 Sun Loong, formerly the world's longest imperial dragon | |
| Species | dragon |
|---|---|
| Breed | imperial parade |
| Hatched | 新龍 1970 Hong Kong |
| Years active | 1970–2019 |
| Predecessor | Loong |
| Successor | Dai Gum Loong |
| Residence | Golden Dragon Museum,Bendigo, Australia |
| Height | 100 m (330 ft) |
Sun Loong (simplified Chinese:新龙;traditional Chinese:新龍;pinyin:xīn lóng;Jyutping:san1 lung4;lit. 'New Dragon'), derived from the Cantonese pronunciation of "New Dragon", is animperial parade dragon that was used in theBendigo Easter parade from 1970 through 2019. It was believed to be the longest imperial parade dragon in the world, measuring approximately 100 metres (330 ft) long.[1][2][3][4]
Sun Loong was used in the traditional Chinese dragon dance and superseded Bendigo's earlierLoong in 1970;Loong is heritage listed as it is believed to be the oldest complete imperial parade dragon in the world. On 21 April 2019, a new dragon namedDai Gum Loong made its debut at the Bendigo parade and took over the title of longest dragon at 125 m (410 ft). BothLoong andSun Loong are on permanent display at theGolden Dragon Museum in Bendigo.
Dragons are an important part of Chinese culture. Large processional dragons have been used in Chinese festivals for over a thousand years. After Chinese came to Bendigo in the 1850s for thegold rush many settled and later, in the 1870s, the Chinese community began to participate in the annualBendigo Easter Festival. In this parade the local Chinese brought their old dragon dancing traditions to Bendigo. The earliest documented appearance of the venerable dragonLoong, approximately 60 m (200 ft) long, was in 1901;[5] although a local newspaper printed photographs of a dragon in the parade in 1892,[6] Golden Dragon Museum officers believe this was notLoong.[5]Loong was built inFoshan, China at the Sing Cheng workshop, which also built parade dragons for Los Angeles andBallarat.[5]
Grand processional dragons became a big part of the Easter Parade. By the late 1960s, the 1901 dragonLoong was getting older and an effort to raise money for a new dragon began. The Loong 100, a coalition of local Bendigo businessmen, politicians, and the Bendigo Chinese Association, were instrumental in raising the money for the purchase ofSun Loong. A traditional dragon maker was found inHong Kong, the Lo On Kee (羅安記) owned by a man named Lo On (羅安). AfterSun Loong was completed, it was greeted by and assumed the duties ofLoong at the 1970 Easter Parade; at the time,Sun Loong was the longest imperial dragon in the world.[5]
Sun Loong paraded beforePrince Charles andPrincess Diana during theirroyal visit to Australia in 1983. By 2009, planning for a successor toSun Loong began; a vendor was selected in May 2018, andDai Gum Loong was built between June 2018 and February 2019. After being blessed atFuk Tak Temple inShau Kei Wan,[7]Dai Gum Loong traveled to Bendigo[5] and made his debut at the Easter parade on April 21, 2019, greeted by the 1901Loong and peacefully assuming the duties from the 1970Sun Loong; all three dragons returned to their home in the Golden Dragon Museum, led byLoong.[8]Dai Gum Loong is billed as 125 m (410 ft) long.[9] Ringo Leung was selected to restoreSun Loong.[10]
Sun Loong was originally over 60 m (200 ft) long. Bendigo was very proud of the fact he was the longest imperial dragon in theSouthern Hemisphere. However, in 1980, the Chinese community inMelbourne purchasedDai Loong, a processional dragon they intended to be a metre or so longer than Sun Loong. In response, Bendigo ordered an extension forSun Loong. Following its inclusion, the dragon's official length has remained a secret. However, its approximate length is now 100 m (330 ft)[4][5]
Sun Loong has 6,000 silk and papier-mâché scales, and 90,000 hand-cut mirrors. James Lew, a 101-year-old Chinese elder, broughtSun Loong to life in 1970 by dotting his eyes with chicken blood.[11]: 33