The year of the Dragon is not referred to as “Long” but rather as “Thin” based on the twelve zodiac animals. However, “Thin” is also another term for the crocodile.
People do not call the year of the Dragon “Long” but instead refer to it as “Thin.” This designation follows the order of the twelve zodiac animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
The reason for this phenomenon, according to researcher An Chi, is that a single object or phenomenon can have multiple names over different periods or contexts. For example, both carrot and beet refer to the same type of root vegetable, while snakehead and snake fish are names for the same species of fish…
Specifically, the term “Thin” here does not directly refer to the dragon but is another name for a mythical creature, which is the crocodile. In another article, this researcher also demonstrates that the dragon is, in fact, the crocodile. Due to the imagination and folk beliefs of ancient times, the reptile living in the swamps was elevated to become a symbol of authority and royalty.
In summary, we can understand that “Thin” is another name for the crocodile. Meanwhile, the dragon in reality is actually the crocodile. Therefore, “Thin” can also be understood as dragon.
Additionally, the term “Thin” has another ancient (and now obsolete) meaning, which is thunder. According to the Dictionary of World Cultural Symbols, the dragon is considered a deity that brings rain and thunder. For these two reasons, “Thin” is used to refer to the dragon in the twelve zodiac animals.
