Chinese dragons are usually drawn as very snake-like with four legs and a very long body. Most dragons are associated with evil put Chinese dragons depict power that is not necessarily evil. The Chinese dragon is regularly found in Chinese art and folklore. The male Chinese dragon is a symbol of the male or yang and is thought to control the weather and rain.
Historically the Chinese dragon belonged to the emperor and could not be used by any commoners. The presence of the dragon as a symbol has fluctuated depending on the government and message portrayed to the rest of the world. Dragons are linked with war and aggression and it is for this that China has switched to using the Panda as a symbol. Angering dragons is also dangerous as angry dragons have cause some of the most horrific floods in China, as any flowing water are controlled by dragons.
Chinese dragons are associated with the lucky number nine as dragons are described using nine attributes. They have 117 scales with 81 Yin scales (9 x 9), positive essence, and 36 Yang scales (4 x 9), negative essence. As with dragons the number nine also belongs to emperor and the highest government officials would wear robes decorated with nine dragons.
The Chinese dragon is the most desired year of the Chinese Zodiac as the year of the dragon has the most births to it. The dragon is associated with positive personality traits and many babies are born during this year. One of the four celestial guardians is a dragon and dragon puppets and dragon boat racing are very popular over the Chinese New Year.
In present day believing in dragons is not as prominent but the Dragon is still worshiped for its control of the weather and rain. Much of the dragon is still present in Chinese traditions. Chinese is a largely agricultural country so the importance of water is great and the dragons control all the water including the North, South, East and West Seas.
Besides controlling water dragons also have many other powers such as changing its size or being able to be invisible or glow. Dragons can manipulate water so it turns into fire. Dragons most likely were derived from a type of ancient crocodile that was able to predict rain. It is thought that the legend of dragons emerged from this crocodile.
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