Legendary martial art master Bruce Lee’s Chinese name is “Little Dragon.” Movie star Jackie Chan’s Chinese name means “Becoming a Dragon.” In imperial China, only emperors could be immortalized into a dragon, hence ascending to heaven. In modern Chinese culture, expecting our children to become dragons has been the perpetual inner force driving parents into becoming “tiger moms” and “tiger dads” all over the world.

Chinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology. They are seen as in charge of water-related weather phenomenon. In Chinese art, dragons are typically portrayed as long, scaled, serpentine creatures with four legs.

In yin and yang terminology, a dragon is yang and complements a yin fenghuang (“Chinese phoenix”). They are much more peaceful compared with their Western counterparts, which are considered aggressive and evil.

The phenomenal fascination with dragons is the result of more than 2,000 years of cultural symbolization. Chinese dragons have come to represent potent, auspicious powers, immense strength and good fortune. People are compared or referred to the dragon for exceptional achievements and high social standings.

It is a taboo to disfigure a depiction of a dragon. Several years ago, a Nike ad showing NBA Rookie of the Year LeBron James defeating a cartoon dragon invoked a great uproar in Asia and offended more than a billion targeted customers.

The Chinese Year of the Dragon started on Jan. 23. Asian countries and people of Chinese descent worldwide will celebrate the New Year with spiritual and social pride specifically associated with the Chinese dragon.

Please join us in welcoming a happy and more prosperous year.