Centuries ago, a great-great-great-grandfather of S. Van Lung, host, activist and one of Washington's best known businessmen, blatantly selected a family name that meant dragon, the moniker of the emperor. That was daring.

In more recent times, Lung's father, Lung Yun, a famous warlord, ended up a national hero, despite swinging between Chiang Kai-shek and Chairman Mao, and criticizing both. That was unheard of.