ANCESTRAL LORE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AZURE DRAGON

 

In Chinese mythology, the Azure Dragon of the East, known as Qing Long (青龍), is one of the Four Symbols representing the cardinal directions. Closely associated with the east, this celestial being embodies qualities of vitality, wisdom, and benevolence. The Azure Dragon rules over the eastern quadrant of the universe, serving as a guardian and protector. Its depiction as a majestic dragon with azure scales symbolizes its connection to the heavens and the element of wood.

The Azure Dragon is revered as a symbol of leadership, embodying a unique balance of benevolence and calm firmness. Its personality reflects a compassionate strength, maintaining harmony while asserting necessary boundaries—a characterization also shared by General Guan Yu, the celebrated figure from Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Known for his loyalty and righteousness, General Guan exemplified these dragon-like traits through his legendary feats and his famed weapon, The Azure Dragon Crescent Blade (青龍偃月刀).

The production of the Azure Dragon mural became a reflection of this leadership and balanced benevolence. The team frequently navigated moments requiring kindness tempered by calm firmness to establish clear boundaries, creating an environment rooted in inclusion and shared responsibilities. This leadership ethos mirrored the dragon’s symbolic characteristics, emphasizing collective respect and mutual understanding—a standard the project upheld throughout.

In Chinese culture, the Azure Dragon symbolizes growth, renewal, and auspicious beginnings, believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to those who honor it. Historically, it has been invoked in rituals and ceremonies to bless communities and ensure harmony. The dragon’s qualities resonate across generations, inspiring tales of heroism, morality, and leadership.

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The dragon also holds a prominent place in East and Southeast Asian traditions. In Japan, it is revered as Seiryu, while in Korea, it is known as Cheongryong (청룡). This universal reverence highlights its enduring legacy as a cultural and spiritual guide.

The Azure Dragon’s influence extends into modern pop culture, enriching various creative fields:  
 

Anime and Manga: Seen in Yu Yu Hakusho, Fushigi Yuugi, and Naruto, where it symbolizes honor, power, and protection.  

Video Games: Appears in Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter, and Genshin Impact as a guardian or legendary creature, and as character skins in Overwatch.

Classical Literature: General Guan Yu’s association with the Azure Dragon reinforces its image as a leader embodying courage, wisdom, and benevolence.  

From ancient mythology to contemporary storytelling, the Azure Dragon continues to be a beacon of leadership, strength, and renewal. Whether as a guardian of the eastern sky, a source of literary inspiration, or a cultural motif, it bridges tradition and modernity, offering lessons in resilience and collective growth. Through this mural project, the Azure Dragon not only symbolizes inclusion and responsibility but also reminds us of the values necessary to build a thriving, unified community.

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POEM'S MEANING

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“The Azure Dragon soars in Chinatown’s skies.” This line introduces the Azure Dragon, alluding to our legends where dragons commonly soared through the skies, commanding the heavens and the weather. The verse also suggests that, despite its commanding presence, the dragon watches over us with kindness, patience, and serenity.

 

“Guiding us to a future where all boats rise.” This verse highlights the dragon’s intention for our community. The first four characters, "海納百川" (hǎi nà bǎi chuān), are an idiom comparing the many walks of life converging into a singular whole, with the sea being home to a hundred rivers. This allegory represents our vision for Chinatown as a home for everyone, regardless of struggles, skin color, pronouns, or politics.

 

The following three characters, "繪錦程" (huì jǐn chéng), envision all of us thriving together. This means opening our doors to all Edmontonians to patronize our businesses and experience the richness that Chinatown has to offer. It also means embracing and caring for our unhoused neighbors, rather than perpetuating a violent cycle of displacement.

 

Within the Chinese community, it signifies building a governance framework where the full intercultural and intergenerational diversity of the community is seen and represented. Strength in diversity.

 

“Honor the land and uphold treaty.” This dragon firmly reminds us to respect the land we are on. Chinatown is more than a business district or a project topic for urban planners and economic development. The land provides sustenance for current and future generations, and respecting it means showing gratitude and appreciation for the Indigenous peoples who allow us to be here.

 

There is also significant appreciation for our forefathers who endured the dark years of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Head Tax, making remarkable investments in community spaces that will serve generations to come. This is especially important as Chinatowns across North America fight gentrification, with profit motives eating away at our communities block by block.

 

The second reminder is a call for integrity, to respect our agreements and treaties within and among our communities. By living and working on Treaty 6 Territory, we exercise our treaty rights, which also come with treaty responsibilities. We have a collective responsibility to support our Indigenous brothers and sisters during times of famine and sickness and to support their self-determination. We must acknowledge historical (and current) wrongs and take actions to make things right.

 

Our public institutions must also be held accountable, as Chinatown has been systemically neglected for decades. The federal government is responsible for legislated racism against Chinese Canadians. The provincial government is responsible for the failing social services that impact our most vulnerable. The municipal government is responsible for city planning decisions, from the teardown of Harbin Gate to the cultural erasure in South Chinatown by rebranding it as the Quarters. The same accountability applies to those who step into community leadership roles and attempt to represent the breadth of Chinese Canadian experiences in Edmonton.

 

“The flow of culture will bring prosperity.” The final verse of the poem is a reminder to center culture in our work. While recent Chinatown planning documents categorize strategic efforts into the five pillars of safety and security, economic development, infrastructure, tourism, and community governance, it is our people and culture that make Chinatown unique and worth honoring. The pathway to collective prosperity lies in seriously prioritizing this.

 

"文脉" (wén mài) describes culture as part of our cardiovascular system—vital and core, flowing through and nourishing every cell in our body. When culture is this integral to who we are and flows consistently, Chinatown will thrive.