Dragon Mythology:

 A comprehensive list of Dragon Mythology and Folklore...

*Chinese Dragon
 The Chinese dragon, is a creature in Chinese mythology that also appears in other Asian cultures, and is sometimes called the Oriental (or Eastern) dragon. Depicted as a long, snake-like creature with four claws
(or five for the imperial dragon), it has long been a potent symbol of auspicious power in Chinese folklore and art.



 *Indian Dragon

A serpentine dragon common to all cultures influenced by Hinduism. They are often hooded like a cobra and may have several heads depending on their rank. They usually have no arms or legs but those with limbs resemble the Chinese dragon.

* Indonesian/Malay Dragon
 Derived from the Indian nāga, belief in the Indo-Malay dragon spread throughout Maritime Southeast Asia Like its Indian counterpart, the naga is considered divine in nature, benevolent, and often associated with sacred mountains, forests, or certain parts of the sea
with Hinduism. The word naga is still the common Malay/Indonesian term for dragon.



 * Japanese Dragon
 Similar to Chinese dragons, with three claws instead of four. They are usually benevolent, associated with

Chinese Dragons

The dragon is a very common symbol found out there among the Chinese cultures. It is often shown as a very long animal that is very similar to the form of a snake. Yet it has four claws on it and a very small heat that may be shooting fire from the mouth. In the Chinese culture, the chinese dragon is a very powerful symbol of strength. It is a common part of their celebrations and the dragon is also one of the animals that their years are named after.

The Chinese don’t believe that dragons once roamed the Earth though. Instead they are a symbol of they mystical part of life that often can’t be explained. In many of the early writings the Chinese Dragon is believed to be the bearer of the water and the rain. This is why many of the traditional celebrations honor the dragon for what it has offered to the land.

There is material to suggest that the Chinese Dragon was the official symbol of early Emperors. It is believed that this was done to remind people of the power that this person held. It also resulted in many of the people making art of dragons in order to honor their respect for the Emperor.

If you take a close look at many forms of early art work and architecture in China, you will see many detailed works of dragons. Many of them have been well preserved over the years as well. They want to be able to continue showing their respect to this type of creature.

For those Chinese people that get tattoo work done, the dragon is the most common. Males often want the dragon on their body as a symbol of strength and honor. It is common for families of the same origin to have a particular dragon tattoo on them. This is a way to continue showing their pride in their heritage.

The Chinese Dragon is still considered to be a very detailed part of the Chinese Culture. It is disrespectful to destroy anything with a dragon on it. They also have plenty of advertisements that include dragons. Of course they only show them in the very best views. They don’t allow disrespect of dragons to be show in movies or films either.