Apple phone case pattern "refers to the python as a dragon"?expert: the distinction between dragon python has not existed since ancient times

The Year of the Dragon in the Lunar Calendar has not yet arrived, and a hot search on Weibo has hotly discussed folk customs related to "dragons".

On January 23, the Apple mobile phone case was questioned about "pointing to the python as a dragon" on Weibo's hot search. According to a number of media reports, because the dragon on the pattern only has four claws, some netizens questioned Apple's mobile phone case priced at 498 yuan is actually "referring to the python as a dragon".

In this regard, Dai Wangyun, a doctor of folklore at East China Normal University and currently teaching at Yuexiu College of Foreign Chinese Studies in Zhejiang, pointed out that the image of the dragon has evolved many times in history, and the distinction between "dragon" and "python" reflects the concept of "real dragon" formed after the Yuan Dynasty, which stems from the strict hierarchy. From this point of view, in this era, we might as well downplay the dragon python dispute. ”

In addition to the controversy over the number of dragon claws, there is also a debate about whether dragons should be "dragon" or "loong" in English.

"Five claws for a dragon and four claws for a python"?

In order to welcome the arrival of the Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese lunar calendar, Apple recently launched a mobile phone case printed with a dragon pattern.

According to Apple's official website, the price of the phone case is 498 yuan, and the size is suitable for all iPhone15 models, which belongs to the OtterBox brand Lumen series of protective cases, and the designer is Yulong Lli.

According to the product overview, the phone case vividly shows the dragon's fierce spirit with a brilliant peony fireworks pattern, curling and flowing lines and bright colors, which means festive and auspicious.

However, the case has caused a lot of controversy since its launch. According to a number of media reports, because the dragon on the pattern only has four claws, some netizens questioned that traditional Chinese culture has a saying that "five claws are dragons and four claws are pythons", so the mobile phone case is actually "referring to pythons as dragons".

At the same time, there are also voices that oppose that the dragon in traditional Chinese culture has not always had five claws, but gradually evolved from three, four and five claws.

In response, Apple responded that the official introduction to the mobile phone case product is a protective case that shows the meaning of the dragon's brave spirit in bright colors. Apple did not respond positively to the question of whether the pattern is a "python" or a "dragon", only saying that the information displayed on the official website page shall prevail.

Dai Wangyun, who has a doctorate in folklore at East China Normal University and is currently teaching at Yuexiu College of Foreign Chinese Studies in Zhejiang, pointed out in an interview with The Paper that the distinction between dragon python and dragon python actually reflects the concept of "real dragon" in the old era, which stems from the strict hierarchy and aims to maintain class rule.

Dai Wangyun said that the "dragon" before the Han Dynasty did not have a unified image, the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the image tended to be unified, to the Song Dynasty was basically three claws, the Song Dynasty had more four-clawed dragons, and the Yuan Dynasty began to have five claws, four claws, and three claws. "The royal monopoly on dragon patterns began after the Yuan Dynasty and was most strict during the Ming and Qing dynasties. ”

Dai Wangyun told The Paper that the distinction between "dragon five claws" and "python four claws" mainly stems from the royal monopoly on dragon patterns after the Yuan Dynasty.

This historical context no longer applies to the status quo. The image of the dragon has evolved many times in history, there have been three, four, and five claws, and the image of the dragon has been constantly recreated, so we don't have to be too serious about cartoon dragons and the like. Dai Wangyun said that if you look at it by historical standards, the cartoon dragon on the Apple phone case, its color and image can be described as "dragon not dragon, python not python".

"If the image of a dragon is used in a more serious setting, details such as the number of claws are worth noting. However, the Apple phone case is just a mass consumer product, and the cartoon dragon on it also expresses the auspicious meaning of the New Year, so you might as well downplay this "dragon" and "python" dispute, and the four-clawed "python" can also be a "dragon". Dai Wangyun said.

Is it appropriate to continue to translate "dragon" as "dragon"?

In addition to the controversy over dragon claws, in fact, there is also a lot of controversy in the academic community about whether to use "dragon" or "loong" in the English word for dragon.

The Paper has learned that in the current primary and secondary school textbooks, the English word for "dragon" is generally translated as "dragon", and "dragon" is also a universally accepted translation of dragon around the world. However, as early as 2006, Huang Ji, an associate professor at East China Normal University's School of Communication, suggested that "dragon" should not be translated as "dragon" and that "loong" should be the correct English translation of "dragon".

In an interview with The Paper, Huang pointed out that in Western culture, the English word "dragon" and its counterparts in other languages refer to a fictional animal in European mythology, which is large, fierce and resembles a monitor lizard, "and its symbolism is very negative, and it is regarded as a symbol of evil in a large part of the world outside of East Asia." However, in China, the dragon is a symbol of the Chinese nation, and its meaning is extremely positive. The Chinese also refer to themselves as "descendants of the dragon". "Therefore, the Chinese call themselves 'dragons' in front of foreigners, and they are demonizing themselves. ”

Huang Ji proposed that the English word for "dragon" should be translated as "loong", "its pronunciation is similar to that of dragon, and it is originally a transliteration of the word 'dragon' in English." Previously, in 1809, the British missionary Mahman had pronounced the dragon as 'loong'."

Huang Ji said that the translation of the dragon as "loong" has attracted a lot of opposition in the industry. Some people think that "translating dragon as 'dragon' is a conventional thing, and foreigners will not be able to understand it if you change it"; some people say that "foreigners already know that dragon symbolizes dignity and auspiciousness in China" and there is no need to change its translation; some people cite the red dragon painted on the flag of the Principality of Wales in the United Kingdom as the basis that dragon does not always symbolize evil, so it is possible to continue to translate dragon as "dragon"; others say that we do not need to change the translation of dragon, but should change the foreigner's perception of dragon" understanding of the word "dragon".

Huang Ji introduced that as the Year of the Dragon approaches, the phenomenon of translating the dragon as "loong" is becoming more and more common. On January 9, CGTN translated "Year of the Dragon" as "Loong Year" and "Dragon Dance" as "Loong Dance" when reporting on the "New Year Dragon Dance Challenge"; on January 22, the translation of "Chinese Loong" also appeared in Huawei's New Year commercial. "Translating dragon as 'loong' is being accepted by more and more people. ”