台北被稱為「天龍國」，是一種源自台灣網路文化的諷刺性用語，其概念來自日本漫畫《航海王》中的「天龍人」。在原作設定裡，天龍人是凌駕於世界之上的貴族階級，享有極端特權，與一般民眾的生活現實完全脫節。台灣網友借用這個形象，轉化為對部分台北居民的調侃與批判，用以形容那些自認高人一等、習慣特權生活、對其他地區缺乏理解的人，而這個稱呼也逐漸與台北市，特別是富裕區域緊密連結。

「天龍國」一詞的出現，與台灣長期存在的資源集中現象密不可分。政治、經濟、教育、醫療與交通建設高度集中於首都，使台北在整體發展上與外縣市形成明顯落差。早期網路討論中，鄉民原本以「台北國」形容台北彷彿自成一個國度，生活條件與思維模式都與其他地區不同。隨著《航海王》在台灣的普及，「天龍人」這個更具戲劇張力與嘲諷意味的詞彙被引入，最終演變為「天龍國」，負面與反諷色彩也更加鮮明。

這個用語在PTT等論壇中逐漸定型，並在特定社會事件中被大量使用。有些討論最初與特定政治人物或權貴形象相連，後來逐步淡化個人指涉，轉而強調地域與階級差異。天母被想像成「天龍城」般的核心地帶，大安區、信義區則被視為貴族聚集的象徵，這種空間想像並非精確描述現實，而是一種對台北市中心菁英生活的集體投射。

在多起社會爭議事件中，「天龍人」的說法進一步擴散，例如被認為缺乏同理心、反對公共設施進駐的案例，讓這個詞彙成為批評城市菁英心態的方便標籤。它所指涉的，往往不是個別行為，而是一種被認為脫離基層生活、對外縣市缺乏理解的都市視角，也因此加深了「台北 vs. 外縣市」的文化對立想像。

隨著使用情境的擴大，「天龍人」逐漸形成一套刻板印象：生活便利、資源充足，習慣以捷運為主要交通工具，對機車文化或偏鄉生活感到陌生；在認知上，可能被認為視野侷限於台北，對其他地區存有偏見；在態度上，則常被描繪為帶有優越感，甚至無意識地貶低非首都地區。這些描述未必公平，卻反映出社會大眾對結構性不平等的情緒投射。

整體而言，「天龍國」與「天龍人」並不只是單純的嘲笑用語，而是一種混合幽默、諷刺與不滿的社會語言。它折射出台灣城鄉差距、資源分配不均與階級感受的長期問題，也呈現出網路世代如何透過流行文化符號，將現實的不平衡轉化為帶刺的玩笑與公共討論的一部分。

Taipei being referred to as the “Celestial Dragon Nation” is a satirical expression that originated in Taiwanese online culture, drawing its imagery from the “Celestial Dragons” in the Japanese manga One Piece. In the original work, the Celestial Dragons are world nobles who live far above ordinary people, enjoying extreme privileges and remaining completely detached from everyday reality. Taiwanese netizens borrowed this concept and adapted it to local discourse, using it to mock and criticize certain Taipei residents who are perceived as seeing themselves as superior, living off accumulated advantages, and lacking understanding of life outside the capital. Over time, the term became closely associated with Taipei City, particularly its wealthier districts.

The emergence of the term is deeply tied to Taiwan’s long-standing concentration of resources in the capital. Political power, economic opportunities, education, healthcare, and transportation infrastructure have historically been centered in Taipei, creating a visible gap between the city and other regions. Early online discussions often referred to Taipei as “Taipei Nation,” implying that it functioned almost like a separate country with its own living standards and mindset. As One Piece gained popularity in Taiwan, the more vivid and biting term “Celestial Dragon” was adopted, and “Celestial Dragon Nation” gradually replaced earlier expressions, carrying stronger connotations of irony and criticism.

The phrase took shape and spread widely on platforms such as PTT, Taiwan’s largest online forum, and was reinforced by various social controversies. In its early usage, it was sometimes linked to specific political figures or elite groups, but over time the focus shifted away from individuals and toward regional and class-based distinctions. Neighborhoods like Tianmu came to be imagined as the symbolic “capital” or “Celestial Dragon City,” while districts such as Da’an and Xinyi were seen as aristocratic zones. This spatial imagination was less about accurately describing reality and more about projecting collective perceptions of urban privilege and elite lifestyles.

As the term was repeatedly invoked in public debates, especially during incidents perceived as reflecting a lack of empathy toward disadvantaged groups or resistance to public-interest facilities, “Celestial Dragon people” became a convenient label for criticizing an urban elite mentality. What was being targeted was not merely individual behavior, but a broader perspective seen as detached from grassroots realities and dismissive of experiences in other counties and cities. In this way, the phrase helped crystallize a cultural divide between “Taipei” and “non-Taipei” Taiwan, reinforcing discussions about unequal access to resources.

Over time, a set of stereotypes surrounding “Celestial Dragon people” took shape. They are often portrayed as enjoying abundant conveniences and public resources, relying primarily on the MRT rather than motorcycles, and being unfamiliar with life in areas where such infrastructure is absent. Cognitively, they may be seen as having a Taipei-centric worldview, with limited awareness of or even prejudice toward other regions. Attitudinally, they are sometimes depicted as carrying a sense of superiority, consciously or unconsciously looking down on places considered less developed. While these images are not always fair, they reveal how social frustration over structural inequality is channeled through caricature.

Ultimately, “Celestial Dragon Nation” and “Celestial Dragon people” are more than simple insults or jokes. They function as culturally and politically charged internet slang, blending humor, sarcasm, and criticism. The terms reflect long-standing issues of urban–rural disparity, uneven resource distribution, and class perception in Taiwanese society, while also illustrating how online communities use pop culture references to transform real-world inequalities into sharp, widely shared social commentary.