It’s been a couple of days since the arrival of the New Year 2024. With this, Chinese astrology has also welcomed 2024 by crowning it as the ‘Year of the Dragon’—the only mythical creature in the list of Chinese zodiacs. Unlike Western culture, dragons are an important part of Chinese culture, symbolizing strength, power, wisdom, nobility, good fortune, and success.

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Indeed, dragons don’t actually exist, but during the times of imperial rule, dragons held symbolic significance of authority and power. In Chinese legend, it is thought that Dragon kings had absolute control over weather and water; hence, dragons were revered as the pioneering spirit associated with rainfall and land fertility.

Why ‘Year of the Dragon'

The 12 Chinese zodiac signs are derived from a list of animals and follow a 12-year cycle, with each year associated with one of these animals. The Dragon, positioned as the fifth in the sequence, has its designated year recurring every 12 years. The most recent 'Year of the Dragon' before 2024 was in 2012. Interestingly, each zodiac is associated with specific elements too (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth). When an animal reappears after 12 years, the elemental affiliation also shifts. For instance, 2012 was the Year of the Water Dragon, so this year is the Year of the Wood Dragon.