Ask Language Log: Manchu Blue Dragon
Continuing our series on dragons, this note and illustration come from Juha Janhunen, the Finnish linguist:
Happy Blue Dragon Year to everybody! Below is the official flag (1889-1912) of the Manchu Empire (in the west misleadingly known as "China"), which happens to have a blue dragon on it. Manchu muduri 'dragon' still seems to lack an external etymology. Any suggestions?
(See at the very bottom of this post for a possible connection to "otter".)
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