By Angela Lombardi St Damian’s Primary School Bundoora. 2010 Dragons of China By Angela Lombardi St Damian’s Primary School Bundoora. 2010

Chinese Character for dragon

What do we want to know about Chinese dragons? Why is the dragon an important symbol for the Chinese culture? What are the characteristics of Chinese dragons? Why do dragons intrigue and fascinate us to this day? Do we have similar animal symbols in our culture?

Dragons as symbols Dragons are symbols of the natural world, adaptability, and transformation. When two dragons are placed together but turned away, they symbolize eternity via the famous Yin-Yang.

Dragons in China In the Chinese tradition, the dragon has a place of very high esteem and differs dramatically from those that appear in Western-world stories and sagas. Unlike its Western counterpart, a symbol of evil, a malevolent force to be vanquished and slain, the Chinese dragon is a benevolent creature exemplifying the life force and signifying good fortune.

Dragons in China Dragons are deeply rooted in the Chinese culture. The Chinese often consider themselves, 'the descendants of the dragon.'  Nobody really knows where the dragon comes from. The dragon looks like a combination of many animals.

What a dragon looks like For the Chinese people, Dragons were described visually as a composite of parts from nine animals: The horns of a deer; the head of a camel; the eyes of a devil; the neck of a snake; the abdomen of a large cockle; the scales of a carp; the claws of an eagle; the paws of a tiger; and the ears of an ox.

Dragons The Chinese word for Dragon is spelled out in roman characters as either lung or long. In China, the Dragon was credited with having great powers that allowed them to make rain and to control floods (by striking the river with its tail, causing it to open and thus divert the floodwaters). Dragons are credited for transportation of humans to the celestial realms after death.

History of Chinese dragons The Chinese Dragon has been part of the Chinese culture for generations and it is said that the first figure of a Chinese Dragon, formed from shells, was found in the ruins of a tomb from 6000 years ago. Ever since the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, the Chinese Dragon has been associated with the emperor of China, and it was only the emperor who could own a Chinese Dragon with five claws; the 'common' dragon having four claws.

There are more than one Black Chinese Dragons on the walls at Yu Yuan Gardens, Shanghai, symbolic protection for the Mandarins in ancient times.

Dragons and Emperors Chinese emperors thought they were the real dragons and the sons of heaven. Thus the beds they slept on were called the dragon beds, the throne was called the dragon seat, and the emperor's ceremonial dresses called the dragon robes.  That is why their places were always protected by dragons at the entrances or within the walls.

This Chinese Dragon is at the Summer Palace This Chinese Dragon is at the Summer Palace. A Chinese Dragon with five claws belonged only to a Chinese Emperor.

The Chinese Dragon, mythical beast of legend is displayed in many forms. The Chinese Dragon at the entrance to the long driveway leading to the Temple Of Heaven in Beijing crouched ready to defend its Chinese Emperor.

In Chinese mythology there are Nine Major types of dragons: Horned Dragon (lung) most powerful generalized type of Chinese dragon, which can produce rain and is totally deaf.  Winged Dragon  Celestial Dragon (which supports and protects the mansions of the gods)  Spiritual Dragon (generates wind and rain for the benefit of mankind)  Dragon of Hidden Treasures (which keeps guard over concealed wealth) 

Dragon types cont. The Coiling Dragon (which lives in water) The Yellow Dragon (which once emerged from water and presented the legendary Emperor Fu Shi with the elements of writing) Homeless Dragon (Ii) that lives in the ocean and another type (chiao) that is scale-covered and usually inhabits marshes but also keeps dens in the mountains. Dragon King, which actually consists of four separate dragons, each of which rules over one of the four seas, those of the east, south, west, and north. 

Activities to pursue further learning about these fascinating creatures Having read through the information the children can take their learning further by finding out the differences between the “Western Dragons and Eastern Dragons”. Why were there such differences in the way the dragons were portrayed? Get children to visualise what a dragon would look like today.

Activities continued…………… Read the story/folk tale: “Golden Dragon” from Myths and Legends of Dragons. By Gilles Ragache Tell the children that you will read them a story with no pictures and they have to visualise the scenery and the dragon. Which colours are going to best describe your dragon? Have the children share some of the images they had of the dragon through any means they wish to utilise. Share these with the grade.

Further learning Talk about the story elements such as setting, sequence, or favorite part. Invite students to tell or write their own version in keeping with the tradition of folk tales. Refer to our Aboriginal stories. Children can look into the celebrations of the Chinese community and see how the dragons feature in these festivities.

Further learning Children can look at animals drawn by the Aborigines and see whether they had anything resembling a dragon. Get the children to look at animals that have the characteristics of dragons as described by the Chinese people. Why do some of us have gargoyles decorating our roofs? What symbolic significance do these have? Does “The Great Wall” have any resemblance to a dragon the way it was built?