Dragon mascot criticized for being ugly, cultural expert points out characteristics of Vietnamese dragon

Vietnamese dragon has its own unique features

Among the 12 zodiac animals, the dragon is the only animal imagined by humans that possesses supernatural powers. Because there is no specific model, people and artisans from each place present a different dragon mascot.

In some places, the dragon mascot is said to look more like a worm, in other places it is said to be a hybrid dragon from China. The dragon in Quang Ngai was criticized as "ugly" because it "didn't look like a dragon". Most recently, the image of a dragon in Nghe An made many people laugh because it looked like it was "sulking".

The dragon mascot in Thanh Hoa is criticized for looking like a worm (Photo: Thanh Tung).

The strange, unconventional shapes of dragon mascots have caused much controversy. Many people have asked, what are the characteristics of Vietnamese dragons?

Regarding this issue, speaking with Dan Tri reporter, researcher - archaeologist Nguyen Ngoc Chat said that dragon is a sacred animal in the culture of Vietnam and some countries in the region.

However, each country's dragon has its own characteristics. Vietnamese dragons are friendly and approachable, not fierce like Chinese or Japanese dragons.

"Chinese dragons, like Japanese dragons, always have longer heads, sharper fangs, and front legs holding pearls. Vietnamese dragons have shorter heads and hold pearls in their mouths. The body, fins, mane, and horns of Vietnamese dragons are softer and more flexible," said Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat.

Some dragon mascots introduced on the occasion of Lunar New Year 2024 (Photo: M. N).

According to this expert, in Vietnamese culture, dragons are closely associated with the religious life of agricultural residents. Since ancient times, Vietnamese people have had the folk legend of the Dragon and Fairy's Descendants...

The land of Vietnam also bears the shape of a dragon. The names of key points on the map from the northern border to Nghe An and Ha Tinh all have dragon elements (Ha Long, Bach Long Vi, Ham Rong…).

The Vietnamese people have long considered the dragon a legendary creature with extraordinary power. The dragon is like a god that can bring about bountiful harvests. Later, the dragon was enthroned and deified, representing royalty and divine power. In Buddhism, the dragon also plays an important role, so it often appears in pagodas and temples.

The Vietnamese dragon also has the characteristic of changing according to the dominant ideology of each dynasty.

Bodhi leaf carved with stone dragon, Ly dynasty, 11th - 13th century at Phat Tich pagoda, Bac Ninh (Photo: National Museum of History).

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat said: The dragon of each dynasty has its own unique features. The dragon of the Ly dynasty was influenced by Buddhism, so it was light and fragile, as if it was winding in the clouds.

In the Tran Dynasty, with the heroic spirit of Dong A, the dragon was stronger, with a larger and more robust body. The Le Dynasty was influenced by Confucianism, so the dragon had certain standards. The strong dragon of the Mac Dynasty recalled elements of the Le and Tran Dynasties...

The stone dragon of Kinh Thien Palace, Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a masterpiece of architectural and artistic heritage, representing the sculpture art of the early Le Dynasty (Photo: P. V).

During the Later Le Dynasty, folk culture developed strongly, so the dragon was also associated with many other creatures. During the Nguyen Dynasty, the dragon returned to the same elements as in the Le Dynasty... In general, the Vietnamese dragon has changed through each era, but it is not fierce, but close and familiar.

"The dragon has different features in each period but still has a typical spirit of Vietnamese culture, representing noble authority, symbolizing strength, fertility, and harmony (dragon holding pearl). Vietnamese people always believe that having a dragon means having everything," said this expert.

Standardization is needed.

In recent years, during the Lunar New Year, people in many regions have the habit of making mascots based on the zodiac animal of that year. However, many mascots after being introduced often cause controversy when the tiger looks like a pig in the year of the Tiger, the cat looks like a mouse in the year of the Cat... Faced with the current "chaos" of mascots, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat said that there needs to be standardization.

Dragon head of Tran Dynasty (Photo: Department of Cultural Heritage).

"Previously, many units and museums have organized exhibitions and introduced purely Vietnamese mascots. These exhibitions help the public understand more about purely Vietnamese mascots, avoiding the exhibition and glorification of foreign mascots.

In order for the mascots during Tet to be both beautiful and suitable for Vietnamese culture and convey messages about aspirations and good wishes for the new year, there needs to be advice from the government and specialized departments. I think this is not difficult because historical and cultural documents are abundant and complete," Mr. Chat emphasized.

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