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The eastern dragons (most notably the Chinese and Japanese ones) are quite different from those found in the west. First of all, they are more commonly seen as benign and wise. The dragon is one of the four celestial creatures (the others being the unicorn, the phoenix and the tortoise) and is held in reverence. The dragon is a symbol of the emperor just as the phoenix is the symbol of the empress.
Appearance
The appearance of the dragon varied slightly depending on status, sex and a few other variables. But they all retained the same basic look. A dragon had a snake like body, four legs and long thin stag-like horns. Many sported manes and besides having scales, many also had hair or feathers. Some possessed a great pearl in their throats that symbolized wisdom. Males have undulating, concave steep horns. Females have straight noses, round manes, thin scales and a strong tail. The number of claws per a foot was dependent upon their station, with the greatest ones having five. It was also said that they could shapeshift and like the faeries of Europe, feared iron. They varied in color as well and the different colors meant different things.
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There were other colors as well.
Azure
omen of approaching spring
Red and Black
ferocious beasts whose fights caused storms and other matters
Yellow
most fortunate and favorable
Could not be tamed, captured, or even killed.
Only appeared at proper time and only if perfection were found
Lifespan
Once a male and female mate, the eggs are laid near water. It may take up to 1000 years for the eggs to hatch. When they do, water runs from the eggs and the parents cry out. The cry of the male makes the winds rise, whereas the cry of the female calms them. This destablizes the local weather condition resulting in darkness, torential rains with lightening and thunder causing the eggs to break open. Once past the first five hundred years of its life, a dragon is called a kiao, or scaled dragon. After another 1000 years, it is considered a lung, or proper dragon. An additional five hundred years and it becomes a kioh-lung, or horned dragon. Another 1000 years after that and it becomes a ying-lung, or winged dragon.
Stations
The dragon was present at creation and so therefor shared characteristics of the elements and had some control over them. If they were pleased, they would give rain. If not, they would withhold rain or cause storms and floods. Most are said to be able to shapeshift except when being born, sleeping, lustful or angry. There are four main stations of eastern dragons. The t'ien lung (celestial guardians) support the mansion of the gods and shield them from decay. They had five claws per a foot. The shen lung are weather makers and they govern the clouds and bring rain. The ti lung were earth dragons who controlled the rivers. The fu-ts'ang lung were treasure keepers and guarded hidden treasures and deposits of precious minerals. These last three had three or four claws per a foot.
Dragon Kings
There were four main dragon kings; Ao Ch'in, Ao Jun, Ao Kuang and Ao Shun. The taoist use different names for these four brothers. Each one rules one of the four seas. Earth is in the center of those seas. They live in an underwater palace, called the Chrystal Palace. They depend upon the August personage of Jade and receive orders of how much rain to distrubte and where.
Next
Lair of the Dragon
Dragon's Gold
Western Dragon
Through History
Other Historical Dragons
Many Forms
Dragon Links
Constellations
