100 1 what is Chinese. Secrets of Chinese cuisine: why is it so useful? Industrial transformation

Just four decades ago, a country like China had a rather weak, lagging economy. The economic reforms that have taken place over the years, which have made the country's economy more liberal, are considered to be the Chinese economic miracle. The pace of economic growth over the past 30 years is incredible and astonishing: on average, the country's GDP increased by 10% per year, and GDP per capita grew by 9%. Today, China occupies a leading position among the world's economies. Let us consider how this country managed to achieve such indicators, how the economic miracle happened, what are its causes and what conditions preceded it.

China in the middle of the twentieth century

After the end of World War II, China stood at a crossroads and did not know what to choose: a liberal capitalist or, following the example of the great power of the USSR, a socialist path of development. The civil war that shook the country until 1949 led to the secession of the island of Taiwan and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, led by Mao Zedong.

With the advent of the Communist Party, the painful construction of socialism begins: the nationalization of property and the implementation of agrarian reform, the implementation of five-year plans for the development of the economy ... Taking help from the USSR and focusing on the political and economic system of its socialist neighbor, China is industrializing the economy. Sometimes it was necessary to resort to harsh and uncompromising methods.

"Great Leap Forward"

However, after 1957, relations between China and the USSR cooled down, and Mao Zedong, who did not share the views of the then Soviet leadership, decides to implement a new program called the Great Leap Forward. The goal of the ambitious program was a dramatic development of the economy, but the new direction was unsuccessful and had tragic consequences for both the people and the Chinese economy as a whole.

In the 60s, the country is experiencing a severe famine, a cultural revolution and mass repression. Many state instruments ceased to function, the communist party system collapsed. But in the early 70s, the government took a course to restore party organizations and improve relations with the United States. After the death of the "Great Pilot" Mao Zedong in 1976, the country found itself in a difficult economic situation, unemployment increased, and a card system was introduced.

From the end of 1976, Hua Guofeng became the head of China. But the actual reins of power are taken over by Deng Xiaoping, a politician who fell into the millstones of the Cultural Revolution and was restored to the post of Vice Premier of China in 1977.

Decisive plenum

Considering the Great Leap Forward program to be largely erroneous, Deng Xiaoping, relying on the support of the Communist Party, begins to implement a program to modernize the economy. In 1978, at the next plenum of the Communist Party, the course towards a socialist market economy was officially proclaimed, in which two economic systems would be combined: planned-distributive and market.

The new government path is called the course of reform and opening up. Xiaoping's liberal reforms are based on the gradual transition of economic structures to market rails and the preservation of the communist system. assured that all transformations would take place under the leadership of the Communist Party, and the dictatorship of the proletariat would be strengthened.

Highlights of transformations and reforms

If we talk about new reforms briefly, then the Chinese economy should be focused on export production and massive attraction of investments. From that moment on, the Celestial Empire proclaims itself a country open to expanding ties with other states, which has attracted foreign investors. And the liberalization of foreign trade and the creation of territories of special economic zones for foreign entrepreneurs led to an unprecedented increase in export indicators.

First, Xiaoping reduces state control over many sectors of the economy and expands the managerial functions of business leaders. The development of the private sector was encouraged in every possible way, stock markets appear. Serious transformations affected the agricultural sector and industry.

Four stages

In the course of the entire reform of the Chinese economy, four temporary stages can be distinguished, carried out under a certain slogan. The first (from 1978 to 1984) stage, implying transformations in rural areas, the creation of special economic zones, had the following slogan: “The basis is a planned economy. Supplement - market regulation.

The second (from 1984 to 1991) stage is the shift of attention from the agricultural sector to urban enterprises, expanding their field of activity and independence. Market pricing is being introduced, the social sphere, science and education are undergoing reforms. This stage is called "Planned Commodity Economy".

The third (from 1992 to 2002) stage was held under the slogan "Socialist market economy". At this time, a new economic system is being formed, which implies the further development of the market and determines the instruments of macroregulation of state control on a new basis.

The fourth (from 2003 to the present day) is designated as the "Stage of improving the socialist market economy."

Transformations in the agricultural sector

The Chinese economic miracle began with transformation. The essence of the agrarian reform was the abolition of the then existing people's communes and the transition to a family contract with a single collective property. This meant the transfer of land to Chinese peasants for a period of up to fifty years, part of the production received from this land was given to the state. Free pricing for peasant products was also introduced, and market trade in agricultural products was allowed.

As a result of such transformations, agriculture received an impetus for development and emerged from stagnation. The new established system of collective property and family contracts qualitatively raised the standard of living of the peasants and helped to solve the food problem.

Industrial transformation

The economic system of industrial enterprises was almost freed from directive planning, they were supposed to be turned into self-sustaining enterprises with the possibility of independent marketing of products. Large strategic enterprises remain under the control of the state, while medium and small enterprises are given the right not only to manage their business, but also to change their form of ownership. All this contributed to the fact that the state focused on improving the state of affairs in large state-owned enterprises and did not interfere with the development of the private sector.

The imbalance in the production of heavy industry and consumer goods is gradually decreasing. The economy is starting to turn towards growth in the production of goods for domestic consumption, especially since the large population of China contributes to this.

Special economic zones, tax and banking systems

By 1982, as an experiment, some coastal regions of China declared themselves special economic zones, and after the 1984 plenum, 14 cities in total were approved as special economic zones. The purpose of the formation of these zones was to attract foreign investment in China's industry and the development of new technologies, accelerate the economic development of these regions, and enter the country's economy into the international arena.

The reforms also affected the tax, banking and currency systems. Value added taxes and a single income tax for organizations are being introduced. The central budgets began to receive most of the revenues thanks to a new distribution system between local administrations and the central government.

The banking system of the country was divided into state-owned banks, pursuing the economic policy of the government, and other credit and financial organizations on a commercial basis. The exchange rates of foreign currencies were now launched into "free floating", which was regulated only by the market.

The fruits of the reforms

The Chinese economic miracle begins to appear already in the late 80s. The results of the transformations had a qualitative impact on the lives of ordinary citizens. Unemployment rates are reduced by 3 times, retail trade turnover is doubling. By 1987 the volume of foreign trade had quadrupled compared with 1978. Billions of dollars of foreign investment were attracted, and by 1989 there were 19,000 joint ventures.

Speaking of China, it manifested itself in a decrease in the share of heavy industry and an increase in the production of consumer goods and light industry. The service sector is expanding significantly.

It struck with unprecedented growth rates: 12-14% in the early 90s. Many experts during these years spoke about the phenomenon of the Chinese economic miracle and predicted that China would become the economic superpower of the 21st century.

Negative Consequences of Reforms

Like any coin, the Chinese reforms had two sides - positive and negative. One of these negative moments was the threat of inflation, which followed as a side effect of the growth in labor productivity after reforms in the agricultural sector. Also, as a result of the price reform, the situation in the industrial sector worsened. Unrest began, resulting in student demonstrations, as a result of which General Secretary Hu Yaobang was dismissed.

Only in the early 1990s, the course of accelerating and improving the economic environment proposed by Deng Xiaoping helped overcome the overheating of the economy and create systems to control inflation and the development of the country.

The Chinese economic miracle and its causes

So, now for the reasons. Studying the phenomenon of China's economic miracle, many experts put forward the following reasons for the economic recovery:

The effective role of the state in economic transformations. At all stages of the reforms, the country's administrative apparatus adequately responded to the tasks of economic modernization.
Significant labor resources. Demand in the Chinese labor market is always greater than supply. This keeps wages low while productivity is high.
Attracting foreign investment in China's industry, as well as in high-tech industries.
An export-oriented development model that made it possible to increase the knowledge intensity of the economy and the development of the latest technologies at the expense of foreign exchange earnings.

However, China's main economic progress has been the rejection of "shock therapy" and the gradual formation of a market mechanism that has restored the economy through effective market regulation.

China today

What has China's four decades of wise reform led to? Let's consider the main indicators of the economy further. Today's China is a powerful nuclear and space power with a modern industry and developed infrastructure.

Some numbers

In the three quarters of 2017, China's GDP reached about 60 trillion yuan. This is 6.9% in annual terms. The increase in China's GDP in 2017 is 0.2% over the period last year. The share in the GDP of the agricultural, industrial sectors, and the service sector is increasing by an average of 5-7%. In 2017, the growth trend of innovative and high-tech sectors of the economy continues.

In general, despite a slight slowdown in growth, the Chinese economy (it is rather difficult to briefly describe this phenomenon) today maintains the potential for long-term growth and continues structural reforms.

Forecasts for the development of the Chinese economy

Having created a market mechanism in the economy, the Chinese government plans to further improve it, while showing the benefits of socialism. However, experts make both optimistic and pessimistic forecasts for the development of the Chinese economy. Some are sure that it will be difficult to resist the growing economic, political and social problems while maintaining communist power. Growing emigration to developed countries, the gap between the poor and the rich can reduce the effectiveness of state power and the role of the party. In contrast to them, other experts argue that, after all, a hybrid of socialism and the capitalist market is possible due to the originality of the Chinese nation and the mentality that is unique to it. It remains only to say that time will put everything in its place.

Guys, we put our soul into the site. Thanks for that
for discovering this beauty. Thanks for the inspiration and goosebumps.
Join us at Facebook And In contact with

Even if you have been to China, love the local cuisine or learn the language, you hardly have a clear idea of the intricacies of the Middle Kingdom. Why do the Chinese have a long nail on the little finger? Why can't stick chopsticks in rice? Do the Chinese consider themselves educated? And what, after all, is it that a girl wears a cleavage?

Editorial website shares the truths that must be studied before a trip to the Middle Kingdom, gleaned from the writer and traveler Alexei Vinokurov, as well as from personal experience of life in exile.

1. We have all heard that heaven rewards a Chinese family with the birth of a boy and mocks them by sending them a girl. This attitude may still be alive in some provinces, but in large cities, the gender of the child is not so dramatic. But still patriarchy is strong in china: the older generation is still inclined to see in a woman first of all a housewife and wife, and many fathers are prejudiced against the desire of modern daughters to receive higher education (God forbid also abroad) and actively build a career.

2. Chinese men love to take care of themselves and do not hide it. Again, this applies primarily to the younger generation. Guys willingly use all sorts of perfumes, make trendy styling and haircuts, dye their hair and carefully think through their wardrobe. There is an opinion that the Chinese have borrowed the growing desire for a "male aesthetic" from South Korea, known for its cult of beauty. The difference between the Chinese of the old and the new generation is sometimes simply amazing: mature men rarely bother with the choice of clothes, not to mention the rest of the details of the men's toilet.

3. What is the reason for such drastic changes in the external appearance of the Chinese? It's simple: appearance is the first thing that declares your well-being, and high income is the blue dream of a true Chinese. And in fact, this is what unites Chinese fathers and children. Unless, under the influence of European culture, young people tend to have a relief figure, and a mature Chinese will never hesitate to flaunt his solid belly: let everyone around know that he eats well and can afford to get fat.

4. Long nail on the Chinese little finger often causes bewilderment among Europeans, but it is extremely transparent for his compatriots: this is another way to show others that you are not the person who is used to earning a living by hard physical labor. No, no, no, his everyday life passes with comfort, he knows his own worth and, in general, intelligence is his main working tool.

5. The obscene antics of all non-Chinese are treated condescendingly and maybe even a little condescendingly: "Western" behavior, what to take from him. By the way, deep cleavage here is considered a much greater manifestation of debauchery than a short skirt. Just like bright makeup. Chinese women themselves do not make up at all or use a minimum of cosmetics.

6. Raised western people or not, they are without a doubt very beautiful. Because they are fair-skinned and big-eyed. Nationality does not matter, the main thing is that you have a clear “European” appearance, which means, according to the Chinese, you could easily show off on the cover of some fashion magazine.

7. It can be difficult for a Westerner to keep his HR within reason when in China. And it's not just that you are considered a written handsome man. The inhabitants of the Celestial Empire, in principle, are very generous with compliments.: so, if your vocabulary is limited to the carefully pronounced "Nihao!" (“Hello!”), you will certainly be told that you have a chic Chinese. Also, you are stylishly dressed. And this hairstyle really suits you.

8. For the dark-skinned nations, the Chinese have their own terminology. If you speak the local language, don't be surprised to hear the expression "coffee people". However, speaking about your dark-skinned acquaintance, think about whether he is a coffee person or still more of a chocolate person.

9. The Chinese love to drink and, perhaps, even know how. For the most part, preference is given to beer, which is bought immediately in boxes for any celebration. By the way, alcohol and cigarettes are freely sold here even to teenagers. At the same time, you will hardly meet a drinking or smoking child here: it seems that the local underage youth does not even think of arranging drunken revels and using such indulgences of the law.

10. In continuation of the previous point: be mentally prepared for the fact that with ease you can meet a child of any age in a bar. No, of course he didn't come to blow off some steam after screwing up a math test. It's just that his parents are gathering here today with relatives or friends. And yes, once again: Chinese children show no interest in alcohol.

11. Another example of an unknowable oriental miracle is found on the roads of the Middle Kingdom: the rules are regularly violated, and the pedestrian is practically not considered a road user, but the number of accidents is ridiculously low. Chinese drivers manage to pass, brake and maneuver exactly at the second when it is necessary. It seems to be passed down genetically.

12. Ordinary Chinese rarely speak English or in any other foreign language. The exception may be students, staff of expensive hotels or residents of mega-progressive cities like Hong Kong. With the rest, get ready to communicate with gestures.

13. You can smoke everywhere. Though choosing noodles in the store.

14. A delicate but important moment: paper in a public toilet(if there is one) it is worth looking in advance somewhere in the area of \u200b\u200bwashbasins and right before you get into the booth. This applies to the vast majority of Chinese establishments.

15. It is better to refrain from touching The Chinese don't like it. Handshakes are accepted only by those who are used to working with foreigners and familiar with their culture. If a business card is handed to you, try to take and place it as carefully as possible: the business card symbolizes a person, and it must be respected.

16. Accepting an invitation from a Chinese, say, for lunch or even stay in his city for a few days, keep in mind: he intends to pay for you. To argue with him means to challenge his right to be a hospitable host and, in general, do not give a damn about the soul. It is better to praise his efforts and generosity in every possible way and show sincere gratitude.

17. Going to a typical Chinese gastronomic establishment, remember: there are no forks and never will be. Even if eating with chopsticks is an ordeal for you, never do the following:

Don't stick chopsticks in rice (unless you're at a funeral).
Do not scatter chopsticks on the table - this is a disaster.
Do not poke chopsticks at a neighbor during a conversation - this is an insult.
Do not tap your teeth or your cup with chopsticks - extremely bad form.
Do not take food with the reverse ends of the chopsticks (it is difficult to confuse, but still).
Do not prick food with one chopstick.
It's relatively acceptable, but extremely amateurish, to pierce food (such as a dumpling) with your chopsticks in an attempt to finally get it to your mouth.

No matter how much you suffer during such a feast, remember that your heroic attempts to eat as it should be for a decent person will deeply impress your Chinese acquaintances.

18. Many consider the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire to be extremely impolite, and this is understandable: they constantly push, climb out of line, push through and generally behave as if there are no other people around. Forget your apologies and accept that the Chinese behind you in line will find it very convenient to lean on you. They themselves comment on this as follows: “Yes, we know that such behavior seems rude to foreigners, but they have never lived in a country with such a large population. There are too many of us; you will never get a seat on the bus or a good job if you think about how to be polite.” Well, it's hard not to believe them and not sympathize when you see a photo of an entrance exam to an art school like this.

We are convinced that those who love China and often go there could make their own list of things to study before traveling to this amazing country. Some rules may work for the north of the Celestial Empire or for megacities, but are rarely found in the south or in the provinces. We have tried to collect the most versatile points for you and are waiting for stories from your personal travel experience in the comments!

Everyone eats in Heaven. From "rotten" eggs to fried jellyfish. However, in Chinese cuisine there are dishes more familiar to Europeans.

Sticks and tradition above all else

The main feature of Chinese dishes is that all the ingredients are cut into small pieces. No wonder, because a large piece is not easy to grab with chopsticks, and, alas, there are no knives and forks among the cutlery on the Chinese table. Anything crumbled by an industrious cook is usually fried or boiled in a pan called a wok, whose narrow bottom and wide edges make it look like a regular cast iron. Small pieces significantly reduce the cooking time, so almost all vitamins and microelements are preserved in ready-made dishes.

However, before starting to eat the main course, the Chinese always drink a cup or two of green tea. According to tradition, only after that you can begin to be supported by something more substantial. The meal ends with soup. To Europeans, this sequence seems strange, but nutritionists are completely on the side of the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom. Tea helps the stomach to “warm up” and prepare for a meal, and soup, which usually has a lot of spices added, helps the eaten settle in the stomach.

Incongruous ... combined

Another feature of Chinese cuisine is the combination of seemingly incongruous products. And if you can’t surprise a European with pork in sweet and sour sauce, then a dish called “flying fish” rarely leaves anyone indifferent. Pieces of fish or large shrimp are cooked in thick sweet syrup. When you snatch them out of the frying pan with chopsticks, the caramel threads trailing behind a piece of fish freeze in a matter of seconds, and in order to feast on a delicate fish, you first have to bite off the sweet “path” that connects the eater and container with exotic food. The art of Chinese chefs and the abundance of various spices make it possible to disguise the taste of products in such a way that it is sometimes impossible to determine what this or that dish is prepared from. In a vegetarian restaurant, you can taste "pork", made from vegetables, the taste and appearance of which is indistinguishable from real meat.

And the samovar is Chinese

Well, if you want to play the role of a cook yourself, try a dish called “Chinese samovar”. Boiling broth will be served in a large pot with legs, into which each participant in the meal throws everything that comes to hand. What exactly - your imagination will tell. Pieces of meat, fish, vegetables, noodles, mussels, shrimp and even ... newborn mice are boiled in the "samovar", which are first singeed on a candle flame.

However, with all the variety of Chinese cuisine, there are two things that no feast can do without. It's rice and soy sauce. The first replaces the Chinese bread, and the second - salt. Instead of the usual salt shaker on the table, you will find a bowl of soy sauce, in which additional ingredients can be added, such as garlic, herbs, honey or vinegar, and instead of a bread box, a plate of rice.

Street dumplings and other fast food

Contrary to popular belief, the everyday Chinese meal is not as exotic as it is commonly thought. The fact is that in ancient China, the people did not even know about the existence of many products that were common for the table of the nobility. If Chinese tangerines ate smoked jellyfish, pickled duck tongues and dried chrysanthemum leaves, then ordinary citizens ate mainly rice, noodles and dumplings. By the way, about the last. It is believed that those who were in China and did not try dumplings committed a real gastronomic crime. There are a great many different types of dumplings in the Middle Kingdom, they are boiled and fried in oil, and meat, fish, shrimp, vegetables, and all together can serve as a filling. In order to eat dumplings, it is not at all necessary to go to a cafe or restaurant. Right on the street, you can meet merchants who manually sculpt dumplings and cook them in special “tueskas” woven from bamboo. Street dumplings are very “mobile”, because traders bring everything they need on their personal bicycle.

Another type of Chinese fast food is small barbecues. Here, in the blink of an eye, pieces of lamb will be cooked, squid, mussels, king prawns and small fish will be fried on a wooden stick. Everything that is destined to become dinner is laid out on a special tray with ice, and a hungry passer-by can only poke a finger at the desired food and wait a few minutes until it is cooked.

Peking Duck Mystery

And of course, in a conversation about Chinese cuisine, one cannot ignore the Peking duck. Previously, this dish was available only to aristocrats. The unfortunate bird intended for the preparation of this dish is kept in a cramped cage, fed with salted food and almost no water to drink. After the duck finds its sad end under the chef's knife, it is rubbed with powdered sugar, water is poured inside the bird and roasted on peach wood. It turns out that the bird is boiled from the inside and fried outside. It is this cooking technology that Peking duck owes its tender meat and crispy crust.

What do Olympians eat in Beijing?

3.5 million meals will be prepared during the entire Olympics. It will take to prepare them:

Over 1 million apples

936 thousand bananas,

321 thousand oranges,

684 thousand carrots,

42 tons of seafood,

118 tons of meat,

17 tons of pasta,

61 tons of rice,

265 thousand liters of milk,

more than 800 thousand eggs.

Spices impair vision

Chinese cuisine has a negative effect on vision. According to a study by Japanese nutritionists, substances contained in Chinese spices significantly worsen the condition of the iris, which leads to a decrease in visual acuity. We are talking about sodium monoglutamate, which is part of the main seasonings used in the preparation of most Chinese dishes. The results of this study may explain the relatively high incidence of glaucoma in Southeast Asian countries.

Personal opinion

Sergey Lukyanenko, writer:

– I like to eat delicious food and I like to cook. I have great respect for Chinese and Japanese cuisine. I think to understand the specifics of oriental cuisine, you need to visit its homeland. In Russia, even in specialized restaurants you will not be fed with such dishes. In the same place, everything is prepared from the freshest seafood of the morning catch and unique spices. I don’t even try to cook something oriental myself. But I use ready-made sauces and seasonings. My signature dish is Hungarian goulash. My friends and family love him very much.

Hello, dear readers - seekers of knowledge and truth!

Surely everyone who is at least a little familiar with the culture of China, its mythology, knows how the Chinese dragon is revered. This is what we want to talk about today. In the article below you will find answers to the following questions: what does a dragon mean for the Chinese, what symbolism does it carry, how is it depicted, what types and colors can there be.

mythical character

Archaeological excavations carried out in the Celestial Empire once revealed curious finds - images of dragons. The artifacts found confirmed the fact that since ancient times, the Chinese have treated these mythical creatures with special respect and love.

Dragons have always been considered a symbol of positive qualities and phenomena, such as:

good;
prosperity;
force;
wisdom.

Confirmation of this is a huge number of folk sayings, proverbs, myths associated with dragons. The Dragon Boat Festival is still celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar.

In China, the dragon wearsName"moons".

Long is believed to have been born during the reign of the Xia family in the 7th century BC. Even then, his images were applied to fabrics, weapons, household utensils, doors, musical instruments.

In Chinese mythology, the moon personifies the water element, without which soil fertility is impossible, and he lives in water bodies - rivers, seas, ponds, lakes. The dragon is sent by heavenly deities to help people. He came when he himself considered it necessary, although later people themselves began to appeal to him.

In this regard, rituals appeared that could summon the dragon, and with it the long-awaited rain. The Chinese burned incense, made sacrifices, arranged ritual dances so that the moon would bring them happiness. His arrival was associated with the coming changes in life.

In the 1st century, a sage named Wang Chong was able to collect all the knowledge about dragons together in the treatise Lunheng.

Some legends said that the moon changes its place of residence every year depending on the season: in summer it lives in the sky, in autumn - in the depths of the sea, and in winter - underground. Gradually, the moon gained more and more power and began to rule over the gods of the elements - thunder, lightning, wind and rain.

Sometimes they talk not only about good, but also evil dragons that live in mountain gorges. They have incredible power and are able to send misfortunes to people. There are many legends about heroes who went to fight evil dragons, but most often the moon has a good meaning and good intentions.

The dragon is a permanent shadow theater hero in China.

According to Feng Shui, the moon symbolizes activity, the masculine principle is yang, while the phoenix bird symbolizes passivity, the feminine principle, yin. They complement each other, so the Chinese tend to keep coins or figurines with their image at home, which, in their opinion, harmonize the space.

There is one interesting case in the history of the end of the last century. The inhabitants of a small Chinese village found the remains of an animal and thought that it was none other than moons. According to the traditional recipe, they ground the bones into flour and began to prepare potions based on it to treat cramps, headaches, and cuts.

A well-known paleontologist professor found out about this, who determined the age of the remains as 100 million years, then a public outcry arose, and the villagers had to give the relic to scientists.

From 7 to 9 am according to the Chinese calendar - the hour of the dragon.

The current Chinese believe that the moon lives among us - he can change his appearance, turning even into a person, so they do not stop worshiping him. The eastern horoscope, which did not bypass the dragon, has long been known outside of Asia.

Even Europeans are so fond of the image of a noble dragon that they make tattoos with his image - both alone and in an ensemble with phoenx, fire, flowers, tiger and Chinese characters.

The personification of imperial power

Long was considered a symbol of emperors, the state and the entire Chinese people. As history shows, dragon tracks can be seen during the reign of all imperial families.

The rulers called themselves the followers of dragons, and those, in turn, became the guardians of palaces, bedrooms, holy places. As a sign of respect, the emperors crowned weapons, coat of arms, their own attire, and the throne with drawings of dragons. It was called so - "the throne of the dragon."

Long is the king of animals and everything in China, he was respected by the rulers, he was worshiped by the common people. However, if the image of a dragon was seen on the clothes or personal belongings of an ordinary person, he was threatened with punishment up to the death penalty.

The prefix "moons" was added when referring to some rulers. There is a legend that the great Yellow Emperor, having left his body after death, turned into a dragon and flew into the sky. It was also said that the true ruler must have a characteristic mole, resembling the moon in shape.

Appearance

Old legends and numerous Chinese sources describe in detail the appearance of the dragon:

camel head;
bull horns;
carp scales, which must certainly be 81 or 117;
snake neck;
eagle claws;
tiger paws;
cow ears;
goat beard;
catfish whiskers as a symbol of wisdom.

Sometimes a bump is added to such a description, which can be seen on the top of the animal. She helps him soar above the ground without wings.

Growth can be different - from one to three hundred meters. Dragons appear from eggs, but this happens infrequently, sometimes a millennium can pass. Such an event makes itself felt by meteorites, natural disasters, severe storms.

Varieties of moons

breeds

The Chinese have about a hundred species of dragons. Let's name the most famous of them:

Dwells in the sky, flies, guards the gods, transports them in chariots. Turns stone blocks into gold ingots, breathes fire flames and exhales clouds. Symbolizing powerful and domineering qualities, it seems to be the strongest species.

Futsang

Living in a dungeon, guards underground wealth in the form of precious stones and metals. Able to cause volcanic eruptions and give birth to new mountains. He hides a pearl in the lower part of his face as the personification of wealth, is considered the wisest.

Earth moon, lives in the depths of the water in the castle, rules over water wealth. Often contacts with humanity and even marries ordinary women, as a result of which creatures are born - half people, half dragons.

Obedient to the gods of the moons with wings, controls the weather, sending showers, thunderstorms, winds.

Has a human face, a huge belly, blue skin color. Governs the winds and clouds, determines whether the harvest will be good or bad.

Meaning by color

Dragons are also distinguished by colors, each of which carries a certain meaning:

green (and sometimes azure) Qinglong - compassion, mercy, change for the better;
blue Jiulong - fertility, depicted with horns or scales;
red Zhulun - a happy future, success, favor;
yellow Huanglong - benevolence, forgiveness;
white Bailong - purity, purity, virtue;
black Xuanlong - silence, calm, harmony;
golden - wealth, nobility.

The color of the dragon depends on what kind of gold it was born from. You can also use it to find out how old the moon is: for example, Huanglong, Zhulong, Bailong, Xuanlong - 1000, and Jiulong - 800.

Conclusion

The image of the dragon has occupied a key place in Chinese culture since ancient times. He manages water bodies, guards deities and favors people, which means his kindness, wisdom and goodwill.

The appearance of the dragon has absorbed the features of many animals. There are over a hundred different types of creatures that differ in color and sphere of influence. The Chinese even today honor dragons and firmly believe that they bestow happiness.

Thank you very much for your attention, dear readers! If you liked the article, share the link to it with your friends on social networks!

And join us - subscribe to the site to seek the truth together.