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Researched by: Avi Alaev

Upon entering Chinatown, you will find that dragon symbols are everywhere: hanging across store fronts, peeking off the sides of buildings, and lurking on top of streets, imbuing the atmosphere with a sense of mystical wonder and cultural pride. Because of the dragon’s prominence in Chinatown, I decided to research its relevance and meaning to the Chinese community, both in and outside of NYC.

Unlike the West who associate dragons with destruction and terror, the Chinese associate dragons with power, strength, and fortune. According to Chinese mythology, dragons interlink the spiritual and natural worlds and control water, rain, and storms to ensure agricultural prosperity and well-being among the Chinese community. In New York City, the dragon takes a somewhat new, distinct meaning; it serves as a reminder of the Chinese journey to America, symbolizing unity in spite of diaspora.

A prime example of this unity is the dragon dance. During the Chinese New Year, crowds parade to celebrate a long, sinuous dragon made of silk, paper, and bamboo. This festival is accompanied by loud, cultural music and fireworks to frighten away evil spirits and welcome the new year, instilling a unique sense of community that can’t be found elsewhere. Even in an incredibly diverse city with completely different cultures dominating neighboring regions mere streets away, Chinatown remains a culturally unified area.

As we wander through the streets adorned with these beautiful creatures, we are reminded of the power of cultural symbols to unite, inspire, and tell the stories of a people far from their ancestral land yet close to their roots.