近日，笔者就美国邮政局发行甲辰龙年生肖邮票引起争议事，回答了《环球时报》记者的提问。答问文章在媒体发表后，阅读、回响者众。全球校友峰会加拿大委员会主席张志立先生微信笔者，言“美国邮政的龙年邮票图案，以丑为美，极具妖魔化、丑化中国龙之能事，观后令人作呕，其理念令人鄙视。应该予以谴责”。同时，张先生发来了加拿大皇家造币厂设计、发行的两枚龙年纪念币图案，认为该图案“美观大气”，图案上的龙“腾云驾雾，具有昂扬向上的精神，观后令人赞叹、倍受鼓舞”。世界文化保护与发展基金会中华区总监、社会活动家姜明吾认为：“美、加两个国家设计的龙年徽标，充分体现出不同文化、不同国度的人格和国格，一则堂堂皇皇，体现出一种优雅的气质，一种委琐至极，尽是小肚鸡肠的邪恶。”张志立先生建议笔者再写文章，对美、加两国推出的不同的生肖龙形象做些分析、评论。

于是，笔者上网搜看，了解到加拿大皇家造币厂策划、设计、发行的甲辰龙年系列纪念币共有五枚：两枚纯金币和三枚纯银币。其推介词中有这样的话：“图案是一条巨大的幸运龙”“图案中央是中华神龙盘旋漂浮在天空中，掌管着农业赖以生存的元素：风、雨、云，以及愤怒时的风暴。尊崇神龙，开启龙年。”

中国农历纪年采用的是“天干”和“地支”相结合的方式，其“天干”又以“五行”即“金木水火土”来分组，其中的“甲”和“木”被分在一组，于是“甲辰年”就又称“木龙年”。可贵、可叹，也堪赞的是，加拿大皇家造币厂的策划、设计、发行人员也知晓了这个许多中国人未必知晓的“讲究”，于是，下面的话就出现在他们的广告语中：

“龙被认为是中国十二生肖中的天生领袖，象征着力量和财富。当龙集中精力时，它以能够创造奇迹而著称，在与木元素相关的年份里，龙有可能产生突破性的想法，带来进步和繁荣。”“龙是最吉祥的动物象征，是自然的领导者和实干家，勇于挑战，愿意冒险。特别是木龙，每六十年才会有一次，是沉稳、创新的思考者。在2024年的木龙感召下，他们的火热、活力气质将被柔化，变得更为冷静和内向、创新和好奇，他们会全力以赴地解决任何问题，并总是能想出创新的想法或解决方案。”“让我们一起迎接木龙之年！这枚2024加拿大龙年精铸金币满载着丰富的象征意义，是专为庆祝农历龙年及其出生的人士所设计。它将龙年的权力、繁荣和智慧绽放于您的掌心之中。这枚金币的包装也有其独特之处，将金币封装在华丽的红色漆木盒内，并配有一个红色美容盒，象征着中国新年贺岁的‘红包’习俗。”“这枚金币不仅是一种资产，也是一种象征，它揭示了中华文化深远的影响力。”

笔者在仔细地赏看了这五枚加拿大龙年纪念币后，有了三点认识：

第一，尊重中华传统，寓意吉祥。纪念币上的龙，一个正面像、四个侧面像，皆昂首、耸角、披发、睁目、翘鼻、张口、吐舌、挺胸、曲身、奋足、扬尾，有的还饰以火珠、江牙、海水、云团、灯笼、花朵等，整体上符合寓意吉祥的成熟的中华传统龙的形象。

第二，精心设计描绘，有所创新。纪念币的推介词中讲，“设计者Jai Paek从中国民间艺术中汲取灵感，通过硬币背面的龙及其复杂的细节进行描绘”“金币的设计灵感来自于传统的中国艺术形式，由艺术家Simon Ng精心设计，它以木龙追赶龙珠（象征智慧和繁荣的火球）的形象来庆祝龙年。其周围则以樱桃花连接成的纤细花朵装饰，呼应了祥龙的波澜壮阔”。的确，我们从该龙图所展示的凸圆的眼珠、栉比的鳞片、尖利的趾爪、和悦的神态，就能看出设计者匠心之精细，而以“樱桃花连接成的纤细花朵装饰”，就属于容合、创新的范畴了。

第三，旨趣贵和向善，心态阳光。五枚纪念币不光体现、展示了加拿大皇家铸币厂高品质的先进的设计技术和精美的工艺制作，还体现、展示了策划、设计者心态之阳光和旨趣追求的贵和向善。笔者在各种场合反复讲：龙是中华先民对自然界中的多种动物和天象，经过多元容合而发明、展现的，具有容合、福生、谐天、奋进等精神蕴涵的神物。龙的实质，是中国人对宇宙自然力的感悟、认知和神化。经过至少八千年甚至上万年的演进和升华，龙已成为中华民族的广义图腾、精神象征、文化符号、文明标志、信仰载体和情感纽带。海内外华人大都认同自己是人文意义上的龙的传人。与中华民族根脉相连、与中华文明血髓交融、与时代的脉搏同频共振的中国龙，已完成了它的当代转型，已随着中华民族前进的脚步，甄别、清理了历史上一些负面的承载，告别了皇权、保守和软弱，成为自觉自信、团结合力、适变图强、爱好和平、开放包容，以天下人的幸福为幸福的形象美好、姿态矫健、精神昂扬的新龙。——这样的认识、观点，显然已被加拿大人中心态阳光、贵和向善，且有知识、有智慧、有格局者所理解和接受，并应用到了龙年纪念币的策划、设计、发行中。

和加拿大龙年纪念币的策划设计者相比，美国龙年生肖邮票的策划设计者就暴露出了其认知的短浅、教养的缺乏、心理的阴暗和格局的狭隘。他们以为通过一枚邮票的设计、发行，就可以把中国人心目中神圣的龙形象丑怪化、鬼魅化；他们不懂得，仰头向太阳吐唾沫，那唾沫一定会落在自己的脸上；贬低、羞辱、侮蔑一个伟大民族的象征物，其实是在贬低、羞辱、侮蔑自己。

希望美国龙年生肖邮票的策划设计者，以及某些对中国龙抱有偏见的人，能向加拿大龙年纪念币的策划设计者学习、看齐，汲取此次事件的教训，知错改过，不再做诸如此类的事情。

 

（2024年1月24日于加拿大枫华阁）

 

作者简介：庞进 龙凤文化研究专家、作家、龙凤国际联合会主席、中华龙文化协会名誉主席、中华龙凤文化研究中心主任、西安日报社高级编辑。中国作家协会会员，陕西省作家协会理事，陕西省社会科学院特约研究员，中华龙凤文化网（www.loongfeng.org）主编，加拿大西安大略出版社副总编辑。20世纪70年代开始从事文学创作和文化研究，至今已发表各类作品逾千万字，出版《创造论》《中国龙文化》《中国凤文化》《中国祥瑞》《灵树婆娑》《庞进文集》等著作四十多种，获首届中国冰心散文奖、首届陕西民间文艺山花奖、西安市社会科学优秀成果一等奖等奖项八十多次。有“龙文化当代十杰”之誉。微信号：pang_jin

 

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Appreciation of Canadian Loong Year Commemorative Coins

Pang Jin

Recently, in response to the controversy over the U.S. Postal Service’s issuance of the Jia Chen Loong Year zodiac stamps, I answered questions from a reporter from the “Global Times.” After the interview article was published in the media, it received a wide readership and many responses. Mr. Zhang Zhili, the chairman of the Global Alumni Summit Canada Committee, messaged me on WeChat, criticizing the design of the U.S. Postal Service’s Loong Year stamp for its demonization and uglification of the Chinese loong, which he found repulsive and contemptible. He suggested that this should be condemned. At the same time, Mr. Zhang sent me images of two Loong Year commemorative coins designed and issued by the Royal Canadian Mint, praising them as “beautiful and grand.” The loong on these coins, depicted as soaring through clouds, is seen as embodying an uplifting and inspiring spirit.

Jiang Mingwu, the Director of the Chinese Division of the World Cultural Preservation and Development Foundation and a social activist, observed that the loong designs from the U.S. and Canada reflect the distinct cultures and national characters of the two countries. He described one as dignified and elegant, embodying a noble temperament, and the other as petty and evil.

Mr. Zhang suggested I write an article to analyze and comment on the different loong images released by the U.S. and Canada. Accordingly, I conducted online research and learned that the Royal Canadian Mint planned, designed, and issued a series of five Loong Year commemorative coins for Jia Chen Year, including two in gold and three in silver. The promotional materials describe the design as a “massive lucky loong ” and center on a Chinese loong spiraling in the sky, controlling the elements essential for agriculture: wind, rain, clouds, and storms. The loong, a revered figure, ushers in the Year of the Loong.

In the Chinese lunar calendar, years are marked using a combination of the “Heavenly Stems” and “Earthly Branches,” with the “Heavenly Stems” categorized into the “Five Elements” of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. “Jia” corresponds to wood, hence “Jia Chen Year” is also known as the “Wood Loong Year.” Impressively, the designers at the Royal Canadian Mint were aware of this nuanced detail, not commonly known even among many Chinese. The promotional literature highlights the loong as a natural leader and symbol of strength and wealth in the Chinese zodiac. Especially in a wood element year, the loong is seen as capable of generating groundbreaking ideas, bringing progress and prosperity. The loong, particularly the Wood Loong which occurs once every sixty years, is viewed as a stable, innovative thinker.

After closely examining these five Canadian Loong Year commemorative coins, I gained three insights:

First, they show respect for traditional Chinese culture and embody auspicious meanings. The loongs on the coins, depicted in various poses, conform to the mature image of the auspicious Chinese traditional loong.

Second, the coins are meticulously designed and innovative. The designer, Jai Paek, drew inspiration from Chinese folk art for the intricate details on the loong depicted on the coin’s reverse. Simon Ng, who designed the gold coin, drew from traditional Chinese art forms, depicting the Wood Loong chasing a dragon ball (symbolizing wisdom and prosperity), surrounded by delicately connected cherry blossoms.

Third, the coins reflect a positive and virtuous intention. The Royal Canadian Mint’s advanced design techniques and exquisite craftsmanship are evident, as is the sunny and noble disposition of the planners and designers. The essence of the loong, as I’ve often discussed, represents the Chinese people’s understanding and mythologization of natural forces. Over thousands of years, the loong has evolved into a broad totem and symbol of Chinese culture, civilization, and spirit. It’s a symbol that resonates with Chinese people worldwide. The contemporary loong, having shed negative historical connotations, now embodies self-confidence, unity, adaptability, love for peace, and inclusiveness.

In contrast, the U.S. Postal Service’s designers of the Loong Year stamp have revealed their limited understanding and narrow-mindedness. They failed to recognize that debasing a great nation’s symbol ultimately reflects poorly on themselves.

I hope that those responsible for the design of the U.S. Loong Year stamp and others with misconceptions about the Chinese loong can learn from the Canadian approach, taking this incident as a lesson and refraining from similar actions in the future.

(January 24, 2024, at Maple Hall, Canada)

About the author: Pang Jin is an expert and writer in loong and phoenix culture, serving as the Chairman of the Loong and Phoenix International Federation and the Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Loong Culture Association. He is also the Director of the Chinese Loong and Phoenix Culture Research Center, a Senior Editor at Xi’an Daily, a member of the China Writers Association, a council member of the Shaanxi Writers Association, and a special researcher at the Shaanxi Academy of Social Sciences. He is the chief editor of the Chinese Loong and Phoenix Culture website (www.loongfeng.org) and the Deputy Chief Editor of the Ontario Publishing House in Canada. Since the 1970s, he has been involved in literary creation and cultural research, publishing over ten million words in various works. His publications include more than forty titles such as “Theory of Creation,” “Chinese Loong Culture,” “Chinese Phoenix Culture,” “Chinese Auspiciousness,” “Dancing Spirit Trees,” and “Collected Works of Pang Jin.” He has received over eighty awards, including the First China Bing Xin Prose Award, the First Shaanxi Folk Literature and Art Mountain Flower Award, and the Xi’an Municipal Social Science Outstanding Achievement First Prize. He is renowned as one of the contemporary “Ten Outstanding Figures in Loong Culture.” WeChat ID: pang_jin