Dragons - Divine Beings

Dragons are probably the single most important mythical creatures in Chinese culture. They appear in multiple national celebrations, Chinese idioms (known as Chengyu), as well as being part of the Chinese zodiac. They adorn multiple buildings and doors as carvings, are weaved into fabrics for traditional Chinese clothes, and are painted in murals and used in dances to this day. Unlike their Western or European counterparts, Chinese dragons are loved and worshiped. Chinese people consider themselves to be descended from the dragon. It is the symbol of emperors and imperial rule, and its legends have shaped a good portion of modern Chinese culture.
In Eastern culture the dragon started out as an elongated, almost serpentine creature, usually, but not always showing four shortened legs, and a spaded tail. They were covered in scales, had a crest on the head, and were brightly colored in many hues. The dragon is a positive force, and represents power, excellence, and striving for goals, as well as being a benevolent force, which radiates goodwill, good luck, and blessings. Shrines to them can be found in many places in China, usually near the sea, since Eastern dragons tended to be water creatures.
Chinese dragons are considered very auspicious and lucky. They are magical beings that can cause weather changes and summon rain. 龙卷风 (lóng juǎn fēng)” or “dragon twisting wind.”
Because Chinese society was founded on agriculture that thrived during the wet season, Chinese dragons were deities and were worshiped. However according to Chinese folklore, the dragon is not without a temper; whenever there was severe flooding or heavy winds, the people would burn incense and sacrifice plates of food to the dragon to appease it. In fact, the Chinese word for tornado is “
Chinese dragons are part of the harmonious forces yin and yang, which play a large part in Chinese philosophy. Dragons are classified as yang, and considered bright, masculine, and solar. The phoenix is yin, which is dark, feminine, and lunar. At Chinese weddings, these two creatures appear together as symbols of harmony.
To the Chinese, the Imperial Dragon or Lung is the primary of four benevolent spiritual animals, the other three being the phoenix, the unicorn and the tortoise. Having unrivaled wisdom and power the dragon symbolized the Emperors of China themselves, who were actually called dragons. Hsi, China's first emperor was said to have a dragon's tail. Shen Nung, his successor was supposed to have been fathered by a dragon. The Chinese Emperor sat on a dragon throne, rode in a dragon boat and slept in a dragon bed.
To distinguish the Chinese imperial dragon from all other dragons, only the Imperial Dragon bore five claws
In China dragons are know as Lung. There are four main kinds of Lung.
The Celestial Dragon (Tien-lung): The Celestial Dragon protects the places of the Gods.
The Spiritual Dragon (Shen-Lung): The Spiritual Dragon controls the wind and the rain.
The Earth Dragon (Ti-Lung): The Earth Dragon controls rivers, and water on the Earth.
The Underworld Dragon (Fut's-Lung): The Underworld Dragon guards precious metals and gems.
In Eastern culture, the dragon represents the essential forces of Nature. While Emperors consulted them as revered advisors, they did not always follow that advice, and consequently the dragons' anger would either produce storms and floods though the clouds they breathed out, or such things as water shortages, when they beat their tails about, and emptied lakes and rivers. A dragon's celestial breath, known as sheng chi, bestows warmth from the sun, wind from the ocean, soil from the Earth, and water from rain.
Dragon Kings
A Dragon King is a deity in Chinese mythology commonly regarded as the divine ruler of an ocean. They have the ability to shapeshift into human form and live in an underwater crystal palace. They have their own royal court and command an army comprising various marine creatures. Apart from presiding over aquatic life, a Dragon King can also manipulate the weather and bring rainfall.
Because of this association, they are seen as "in charge" of water-related weather phenomenon. In premodern times, many Chinese villages (especially those close to rivers and seas) had temples dedicated to their local "dragon king". In times of drought or flooding, it was customary for the local gentry and government officials to lead the community in offering sacrifices and conducting other religious rites to appease the dragon, either to ask for rain or a cessation thereof.
The four Dragon Kings in Journey to the West are:
  • Ao Guang (敖廣), Dragon King of the East Sea (corresponding to the East China Sea)
  • Ao Qin (敖欽), Dragon King of the South Sea (corresponding to the South China Sea)
  • Ao Run (敖閏), Dragon King of the West Sea (sometimes seen as the Qinghai Lake and beyond
  •  Ao Shun (敖順), Dragon King of the North Sea (sometimes seen as Lake Baikal)

"According to Chinese mythology, the Dragon’s Gate is located at the top of a waterfall cascading from a legendary mountain.   Many carp swim upstream against the river’s strong current, but few are capable or brave enough for the final leap over the waterfall.  If a carp successfully makes the jump, it is transformed into a powerful dragon.  A Chinese dragon’s large, conspicuous scales indicate its origin from a carp.  The Chinese dragon has long been an auspicious symbol of great and benevolent, magical power.  The image of a carp jumping over Dragon’s Gate is an old and enduring Chinese cultural symbol for courage, perseverance, and accomplishment.  Historically, the dragon was the exclusive symbol of the emperor of China and the five-character expression, Liyu Tiao Long Men, was originally used as a metaphor for a person’s success in passing very difficult imperial examinations, required for entry into imperial administrative service.   To this day, when a student from a remote country village passes the rigorous national university examination in China, friends and family proudly refer to the “Liyu Tiao Long Men.”  More generally, the expression is used to communicate that if a person works hard and diligently, success will one day be achieved." -  Carp Leaping Over the Dragon's Gate. This legend still lives on in the pokemon Magikarp and its evolved form Gyarados. Gyarados appears to be based off a sea dragon or a sea serpent from China.

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