The Origins of the Chinese Dragon
The exact origins of the Chinese Dragon are unclear. The dragon looks like a combination of many animals. For the Chinese people, Dragons were described visually as a composite of parts from nine animals:
1. A deer (horns)
2. A camel (head)
3. A devil (eyes)
4. A snake (neck)
5. A large cockle (abdomen)
6. A carp (scales)
7. An eagle (claws)
8. A tiger (paws)
9. An ox (ears)
The earliest Chinese sign for the dragon appeared during the Yin and Shang dynasties (from the 16th to the 11th century BC, the period of the earliest Chinese hieroglyphs), between inscriptions on bones and turtle shields. These inscriptions depicted a horned reptile with teeth, scales and sometimes paws as well. In most depictions, the dragon is often portrayed as a large, scaly reptile, which can become dark or bright, can increase or decrease its size, and can fly into the sky in the spring and live under the water in the fall. Having divine and/or magical powers, the Chinese dragon is seen as capable of almost any feat.
Traditionally the dragons are considered as the governors of rainfalls, being the arbiters of where and when to send rain. They believe the kings of the water dragons live in the dragon palaces under the oceans. Dragons have been credited within Chinese mythology for transportation of humans to the celestial realms after death. In addition to being associated with heaven, Dragons are also symbols of the natural world, as well as adaptability and transformation. When two dragons are placed together but turned away, they symbolize eternity by forming the symbol of Yin and Yang.
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