A ''nian'' () is a beast in
Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology () is mythology that has been passed down in oral form or recorded in literature in the geographic area now known as Greater China. Chinese mythology includes many varied myths from regional and cultural traditions.
Much of ...
. Nian live under the sea or in the mountains. The
Chinese character
Chinese characters () are logograms developed for the writing of Chinese. In addition, they have been adapted to write other East Asian languages, and remain a key component of the Japanese writing system where they are known as '' kan ...
''nian'' more usually means "year" or "new year". The earliest written sources that refer to the ''nian'' as a creature date to the early 20th century. As a result, it is unclear whether the ''nian'' creature is an authentic part of traditional folk mythology, or a part of a local
oral tradition
Oral tradition, or oral lore, is a form of human communication wherein knowledge, art, ideas and cultural material is received, preserved, and transmitted orally from one generation to another. Vansina, Jan: ''Oral Tradition as History'' (1985 ...
that was recorded in the early 20th century. ''Nian'' is one of the key characters in the
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar and solar Chinese calendar. In Chinese and other East Asian cultures, the festival is commonly referred to as the Spring Festival () a ...
. Scholars cite it as the reason behind several practices during the celebration, such as wearing red clothing and creating noise from drums and
fireworks
Fireworks are a class of low explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a large number of devices ...
.
Modern legends
Once every year at the beginning of Chinese New Year, the ''nian'' would come out of its hiding place to feed, mostly on people and animals. During the winter, when food was scarce, it would raid villages, eating the crops and sometimes the villagers themselves - particularly their children. Several accounts describe its appearance, with some claiming that it resembles a flat-faced lion with the body of a dog and prominent incisors. Other authors described it as larger than an elephant with two long horns and many sharp teeth. The weaknesses of the ''nian'' are purported to be a sensitivity to loud noises, fire, and a fear of the color red.
Some local legends attribute the
Chinese lion dance () to the ''nian''. The tradition has its origins in a story of a ''nian's'' attack on a village. After the attack, the villagers discussed how to make the ''nian'' leave them in peace. Since it was discovered that the beast was afraid of the color red, people put red lanterns and spring scrolls on their windows and doors. They would also leave food at their doorstep in a bid to divert it from eating humans.
The traditions of firecrackers, red lanterns, and red robes found in many lion dance portrayals originate from the villagers' practice of hitting