotamian mythology are forces of chaos and destruction that are confronted and ultimately defeated in a great battle.

Such symbolic resonance can be seen in the enduring appeal of dragons in Western popular culture today where they are staples of fantasy literature, films, video games, and TV shows, often embodying a mix of awe-inspiring and fearsome qualities that put them at the heart of struggles between good and evil.

In Chinese culture, loong are revered as symbols of power, excellence, and good luck, and they are often depicted as wise and kind creatures.

The loong has been a central motif in Chinese culture for thousands of years, and its origins can be traced back to early Chinese civilization through mythology, folklore and religious beliefs.

Since loong were believed to have control over natural phenomena such as rain, storms and water, and were associated with the life-giving properties of water and the fertility of the land, loong became symbols of strength and good fortune, and they became associated with balance, harmony and the natural order of the universe.

Representing auspiciousness, vitality and the power of nature, loong remain a revered and beloved symbol in Chinese society, reflecting the enduring significance of historical traditions in modern China.

The differences in perception of the mythical creatures in China and the West are rooted in their different cultural values.

Thus the answer to the question at the beginning is clear: Whether or not to use loong instead of dragon is not important. What is important is that as we enter a new lunar year people globally appreciate the cultural values embodied in such Chinese symbols as loong.

2024年轉眼已過一月，進入二月份，農歷甲辰龍年新春的氣氛越來越濃，關于“龍”的各種話題也越來越熱。你知道嗎？在翻譯界，關于“龍”究竟應該翻譯成哪個英文單詞，已經爭論了數十年——究竟是“Dragon”還是“Loong”？近年來在我們日常生活的很多場合里，也已經可以看到，這個本來屬于學術圈的話題早已破圈，正在社會大眾的實際文字應用中慢慢形成新的選擇和標準……

在西方文化中，龍通常被描繪成一種邪惡的、噴火的物種，它們囤積財寶，還會給鄰近的地區帶來恐慌。在西方神話和文學中，龍通常制造混亂和邪惡，在傳說故事中，它是英雄的敵人，也是英雄的“證明”。這種敘事，可以追溯到古代美索不達米亞和近東神話。

在當代西方文化中，惡龍繼續在奇幻小說、電影、視頻游戲和電視劇中扮演重要的角色。它們通常既威嚴又可怕，常常是“善惡”之爭的核心。

但是，在中國文化中，龍被尊崇為力量、超然和繁盛的象征，充滿了智慧和仁愛。幾千年來，中國龍在文化中占據著重要地位，它根植于中國早期文明、神話、民間傳說。由于人們相信龍掌管著自然，并與“水”的滋養和“土”的肥沃聯系在一起。它體現了宇宙的平衡、和諧的秩序。

秦漢時代的龍紋

在中國社會中，龍作為吉祥、活力和自然力量的象征，依然受到崇敬和喜愛，這反映了歷史傳統在現代中國的延續性。

中西方對這些神話生物的認知差異，根植于它們不同的文化價值觀。對此敏感的人群往往做出了最快的反應。早在清朝末年，在美國的華人就將中國龍翻譯為“loong”，以便和西方的“dragon”區分開來，表達了華裔的尊嚴，告訴外國人，中國人并非邪惡的種族。

而今，越來越多的中國企業選用Loong來作為公司或產品的英譯名，在華為的新春廣告片中，也出現了“Chinese Loong”的翻譯，譯龍為“loong”正在被越來越多人接受。

中國環球電視網 CGTN 把“龍舞”譯為 Loong Dance

用“loong”這個詞來代表中國龍，它不僅具有相似的發音，而且這個詞的形態也容易讓人聯想到與中國龍的形象。期待，當中華文化越來越“強勢”，不必多加一個“o”，直接用“LONG"來代表中國龍，也會成為現實。

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Source：China Daily, Chinese Horn

Edited by Yue Shunshun