The Chinese Dragon

The Chinese dragon is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology that boasts of a colorful and esteemed history. Unlike its Western counterpart, it is considered to be one of the four most auspicious animals and is thus, irreplaceably embedded in their culture and society. While in the West the dragon is usually considered a symbol of malice, the dragons in Chinese mythology are considered the hallmark of strength, vigilance, and power. Traditionally, these dragons are symbolic of auspicious and potent powers and were thus, also used as the emblem of the Chinese imperials.

The Chinese Dragon – Its History and What it Stands For

Dragons have been associated with Chinese culture ever since the time of the earliest Chinese hieroglyphs. The inscriptions of the earliest Chinese dragons depicted a serpentine beast with a horn, teeth, scales, and even paws at times. However, despite its beastly looks, the dragon was considered extremely auspicious in Chinese culture. In fact, the dreaded and treacherous connotations associated with the dragon have been introducedonly by the West. Chinese dragons, on the other hand, are considered divine, mythical beings that can ward off evil spirits and bless the innocent. Also known as Lung, the Chinese dragon is powerful, valiant, heroic, noble, gentle, and divine. In Chinese culture, everything associated with the dragon is considered holy and blessed.

The Different Colors of the Chinese Dragon

From the Han Dynasty onwards, Chinese dragons of different colors have been used to symbolize different things. The red Chinese dragon is the dragon of South and summer. It is used to represent vitality, creativity, fire, luck, and passion. The blue or the turquoise dragon symbolizes the East, the rising sun, the fifth element of the Chinese Zodiac, and rain. It was also the symbol of the Chinese Emperors. The white dragon is symbolic of the West and stands for death.

Year of the Dragon 

The dragon is one of the twelve animals related to the Chinese calendar. In the Chinese zodiac, the dragon symbolizes the bright, positive, and masculine energy. In ancient times, the Chinese dragon was believed to be able to soar to the highest peaks or dive right to the bottom of the deepest oceans. As the dragon represents power, good fortune, and commands respect, so do the people born in the year of the dragon. It is said that people born under the sign of the Chinese dragon are non-conformists, free thinkers, and prefer extravagant lifestyles. Dragon people are also known to be hot-headed and possess a sharp tongue.

The Chinese like to call themselves ‘descendants of the dragon.’ With qualities like benevolence, power, authority, strength, creativity, and respect associated with the Chinese dragon, it is no wonder that people still look up to the auspicious, mythical creature and imbibe it in their culture.