Oriental Scrolls :: Dark Dragon

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All things have a story...

The Chinese dragon has a long history dating back over 2,000 years. In ancient China, dragons were thought to be mythological beings with almost unlimited supernatural powers. They were very much associated with water and the control of it. The ancient Chinese believed the dragon to be the ruler of the seas, rivers, waterfalls and even the weather. Hurricanes, tornadoes and typhoons were said to be the dragon unleashing its fury. Perhaps it was easier to explain and rationalize such destructive events to something like a dragon, rather than to science or climatology, which at that time was an unknown.

Most people think of the dragon as a lizard-like serpent creature with scales. This is partly true. The Chinese dragon, unlike its Western counterpart (the dragon of European folklore), was often a mix of different animals. It sometimes had the head of a humanoid, complete with beard, and wore the headdress of kings. The head sometimes also looked like a horse and the body had attributes of crocodiles, snakes and even fish.

The pre-modern Chinese believed four dragons controlled the seas, one for each of the major bodies of water around China. These were called the Dragon Kings and represented the East China Sea, Lake Baikal, the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. Chinese villagers, especially along the coast, would conduct sacrifices and rituals to these dragons in their local temples. This was to appease the dragons in hopes they would bring good weather and not unleash a fury of storms, floods or drought. It was in this way the Chinese believed they could exert some form of control over the weather and water. During times of drought, the community would request that the dragons produce rain. During times of flooding, the community would request the dragons to cease the rain. The Chinese dragon was said to have other supernatural powers as well, such as the ability fly, spit fire from its mouth, swim underwater, hide from man, form clouds, glow in the dark, become invisible, disguise itself or expand its body. Indeed, these are myths and have no substantial credence in science.

While many understand this is the stuff of folklore and legend, it has not stopped the popularity of the Asian dragon from exploding around the world. The dragon is still a revered and beloved creature by the Chinese and many people throughout the globe. It remains a popular icon that will most likely endure for another 2,000 years.