DESCENDANTS OF THE DRAGON: THE DRAGON AS A SYMBOL OF CHINESE NATIONAL IDENTITY

The dragon has a unique position in Chinese mythology and it used to be a symbol of the emperor. This article explores the Chinese attitude to the dragon as a mythical ancestor of all Chinese. It focuses on the popular song “Descendants of the Dragon” by the Taiwanese singer Hou Dejian and its influence on Chinese national identity. The song was created in 1978 and became popular. Later, the dragon became the symbol of Chinese people resident not only in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) but also Chinese people living in Taiwan as well as in the Chinese diaspora. The song appeared at the right time when the longing for the motherland by Chinese people living in Taiwan correlated with the political need of the PRC to find a common symbol. The dragon as an apolitical mythological creature has been adopted as a common ancestor for all Chinese people on the basis of its lyrics. It has been used in the PRC since 1988 to replace political narratives, reinforce the feeling of national identity and find features connecting all Chinese people around the world. A new version of the song shows the attitude of those who have been born and have grown up outside of China but still consider themselves the heirs of Chinese culture and traditions.