Most of us are all to familiar with the classic western dragon, but not all have a great insight into probably one of the most recognised dragons, the Chinese dragons of ancient Chinese mythology.
In Chinese mythology there are five types of dragon:-
1.Those guarding the gods and emperors
2.Those controlling the wind and rain
3.Earthly dragons which deepened the rivers and seas
4.Guardians of hidden treasure
5.The first dragon
The First dragon according to the Chinese mythology, appeared to the mythical emperor Fu-hsi, and filled the hole in the sky made by the monster Kung Kung. Its waking, sleeping and breathing determined day and night. Season and weather. There are many differences between the classical dragon and the Chinese dragons, these include the ability to fly even without wings, shape-shifting abilities, and of course the general benevolent behaviour to the populace. The Chinese dragon is made up of nine entities. The head of camel, the eyes of a demon, the ears of a cow, the horns of a stag, the neck of a snake, it's belly a clam's, it's claws that of an eagle, while the soles of his feet are that of a tiger, and the 117 scales that cover it's body are that of a carp.
Chinese mythology of ancient China dragon.
The Chinese dragons has four claws as standard, but the Imperial dragon has five, this is to identify it above the lesser classes. Anyone other than the emperor using the 5 claw motif was put to death. The Chinese dragons (Lung) was a divine bringer of rain, necessary for the good of the people. Throughout Chinese history the dragon has been equated with weather. It is said that some of the worst floodings were caused when a mortal has upset a dragon. The dragon was also a symbol of the emperor whose wisdom and divine power assured the well-being of his subjects. Many legends draw connections between the dragon and the emperor. Some emperors claimed to have descended from the dragon. Chinese dragons of myth could make themselves as large as the universe or as small as a silkworm. They could also change color and disappear in a flash. They rise to the skies in the spring and plunge into the waters in the autumn.
Ancient China Dragon occupies a very important position in Chinese mythology. It shows up in arts, literature, poetry, architecture, songs, and many aspects of the Chinese conscience. The origin of Chinese dragons is unknown, but certainly pre-dates the written history.
