Chinese Dragons in Mythology and Legend
It seems as though Dragons have been a part of many different cultural mythologies. I have always been fascinated with these magnificent creatures however one particular group of dragons, hold more allure to me than the rest.
Chinese dragons are among the most unique I have ever had the pleasure of researching. The Chinese Dragons that I have read about are nothing like the original depictions that I held of them.
When I asked a few people how they would describe a dragon, most of the answers that I received were very similar. Scaly, fire-breathing lizards and destroyers were among the responses that I received.When you are dealing with Fairy Tale Dragons, I suppose that those descriptions are accurate enough. However those descriptions are completely the opposite if you are talking about a Chinese Dragon.
Chinese mythology has been centered on the Dragon since even before the beginning of history. In Chinese cultures, the Dragon is said to be a symbol of the masculine Yang power. While fairy tale Dragons seem to be centered on fire, the opposite is true of the Chinese Dragons. The Chinese dragons were very closely associated with the water, rain, lakes and rivers.
It was said that the Dragons could harness the elemental powers of water and use them at their will. Most stories that I know about Dragons, tell about giant, towering creatures with monstrous wings.This isn't always true when dealing with a Chinese Dragon in fact until they reach a certain age the Chinese believe that the Dragons are wingless. The Dragons of Chinese mythology were also thought to be able to change their sizes; they could make themselves as big as giants or as small as silk worms.
Chinese Dragons were also believed to be able to shape shift. They could use their Dragon magic to take on the form of a mortal man whenever they chose to do so. The usually did this to remain hidden from mortals.The Chinese also worship their Dragons instead of fearing them. They believe that the Dragons were in fact life-givers, not the destroyers of fairy tale stories from other countries.
Chinese Dragons are highly honored and considered to be very powerful. Chinese Emperors and Royalty were often closely aligned with the image of the Chinese Dragons. In fact they have been since the beginning of Chinese history.
One Chinese Legend is that Fu His, China's first emperor, possessed the tale of a dragon. It was also said that his successor Shen Nung, was fathered by a dragon. The five clawed Dragons were said to be imperial Dragons.
The Imperial Dragons were considered to be the most important Dragons in Chinese Myths and Legends. According to www.mythicalrealm.com, there are nine different Dragon types which are commonly worshiped.The first was the winged Dragon known as Yinglong. This was said to be the oldest Dragon in the history of Chinese mythology and legends. There are many respects paid to this Dragon.
The Second type of Dragon was the Dragon King. Despite the name, the Dragon King was in fact said to consist of four separate Dragons. Each Dragon ruled over one of four seas, North, South, East and West. It was also said that these Dragons often took the shape of men.
The third variety of Dragon is the Spiritual Dragon or Shelong. This Dragon was said to control the winds and rains of China, yet another Dragon that is related to the element of Water.The fourth Dragon is the Earth Dragon, otherwise known as Dilong. This Dragon was said to live in the underground and that it controlled the rivers and streams, as you can tell it appears as though Water was a major source of power for them.
The fifth Dragon types are the Celestial Dragons also called Tianlong. The Celestial Dragons were also known as Heavenly Dragons. It was these Dragons that were said to pull the chariots of the Gods and to stand guard on their palaces.
The sixth type of Dragons, were Fucanglong or the Dragons of Hidden Treasures. These Dragons guarded buried treasures. One myth is that the volcanoes were formed when these Dragons emerged from their underground homes.
Coiling Dragons are another type of Dragon that the Chinese worship. They are more commonly known as Panlong and were considered to be Water Dragons.
The Panlong were thought to live in the many lakes of the Orient and they were thought of as guardians.Yellow Dragons were called Hunglong; they were very popular in Chinese Myths and Legends. It is said that the Hunglong emerged from the waters and presented the Emperor Fu Shi with the elements of writing.
The last Dragon type that this site mentioned was the Homeless Dragon. This Dragon was named Li; the Chinese believed that this particular Dragon lived in the marshes and occasionally the mountains.The Chinese believed that Dragons bring luck and wealth to those that respect them and worship them. The Chinese also believed that during the Chinese New Year parade, the Dragons repelled the evil spirits and prevent them from ruining the New Years.
The Dragons of Chinese myths and legends also differ in appearance when compared to Dragons from other cultures. They were almost always depicted the same and so it is very easy to distinguish a Chinese Dragon from those of other cultures.
Chinese Dragons were said to have the head of a camel, eyes of a demon, ears of a cow, horns of a stag, neck of a snake and talons like those of the eagle. It was their unique appearance that first drew me to them and I must say that they are more fascinating than I could have even hoped for.
I hope that you have found my article informative and that it has given you some insight into these great creatures. I hope that you enjoyed reading my article and that it will encourage you to continue to learn more about these wonderful creatures.