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The Celestial Chinese Dragon is comparable as the symbol of the Chinese
race itself. Chinese around the world, proudly proclaim themselves
"Lung Tik Chuan Ren" (Descendants of the Dragon). Dragons are referred
to as the divine mythical creature that brings with it ultimate
abundance, prosperity and good fortune.
As the emblem of the Emperor and the Imperial command, the legend of
the Chinese Dragon permeates the ancient Chinese civilization and
shaped their culture until today. Its benevolence signifies greatness,
goodness and blessings.
The Chinese Dragon, or Lung , symbolizes power and excellence, valiancy
and boldness, heroism and perseverance, nobility and divinity. A dragon
overcomes obstacles until success is his. He is energetic, decisive,
optimistic, intelligent and ambitious.
Unlike the negative energies associated with Western Dragons, most
Eastern Dragons are beautiful, friendly, and wise. They are the angels
of the Orient. Instead of being hated, they are loved and worshipped.
Temples and shrines have been built to honor them, for they control the
rain, rivers, lakes, and seas. Many Chinese cities have pagodas where
people used to burn incense and pray to dragons.
The Black Dragon Pool Chapel, near Peking, was reserved for the Empress and her court.
Special worship services took place there on the first and fifteenth of
every month. Dragon shrines and altars can still be seen in many parts
of the Far East. They are usually along seashores and riverbanks,
because most Eastern Dragons live in water.
The Isle of the Temple, in Japan's Inland Sea, has become a famous
stopover for pilgrims who meditate and pray to dragons. Both male and
female dragons have mated with humans.
Their descendants became great rulers. The Japanese Emperor Hirohito
traced his ancestry back 125 generations to Princess Fruitful Jewel,
daughter of a Dragon King of the Sea. Emperors in many Asian countries
claimed to have dragon ancestors. This made them so proud, that
everything they used was decorated with dragons and described in terms
of the dragon: dragon-throne, dragon-robe, dragon-bed, dragon-boat.
Calling an emperor "dragon-face" was a supreme compliment. People
believed that rulers could change themselves into dragons. For hundreds
of years, Japanese emperors sat concealed behind bamboo curtains
whenever visitors came. Anyone who dared to peek was condemned to death.
Everything connected with Eastern Dragons is blessed.
The Year of the Dragon, which takes place ever twelve years, is lucky.
Present-day Oriental astrologers claim that children born during Dragon
Years enjoy health, wealth, and long life.
Dragons are so wise that they have been royal advisors. A
thirteenth-century Cambodian king spent his nights in a golden tower,
where he consulted with the real ruler of the land a nine-headed dragon.
Eastern Dragons are vain, even though they are wise. They are insulted
when a ruler doesn't follow their advice, or when people do not honor
their importance. Then, by thrashing about, dragons either stop making
rain and cause water shortages, or they breathe black clouds that bring
storms and floods. Small dragons do minor mischief, such as making
roofs leak, or causing rice to be sticky. People set off firecrackers
and carry immense paper dragons in special parades. They also race
dragon-shaped boats in water all to please and appease their dragons.
The Dragon brings upon the essence of life, in the form of its
celestial breath, known to many as sheng chi. He yields life and
bestows its power in the form of the seasons, bringing water from rain,
warmth from the sunshine, wind from the seas and soil from the Earth.
The Dragon is the ultimate representation of the forces of Mother Nature, the greatest divine force on Earth.
The Chinese Dragon is often seen as the symbol of divine protection and
vigilance. It is regarded as the Supreme Being amongst all creatures.
It has the ability to live in the seas, fly up the heavens and coiled
up in the land in the form of mountains. Being the divine mythical
animal, the Dragon can ward off wandering evil spirits, protect the
innocent and bestow safety to all that hold his emblem. The Chinese
Dragon is look upon as the ultimate symbol of Good Fortune.
Chinese Dragon
To the Chinese, the Imperial Dragon or Lung, is considered to be the
primary of four benevolent spiritual animals, the other three being the
phoenix, the unicorn and the tortoise. Having unrivaled wizdom 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 Imprial Dragon bore
five claws.
The Nine Entities (parts) of A Chinese Dragon
The dragons are said to be made up of many different types of animals of the Earth:
Head: Camel
Scales: Carp (fish) 117 scales total - 81 infused with yang, the good, and 36
infused with yin the bad. This evens out the dragons temper and personality.
Horns: Giant Stag (deer)
Eyes: hare (rabbit)
Ears: Bull
Neck: Snake
Belly: Clam
Paws: Tigers
Claws: Eagle
History
It is believed that the Lung is based on the Indian Nagas.
The Nagas were dragon like beings, semi-divine snakes with human faces
and serpents' tails who occupy palaces (Patala), in the watery region
under the earth. They are divided into four classes: heavenly, divine,
earthly, and hidden, depending upon their function in guarding the
heavenly palace, giving rainfall, draining rivers, or guarding
treasures. In Burma, the Nagas combine elements of the dragon, snake,
and crocodile, and give rubies to those they favor; in addition, they
guarded and protected royalty.
The Four Types of Dragons
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.
