On December 6th, the official mascot for the 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala in the Year of the Dragon, named "Long Chenchen," was formally unveiled.
The mascot for the CCTV 2024 Spring Festival Gala highlights auspicious and joyful symbolism, embodying good fortune and happiness. Drawing inspiration from the profound and rich traditional Chinese culture, as well as resonating with emotions from daily life, "Long Chenchen" not only embodies the essence and beauty of the zodiac dragon in traditional culture but also reflects the optimistic and upward spirit of contemporary Chinese people. The design elements of "Long Chenchen" are derived from the ancient Chinese culture and artifacts, including the dragon's nose from a jade dragon unearthed at the Yanshi Erlitou site in Henan, the dragon's spine and belly patterns inspired by the side of the Western Zhou period He Zun inscribed with the earliest record of the word "China," and decorations on the dragon's brow and shoulder taken from the cloud-patterned bronze ritual vessel stored in the Henan Museum, adding a touch of whimsy and classical charm to the mascot.
The craftsmanship of the nine dragons on the Nine Dragon Wall at the Palace Museum is well-known for its exquisite artistry and grandeur. "Long Chenchen" draws inspiration from the design of the "Five-Clawed Golden Dragon" on the Nine Dragon Wall, showcasing a majestic and solemn dragon claw shape. The gilded walking dragon, housed in the Shaanxi History Museum, represents a typical creature-bodied dragon form with serrated dorsal ridges and a long tail curling upwards, demonstrating the advanced metallurgical technology of the Tang Dynasty. "Long Chenchen" adopts a proud and robust posture, exuding a heroic and spirited demeanor.
The color palette chosen for "Long Chenchen" includes traditional Chinese colors such as da ran, xi chi, cheng xia, yu ping, and chun chen. The "cheng xia" color represents the red glow of clouds during sunrise, symbolizing the vibrant colors of youth. Chun chen is the color of ice and snow melting, symbolizing the awakening of plants and belonging to the green-blue color system, representing the symbolic color of the Eastern Azure Dragon. The Azure Dragon, one of the ancient Chinese astronomical Four Symbols, signifies spring, hope, and growth, imbuing "Long Chenchen" with the vibrant energy of the changing seasons, bidding farewell to winter and welcoming the new year.
Translator: BAI Jing
Reviewer: LIU Jin
