8 replies to this topic

[Sleepybeggar]

Did the Chinese dragons originally breath fire or did they just bring rain ?

Edited by Sleepybeggar, 16 November 2009 - 02:53 AM.

[General_Zhaoyun]

Did the Chinese dragons originally breath fire or did they just bring rain ?

Actually, Chinese dragons seldom breath fire (in fact, I seldom hear of it). You could mostly be referring to western (European) dragon, which tends to be fire dragon instead of sea dragon. The origin of Chinese dragon culture did not come from fire but from water.

In traditional Chinese culture, Chinese dragons tended to be sea dragon. They bring rain. But they were not exactly 'sea dragon'. Ever since Shang dynasty, dragon had been revered as a legendary sacred animal endowed with supernatural divine power. By Han dynasty onwards, with the spread of Buddhism and Daoist religious beliefs, dragon became to be connected with deities (or God) endowed with the power to "control" the weather.

People began to call the dragon, the "Dragon King" (long wang 龙王）, who was in control of rain. As many Chinese peasants hoped to have good weather and rainfall for their crops harvesting, they often worship "Dragon King", thus leading to the building of folks temple specifically for worshipping of "dragon king".

Ever since, dragon had been connected with water or rain in China.

[Sleepybeggar]

so they just controled the weather and the seas ?

[Craig]

so they just controled the weather and the seas ?

Some anthropologists believe that the Chinese dragon is based upon the large species of crocodile that used to inhabit the river mouths of the Yellow and Yangtze.

[General_Zhaoyun]

so they just controled the weather and the seas ?

Yes， they are related to the weather and the seas.

But Chinese dragon is really a fictitious legendary animals, comprising of features from many different types of animals.

The typical features of a Chinese dragon include:

1. Horse's Head
2. Deer's Horn
3. Tiger's mouth
4. Snake's body
5. Fish scale
6. Eagle's claw

[xat]

Dragon is a totem symbol.
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http://world-culture...g/c.asp?d=15352

Edited by xat, 18 December 2009 - 10:15 PM.

[Sleepybeggar]

So are those orbs of fire The dragon sometimes has in his claws or What?

[General_Zhaoyun]

So are those orbs of fire The dragon sometimes has in his claws or What?

I've checked some online Chinese sources and found that there are various "forms" of Chinese dragons. The ones containing the fireball (orbs of fire) in their claws can be found in the "Sitting Dragon (Zuo Long 坐龙） " or "Two Dragons playing the ball （Shuang long xi zhu 双龙戏珠)".

In ancient Chinese dragon legend, ''orbs of fire" had been related to the sun rising out of sea, although some sources mentioned it was related to the moon. The ''dragons playing the fireball" symbolized reverence for the sun, as they welcomed the sun (i.e. fireball) rising out of the sea from the east.


Sitting Dragon (Zuo Long 坐龙）

The sitting dragon was an ancient distinguished emblem of dragon (used in decoration), in particular with Imperial family.



Two Dragons playing the ball （Shuang long xi zhu 双龙戏珠)

The "two dragons playing the ball" originated from the planetory drawing in Chinese astrology. Fireball 火珠 was evolved from the moon. From Han dynasty onwards, the "two dragons playing the ball" became an auspicious decorative emblem, used in distinguished imperial decoration.


Source：
http://wenda.tianya....f7f27c1fd54beeb
http://wenwen.soso.c...f=10&rn=1309900

[WuXiaHer0]

The orbs represent wealth,good luck and prosperity,I might add.

However,there are many ways to describe these "orbs".

1.Some claimed that these orbs are pearls.Since pearls are precious jewels and comes from the water,I guess it make sense that the dragons owned them since they are related to water.

2.Or like GZ said,the orbs could have been the sun.

3.The "orbs" could have been reptilians' eggs.The dragon looked pretty much like a snake and the ancients likened the orbs as the dragon's egg.

4.The dragon orbs could have been derived from Buddhist teachings.The Indian naga in Buddhism also possessed a pearl.The Chinese dragon soon replaced the naga when Buddhism reached China.The pearl was called ru yi zhu 如意珠.

According to the pictures GZ posted,especially the two dragons playing with the orb,the orb could mean the egg while the two dragons could mean the parents,a male and a female.

As for the Korean and Japanese dragons,the orbs have totally different meanings.

Here's what I got from Wikipedia:
Korean dragon:

Very occasionally a dragon may be depicted as carrying a dragon orb known as the Yeouiju (여의주) in one or more of its claws. Modeled after the mythical Cintamani jewel or pearl, it was said that whoever could wield the Yeouiju was blessed with the abilities of omnipotence and creation at will, and that only four-toed dragons (who had thumbs with which to hold the orbs) were both wise and powerful enough to wield these orbs, as opposed to the lesser, three-toed dragons.

Korean dragon.

Japanese dragon:

Japanese legends about the sea-god's tide jewels, which controlled the ebb and flow of tides, have parallels in Indian legends about the nāga's nyoi-ju 如意珠 "cintamani; wish-fulfilling jewels".

Hokusai dragon/Japanese dragon.

Vietnamese dragon of the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225):

the dragons always keep a châu (gem/jewel) in their mouths (a symbol of humanity, nobility and knowledge).

Vietnamese dragon.

Edited by WuXiaHer0, 27 December 2009 - 02:44 AM.