Year of the Dragon : Name-dropping dragons (alumni edition!)
In the vast community of over 40,000 CUHK Business School alumni, many are “descendants of the dragon”. As the Year of the Dragon approaches, we have invited several of them whose names carry the Chinese character “龍” (loong/dragon) to share the fascinating stories behind their names and their New Year aspirations. Drawing inspiration from their connection to the dragon, we extend early New Year wishes to all our alumni, anticipating a year filled with good fortune, vitality, and prosperity! My name holds deep roots in Chinese tradition. The surname “Lee” is inherited from the family, “Kam” links to our genealogy, and “Lung”, a Chinese character resembling a dragon, was chosen by my grandfather. It mirrors the high hopes my family has for me, envisioning that I, as the first son in my generation, will soar to great heights, much like the powerful dragon. I sincerely hope I haven’t let them down (laughs). The experiences and stories associated with my name are quite unique. Once, during my entry into mainland China, I was found coincidentally sharing the same name as a wanted criminal. Fortunately, the age difference of 30 years between us proved my innocence. After immigration officers made a note in the system, I was able to proceed smoothly. Some of my relatives thought the name “Lung” was tied to the Chinese zodiac sign Dragon, but the truth is, I was born in the Year of the Boar. Even though it might sound similar, my name has no fancy connection to the famous “Lee Kum Kee” brand or its founding family. Just another quirky coincidence! For the upcoming year, my wish is for harmony and peace in both the world and Hong Kong. I firmly believe that prosperity, happiness, and economic growth will follow. To all my fellow alumni, here’s to a fantastic new year ahead, brimming with good health, abundance, and all-around happiness! My parents believed that the surname “Lung” carried a natural sense of “dominance”, symbolising power and authority. To balance this strength, they chose two softer characters for my given name. “Kwan”(筠) represents bamboo, symbolising loyalty, filial piety, as well as goodness and grace. Meanwhile, “In” (妍) conveys the meaning of beauty. As for the origin of my surname “Lung”, I wasn’t entirely sure. Searching online, I found that in ancient times, it held high status, likely belonging to leaders or significant members of tribes and families. Due to its rarity, it often gets confused, with restaurant reservations interpreting it as “Leung” or “Lo”, requiring me to repeat it several times. During my studies abroad, while registering, school staff repeatedly confirmed if my surname was spelled L-U-N-G — perhaps she couldn’t believe someone’s last name would be “Lung”! Upon explaining its connection to the dragon, her expression shifted to disbelief and surprise. With the Year of the Dragon approaching, my wish for everyone is good health in the coming year. I’ll continue to equip myself, seize every opportunity, and exert my best efforts for improvements in all aspects. Lastly, I extend warm wishes to all alumni for a joyful Year of the Dragon, filled with success, fortune, and prosperity! To answer the questions I was given, I took a deep dive into my family’s genealogy and found that the surname “Long” has five distinct origins. Our lineage can be traced back to a prominent official during the Han Dynasty. As for my name “Jing” (婧), meaning a talented woman, my father selected it after consulting the dictionary. Given the rarity of my surname and given name, teachers often enjoyed singling me out for questions at school, making it a challenge to ever skip a class. Even now, my name still often gets mispronounced as “Sin” (remarks: “Jing” is pronounced as “Zing” in Cantonese and “Jing” in Mandarin). Various nicknames were bestowed upon me as well. Some classmates in primary school dubbed me “leader” because the dragon symbolises strong leadership. After the broadcast of “The Legend of The Condor Hero”, starring Louis Koo, I carried the moniker “Xiaolongnu” (or “little dragon girl”, the female protagonist in the novelty) for quite a while. My primary New Year’s wish is good health, and I aspire to maintain my curiosity throughout the year, exploring and creating more possibilities. I also want to extend heartfelt wishes to all my fellow alumni. May all your dreams and aspirations come to fruition, and may success accompany each of you with pride! Why am I named “Tianlong (天龍)”? Well, my family believed that this majestic term symbolises power and glory, hoping that I would grow up resilient and ambitious. Thanks to this name, I’ve often been associated with Jin Yong’s novel “The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils” (remarks: it is pronounced as “Tian Long Ba Bu” in Mandarin) by friends and classmates throughout my childhood. While it took some getting used to initially, I realised that it helped me make a lasting impression on people. As the new year approaches, my wish is for good health for my family and personal growth in my career. 2024, the Year of the Wood Dragon in Chinese elements and zodiac, holds the potential for great achievements for all CUHK Business School alumni in their studies and careers! My family was from the Hunan province. There’s a tale of a “Long Family Compound (龍家坊)” in the area where everyone supposedly shared the surname “Long”, though this claim is now unverifiable. Interestingly, in my rare encounters with others bearing the surname “Long”, I discovered that many also originated from Hunan. Having a relatively unique surname has garnered attention since my childhood. My nickname, “Xiaolongbao” (a type of small Chinese steamed bun), almost stuck with me until high school. Upon entering the workforce and adopting the name “Xiao Long” (Little Dragon), I felt flattered whenever someone referred to me as “Xiaolongnu” (Little Dragon Girl), though I wish I were as pretty as her! For the upcoming year, my resolution is for smooth work experiences, good health, and happiness for my family every day. May all alumni be blessed with vitality, and may their aspirations be fulfilled! CUHK Business School alumni are everywhere, transcending geographical and industrial boundaries. To explore more inspiring alumni stories, please click HERE. Ricky Lee Kam-lung 李錦龍 (EMBA 2022):
“I almost became a wanted criminal!”
Peony Lung Kwan-in 龍筠妍 (IBCE 2016, MBA 2023):
“Foreigners almost mistook my surname for the respiratory organ ‘Lung’!”
Long Jing 龍婧 (EMBA (Chinese) 2022):
Teacher’s beloved “Little Dragon Girl”
Zhang Tianlong 張天龍 (FMBA 2023):
A nod to the Chinese epic “The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils”?
Tyki Long Yanshu 龍妍抒 (IBBA 2008, MBA 2014):
Hailing from the “Dragon Family Compound” in Hunan?
