Year of the dragon

Year of the dragon

Year of the dragon explanation

2012 and 2024 is the year of the dragon. There are twelve animals in theJapanese zodiac (Juunishi):
the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey,rooster, dog and boar.
The dragon is the only mythological creature in the zodiac.
The Japanese word for "dragon"is, "tatsu" or "ryuu". There are three kanji characters to express the word, "dragon".
One ??? is in Joyo kanji, and the other one ??? is the old style kanji.
When describing a dragon as, "Juunishi", a different character ??? thanthe previous two is used.

Dragons are a familiar motif in Japanese art, architecture and popular culture.
The "Chuunichi Dragons" are a professional baseball team. "Dragon Ball"is a manga series. "Dragon Quest" is a popular videogame series.
"Tatsu no ko Taro (Taro, the Dragon Boy)" is a famous Japanese folktale, which was made into a movie in 1979.

A "seahorse" is called, "tatsu no otoshigo (the dragon's lost child)," since itresembles a dragon.

Here are some Japanese expressions that are related to the word "dragon":

Gekirin ni fureru ??????
?"Gekirin" is the scale on a dragon that grows in the opposite direction to all the others.
A dragon doesn't harm humans in general, but hates to have its "gekirin" (scale) touched.
It is said that if a "gekirin" were touched, the dragon would become furious and kill theperson responsible immediately.
Therefore, "Gekirin ni fureru" means, "to incur the wrath of the Emperor;
to provoke the Emperor's wrath; to step on the toes of a man in power".

Ryuutou-Dabi ????
Is one of the, "Yoji-Jukugo".It literally means, "A dragon's head and a snake's tail".
It describes a, "bright beginning; dull finish; to end in an anticlimax; a tame ending."

Touryuumon ???
?Literally translates as, "Climbing the Dragon's Gate". It expresses, "the gateway to success; anopening to honors".
It finds its origin in the old Chinese legend about a carp, swimming up a rapid current and awaterfall named,
"The Dragon's Gate", that turns into a dragon and goes to heaven.

Source: By Namiko Abe at "About.com Guide"