螭 (chī) - A type of hornless dragon in Chinese mythology & often depicted as a young, nascent dragon
螭 · chī
A type of hornless dragon in Chinese mythology;
often depicted as a young, nascent dragon;
a decorative motif in ancient Chinese art and architecture.
A type of hornless dragon in Chinese mythologyoften depicted as a young, nascent dragona decorative motif in ancient Chinese art and
Usage highlights
Chi dragonChi head ornamentChi patternChi tabletTwin chi dragonsPanchi pattern
Usage & contexts
Examples
- The roof was adorned with a chi dragon ornament (螭首).
- He carved a chi dragon on the jade pendant (螭纹玉佩).
- Ancient bronze vessels often feature chi patterns (螭纹).
- The chi is a common motif in traditional Chinese art (螭龙).
Collocations
- Chi dragon(螭龙)
- Chi head ornament(螭首)
- Chi pattern(螭纹)
- Chi tablet(螭钮)
- Twin chi dragons(双螭)
- Panchi pattern(盘螭)
Idioms
- Panchi coiling dragon(盘螭)
- Clouds following the chi dragon(云从螭)
- Chi and tiger contending(螭虎对峙)
Cultural background
FAQ- In Chinese mythology, the chi is a hornless dragon, often considered a type of young dragon or a specific class of dragon-like creature.
- The chi motif is prevalent in ancient Chinese decorative arts, especially on bronze vessels, jade carvings, and architectural elements from the Zhou to Han dynasties.
- It symbolizes power, good fortune, and protection, frequently used in imperial contexts and high-status artifacts.