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Dragons of China
Eastern Dragon
The origin of the chinese dragons is unknown and thought to pre-date written history. Their countenance is found on folktales, art, history, architecture, poetry, medicine, and music.
Some of the most famous and beautiful dragons come from China. They are the most beautiful and beneficial dragons. Associated with the elements and royalty and considered to be wise and reverent creatures. They were said to live in beautifull palaces below rivers and lakes, or floating high in the clouds above the land.
They were also said to guard precious treasures especially the dragon pearl. This pearl is described as being a luminous and jewel of unusual size and is carried either in a pocket in the dragon's jaw or in a fold beneath the dragon's neck. It also had magical properties, bestowing health and power to whomever held the pearl.
Most dragons could take the forms of other beasts or humans. When in human form they were said to be extremely handsome or beautiful, and very courtly. They had a strict honor code and if angered their wrath was deadly. Prayers and offerings were made to them and they were treated as demi-gods.
The chinese dragons were diverse in their appearances, colors, and gifts. They were said to be able to change size and appearance and could walk among humans or slither with snakes. They could be as large and the universe or as small as a silkworm. They were clever and intelligent, often hiding from the mortal eye by becoming invisible. They hid in caves or curled up at the bottom of lakes or seas but always watched over the people that revered them. To see a dragon was the utmost of luck, it meant that the heavens themselves were reassuring the people that their rulers were doing a good job.
There are many characteristics of the Chinese Dragons. They were said to take the characteristics of nine different animals.
Head - Camel
Horns - Deer
Eyes - Hare
Ears - Bull
Neck - Snake
Belly - Clam
Scales - Carp
Claws - Eagle
Paws - Tiger
Chinese dragons were rarely drawn with wings and were said to fly by magical powers or a lump on their head that enabled them to fly. Very few depictions of dragons however have this lump.
Blue Dragons
Omens of the dawning of spring, these dragons are of the purest azure color. If you saw this dragon, you knew that spring was beginning.
Red and Black Dragons
Ferocious beasts whose battles in the sky are the cause of storms.
Yellow or Gold
A solitary creature, enigmatic and is most revered.
^Chinese Dragons^
Kiao-lung- Scaled Dragon
Ying-lung- Winged
K'iu-lung - Blue Dragon With Horns
Ch'i-lung - Hornless and Red/White/Green Dragon
P'an-lung - Earthbound Dragon
P'eng-niao - Part bird and part dragon
Pi-hsi - Part tortoise and part dragon - deity of rivers.
^Chinese Dragon Kings^
Reffered to as Lung-Wang these dragons were ruled by Tian-bao-jun, the Lord of the Heavenly Jewel. These were patron deities of rivers , lakes, seas, and rains, and carried valuable pearls in their throats. ^Celestial Dragons^
These imprial dragons support the palaces of the gods and are depicted as having five clawed feet, all other dragons are portrayed as having only only three or four claws.
^Treasure Dragons^
Called Fu-ts'an lung, these dragons were the guardians of hidden treasures and precious metals. These do exactly what their name implies. They are guardians of hidden treasures and deposits of precious metals. Occasionally they may share their treasure with a worthy human.
^Weather Dragons^
Known as Shen lung these dragons were very tempermental and when angry would bring rain and horrible storms.
^River Dragons^
Ti Lung controlled the rivers and assured safe passage to the sea. Each river has its own guardians and they build fantastic palaces under the water.
^Fei Lian
The god of wind that is said to carry the wing in a bag. He is portrayed as a winged dragon with the head of a stag and the tail of a snake.
^P'u lao^
Dragon known for crying loudly when attacked, usually carved on gongs.
^Ch'iu-niu^
The dragon of music usually carved on the zither-ch'in.
^Pi hsi^
The dragon of the written word, carved on stone literature tablets.
^Pa hsia^
The dragon of strength, carved at the base of stone monuments to hold them up.
^Chao feng^
The dragon of bravery known to have protected the eaves of temples.
^Ch'ih wen^
The water dragon, carved on the bases and beams of bridges and on rooftops to prevent fires.
^Suan ni^
A quiet and reserved dragon known as the watcher. Usually carved on the throne of Buddha.
^Yai tzu
A dragon of ferocity usually carved on the hilts of swords or other weapons.
^Pi han^
A quarrelsome dragon that was carved on prison gates.
Dragons were said to be able to take the forms of beats and humans. They have strict codes of honor and were often given offerings and prayers to appease them. When in human form they were said to be very beautiful or handsome and there are many tales of dragons appearing among mortals to test them or help them out in times of need.
Although they seemed to be most powerful there were a few things that dragons feared. For some reason dragons were repelled by iron, beeswax, centipedes, tigers, and silk threads dyed in 5 different colors. Apparently these things were believed to strip a dragon of its powers.
Chinese dragons were hatched from eggs like most other types of dragons. They were believed to take the form of small snakes and mate and then the female would lay her eggs near river banks. The eggs were said to be stones or jewels of great size. It would take centuries for a dragons egg to hatch and at the moment that the dragon was born the adult dragons let out great cries of welcome. As the egg hatched water would stream from the egg and the baby dragon would emerge as a small snake. It is said that it takes over fifteen hundred years for a dragon to grow to its full length and another five hundred or so years for the horns to grow. After a few thousand years the dragon gets it's wings.
The chinese dragons seem to be the wisest and most beneficial dragons found in the world. Today the stories are still told to the young or remembered by the old. A mysterious creature that is no longer sighted but is immortalized in the carvings and writings of their people. Perhaps they still guard the rivers and lakes and feel that the people are getting along without their prescence or perhaps they still sit in their jeweled castles and keep watch over the mortal world, waiting once more for the time when they are needed once more.
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