龍

The mythical dragon. When used attributively, it denotes either a physical characteristic (serpentine shape or pattern) or a symbolic status (imperial or divine).

Commonly paired as 龍虎 (Dragon and Tiger) to represent a duality of power, which may refer to cosmic directions (East/West) or competing forces of strength.

Primarily nominal.

Distinguish from 蛇 (snake). While visually similar in early scripts, the distinction is conceptual: 蛇 refers to a biological animal, whereas 龍 refers to supernatural power. The use of 龍 in a context where a snake might be expected typically indicates an intentional elevation of the subject to a divine or auspicious status.

Usage shifts from cosmic to political over time:

• Early/Cosmic: In archaic texts and early divination records, the glyph often functions as an agent of hydrology—the mechanism of weather (specifically rain, clouds, and storms) rather than a "creature."
• Later/Political: From the Han period onward, it increasingly serves as shorthand for the Emperor, the imperial throne, or sovereign authority.

Variants include U+9F92 and U+7ADC; these are orthographic shifts that do not alter lexical meaning. Simplified variant: U+9F99.

Kangxi radical 212 (the glyph serves as its own radical).

The translator should determine whether the text treats the glyph as a cosmic agent or a political symbol based on the chronological and thematic context of the passage.