Since ancient times, the dragon has been endowed with sacred symbolism, as the totem of the Chinese nation and the auspicious beast, it shows the infinite yearning of the Chinese people for strength, dignity and auspiciousness. With the passage of time, the image of the dragon has been endowed with richer and richer connotations, and has become one of the most important symbols in Chinese culture. However, the dragon's figure seems to be becoming more and more mysterious, does it exist in the real world or is it just a myth and legend? Let's trace the footprints of the dragon and explore the traces of this mysterious creature on the land of China.
Ancient China has unearthed a variety of exotic fossils, some of which are believed to be inextricably linked to mythical dragons. In 1987, a strange reptile fossil about 6 meters long was discovered in Huayin City, Shaanxi Province. Scientists speculate that this creature lived 240 million years ago and is the largest known marine reptile on Earth. Its massive body, hideous fangs, and powerful aura are quite similar to those found in traditional dragon culture.
In addition, in 1971, the famous American paleontologist Coullen stumbled upon a mysterious fossil while searching for Mesozoic mammals. Scientists later named it "Arowana" because of its catfish-like body, salamander-like head, and dragon-like teeth. This discovery shocked the world and is regarded as one of the most representative discoveries of the Paleolithic period. Kircullen also speculated that the creature may have been the prototype of the origin of dragon culture, thus linking the "Arowana" to Chinese dragon culture.
In addition to fossils, there are also creatures that are considered "living fossils" in reality, and they may be able to help us unravel the mystery of "dragons". In 1998, a creature known as the "valley giant worm" was discovered in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, with a body length of up to 16 meters, similar to a zombie earthworm, and has been listed as a national second-class key protected animal. In the same year, an ancient earthworm thought to be more than 5,500 years old was also discovered in Shaanxi, which is widely believed by scholars to be inextricably linked to dragon culture.
In addition, some regional endemic breeds are also given the symbolic meaning of "dragon". For example, the carp in Liuzhou is called "dragon carp", and it has a unique "dragon head" covered with fleshy scales and a fat and powerful body shape. The "silver snake" in Hezhou, named after a ring-shaped protrusion on the top of its head, is regarded as a "small living fossil".
In the long history and culture of China, the figure of the dragon is everywhere. Historians believe that about 3,000 years ago, Chinese ancestors began to depict and worship the image of the dragon. The image of the dragon brings together people's awe of nature, yearning for strength and yearning for life at that time, and is the sublimation of people's inner expectations.
In general, the dragon, as the totem of the Chinese nation, is deeply rooted in the soil of Chinese civilization. Whether it is an ancient fossil, a mysterious animal breed, or a long-standing myth and legend, the image of the dragon is like a red thread full of tension, connecting the Chinese nation's yearning and pursuit of a better life for thousands of years. On the occasion of the arrival of the Year of the Dragon, let's once again trace the footprints of this mysterious creature and feel the soul shock brought to us by dragon culture.