In Chinese mythology, the image of a dragon is very common. A huge number of beliefs and traditions in the culture of the people are associated with it. And what was the surprise of the locals of Zhangjiakou when they discovered his skeleton! This amazing find will be discussed in the article.
Chinese dragon in the mythology of the people
This mythical creature in ancient legends is described as a mysterious animal with a camel head, deer horns, demon eyes, carp scales, eagle claws, tiger paws and cow ears. But in ancient Chinese images, he does not look quite like that. On the head of the dragons there is a bump, it is thanks to it that they can fly.
These creatures reach a size of more than 300 meters.
Dragon females lay eggs. The appearance of cubs is always accompanied by natural disasters: thunderstorms, hail, blizzards, meteor showers.
In mythology, dragons were divided into groups:
- Tianlong - guards the gods and carries them on a golden chariot.
- Dilun - manages rivers and seas.
- Futsanlong - this dragon guards precious stones and underground treasures.
- Inlun - dominates the weather, he can send wind, rain, hail, thunder.
The age of a mythical animal is determined by its color. Red, yellow, black, white dragons are about a thousand years old, blue - 800.
Dragons can take on a human form.
They were a symbol of imperial power. According to Chinese legend, one ruler in his declining years turned into a dragon and flew away. The authenticity of the emperor was established only by the presence of a mole in this animal. The throne was considered to belong to the dragon. During the reign of the Qing Dynasty, the image of this mythical creature was present on the state flag. An ordinary person had no right to wear clothes with the image of a dragon. For such an offense executed.
It should be noted that such a character as a dragon is found not only in Chinese, but also in Western European culture. But in the first he is a symbol of nobility, holiness, happiness, and in the second - the embodiment of darkness, evil and treachery. The Chinese dragon, according to mythology, flies through the air, wriggling with its whole body, and the western one - with the help of wings.
Local traditions
Residents of the town of Zhangjiakou, in the northern part of China, from generation to generation passed the legend of the mysterious huge flying kite, which from ancient times lived in these parts. Just half a century ago, a mysterious creature sacrificed fruits, vegetables, livestock. However, with the advent of communist ideology in China, many beliefs lost their power. They no longer make sacrifices to a mythical creature. Since then, the dragon has disappeared. Perhaps he just died of a lack of food?
Dragon Skeleton: Find History
In 2017, in a place where there was a clear belief that the dragon lived here, a huge skeleton was discovered. Its length reaches about 18 meters. Locals believe that this is the skeleton of a dragon.
Firstly, he was found precisely in those places where sacrificial alms were brought to him, that is, near the city of Zhangjiakou. The remains look as if more recently they had muscle mass. There are front and hind limbs, no wings.
Residents of the town are convinced that this is the skeleton of their dragon. The found remains of a mysterious animal are a huge skull, two legs and an incredibly long tail. In Chinese mythology, these creatures looked just like that. They had long elongated bodies, short limbs, and they had absolutely no wings, in contrast to the notions of dragons in Western mythology.
Find authenticity
It should be noted that neither Chinese scientists nor government officials have yet given an official conclusion on whether the find is a genuine skeleton of a mythical monster.
The bones found in the Chinese province really resemble a classic dragon, which is described in myths and tales - a large-horned snake with a mustached muzzle. But the found remains of flesh on the bones did not remain. Therefore, it is impossible to establish the presence or absence of a mustache.
The inhabitants of the town took photos of this skeleton, which indicate the find. However, experts, having studied the images, consider the bones not real. Scientists called this skeleton a team, presumably created for any film or rally.
But the Chinese themselves are convinced that it is genuine. And how things really are, remains to be seen.
Public response
After finding the dragon skeleton in China in a matter of hours, the photo frames circled the entire planet on the Internet. The news caused a wide public outcry. Dragon refers to the mythical characters of both eastern and western cultures. Or maybe he is not a mythical animal, but a creature that really lived on the planet?
Historical findings and their application
The dragon skeleton in China is not the only amazing find. In the late 80s of the 20th century, villagers in Henan Province found sauropod bones. At first, he was also mistaken for a dragon. The inhabitants of the village, in accordance with ancient beliefs, began to cook bone bones for children who suffered from various ailments. Some of the remains were ground into powder and applied to wounds, bruises and fractures. The Chinese believe that this is a very effective medicine.
At the local bazaar, there was a lively trade in dragon bones and powder from them. But learned about this amazing skeleton by learned paleontologists and a scandal erupted. The peasants were very scared and transferred the remains of the animal that lived on the earth about 100 million years ago to a research institute.
In the US state of Montana, a man filmed a strange monster flying over a lake with a huge tail and wings. This incomprehensible and mysterious creature very much resembled a dragon from fairy tales and myths. When the video hit the net, a terrible argument erupted. Some believed that it was a dragon, others that it was a kite, and others that it was a drone. There were also skeptics who claimed that the video was a fake.
