Simone Jackson

The Chinese Dragon (Lung)

The Chinese dragon is made up of nine different creatures. It has the head of camel, the eyes of a demon (or hare), the ears of a cow, the horns of a stag, the neck of a snake, the belly of a frog (or clam), the claws of an eagle, the soles of the feet of a tiger, and the scales of a carp.

Unlike most Western dragons, Chinese (or Orient) dragons are divine, kind, and generous, but also deaf.

While usually wingless, they are capable of flight by magic.

They can also shape shift into humans and animals and when they do, they are the kindest and most beautiful of that creature.

Attributes of Dragons

Chinese dragon fire is unlike the fire that humans use. Dragon fire is opposite; it’s fire is fueled by wetness or water, and extinguished by human fire.

Dragons in Chinese culture and folklore have always been associated with weather.

Dragons are revered in Chinese culture as demigods due to the dragons’ power over rain, which is the source of life. If the dragons weren’t satisfied, they could cause great floods. They represent divinity, power, and luck.

Anything and everything associated with dragons are blessed. Dragons are often carved into doors, buildings, boats, etc to protect the structures.

The Year of the Dragon, that takes place every 12 years, is blessed and lucky. People born during the Year of the Dragon are thought to enjoy good health, wealth, and long lives.

Emperors and Kings often associate themselves with dragons and many claim to be descended from dragons. Royalty use symbols of dragons that have 5 claws opposed to the normal 4 to show their superiority.

Dragon influence

There are nine types of dragons in Chinese folklore. The Dragon Kings (Four Separate Dragons) - Rule over the

East, West, North, and South Seas. The Winged Dragon (Yinglong) – Oldest of all Eastern

dragons. The Celestial Dragon (Tianlong) – Guard the palaces of the

gods and pull their chariots. The Spiritual Dragon (Shenlong) - Creates wind and rain for

the benefit of humankind. The Underground Dragon (Dilong) - Female counterpart of

Shenlong; rule over rivers and streams. The Dragon of Hidden Treasures (Fucanlong) – Guards both

manmade and natural buried treasures. The Coiling Dragon (Panlong) – Inhabits lakes. The Yellow Dragon (Huanlong) – In legend, rose from the

water and presented Emperor Fu Shi with the elements of writing. The Homeless Dragon (Ii) – Inhabits marshes and mountains.

Types of dragons

Xiao Sheng, a boy living in the days of cloud-breathing dragons, is both hard-working and good natured. He gathers fresh grass to sell in the market in exchange of meager income to support his mother. One year, when the village goes through a severe drought, Xiao Sheng finds a patch of grass, lush and that never diminishes in size no matter how much he's cut it. Xiao Sheng finds a pearl buried near the patch and brings it home to please his mother, and also replants the grass near his house. The grass withers next morning, but the rice jar where they had kept the pearl in, which only had a little rice left the night before, is brimming with rice. They realize that it's the pearl that's magical and from then on, make use of the pearl and share their fortune with other villagers. However, jealousy and greed prompt two of their neighbors into robbing the pearl. Xiao Sheng swallows the pearl in haste and it burns inside him. In order to quench the burning and thirst, he drinks the river dry and turns into a dragon which then brings the long-expected rain to the village. He carries the flaming pearl in his mouth as he swims away from his hometown. This dragon is mostly benign, since he brings the long-waited rain to the village but also vengeful because he never bestows rain on the land of the two villains. When the dragon leaves the village through the river, it turns its head many times, and each time he turns, the dragon's massive body cuts into the river's edge, "sculpting the banks with his last farewell." He is honored as the Most Honored and Precious Dragon.

The Dragon’s Pearl

"Chinese Dragons  Legends of the Dragon  Types of Dragons  The Dragon PearlThe Jiulong Baguazhang Dragons." Dragons of China. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2012. <http://www.ninedragonbaguazhang.com/dragons.htm>.

"Dragon History." The Circle of the Dragon: : Eastern Dragon Overview. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 July 2012. <http://www.blackdrago.com/easterndragons.htm>.

"Dragons -- The Dragon's Pearl." Dragons -- The Dragon's Pearl. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2012. <http://www.fairrosa.info/dragon/dragons.pearl.html>.

"Oriental/Chinese Dragon." Chinese Dragon: Oriental Dragons of Mythology, Legend, Folklore Chinese Dragons. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 July 2012. <http://www.mythicalrealm.com/creatures/chinese_dragon.html>.

"Salt Lake Community College." Salt Lake Community College. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 July 2012. <http://www.jstor.org.dbprox.slcc.edu/stable/40465957?seq=13>.

Bibliography

"Ancient Chinese Culture." - Ancient China Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2012. <http://www.chinancient.com/>.

“Chinese Dragons  Legends of the Dragon  Types of Dragons  The Dragon PearlThe Jiulong Baguazhang Dragons." Dragons of China. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2012. <http://www.ninedragonbaguazhang.com/dragons.htm>.

"Dyageast.com." Web Hosting by InMotion Hosting. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2012. <http://dyageast.com/blog/>.

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