Dragon is a symbol of power in both Eastern and Western cultures. However, its image, superpower, lifestyle, and role in cultures are quite different.  In the Western culture, dragons are to be feared, tamed, or conquered. Whereas in Chinese culture, the dragon represents authority, with an almost God-like status. People pray and make wishes for these imagined creatures, believing themselves as successors of dragons (“龙的传人”).

This blog answers four questions about dragons in the East and dragons in the West: (1) What do dragons look like? (2) What are their superpowers? (3) How do dragons live? (4) Are dragons good or bad? By understanding a diverse view of an imagined creature, we hope to see the world with an enriched and enlarged perspective.

#1: Looks – What do dragons look like?

Most dragons in Western folk stories and modern media have wings, empowering them to fly and glide. Its image reminds us of an early flying reptile that lived in Asian forests called Sharovipteryx.

Source of image: https://fossil.fandom.com/wiki/Sharovipteryx

In contrast, most dragons in Eastern cultures don’t have wings. The Chinese dragon is a unique combination of nine animals. It has deer horns, camel head, rabbit eyes, snake neck, sea serpent belly, fish scale, eagle claw, tiger paw, and ox ears. (“角似鹿、头似驼、眼似兔、项似蛇、腹似蜃、鳞似鱼、爪似鹰、掌似虎、耳似牛”)

#2: Superpower – What are their special powers?

In many Western cultures, dragons are depicted as powerful, mystical creatures with the ability to control, produce, and breathe fire from within their bodies. They are associated with the element of fire.

Chinese dragons are associated with the element of water. They are thought to bring water and rain to people. During dry seasons, people make offerings to dragons, praying to them to produce some rain for a better harvest.

#3: Lifestyle – How do dragons live?

Here we probe a few daily-life questions about dragons: What do they eat? Where do they live? How do they dress themselves and how is their family life?

The most famous Chinese dragons are four Sea Dragon Kings who oversee the East, South, West, and North Seas. They stay in the sea palaces and eat all sorts of delicious food. Some are said to be so wealthy that they eat gold, silver, and jewelry.  

Dragons in Western culture live more like a wild beast. They are believed to often live anywhere in nature: in lakes or the sea, under the clouds, or in the caves.

Toothless, the dragon in the animation movie – How to Train Your Dragon, is equipped as a flying warrior.

The Chinese Sea Dragon King dresses like an emperor. He wears a crown, and a royal robe and holds a crystal ball. This ball absorbs powers from the universe and can be used by dragons only. It inspires the famous modern Japanese manga ‘Dragon Ball’.

Source of image: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/quizzes/dragon-ball-super-find-the-seven-dragon-balls

In Chinese folk stories, Dragon Kings often have big families and are surrounded by shrimp soldiers and crab generals（虾兵蟹将). For example, the East Sea Dragon King has nine sons. While the Western dragons are often seen acting alone.

#4: Role in culture – Are dragons good or bad?

Dragons can be good or evil in Western mythology. Tamed by humans, they are often as good or bad as their dragon masters.

In Chinese mythology, dragons are seen as deities. Chinese people proudly claim themselves to be successors of dragons. In ancient history, many things the emperor used began with the word dragon. The chair he sat ‘dragon chair’; his costume ‘dragon robe’; his body ‘dragon body’ and his male offspring ‘dragon sons and dragon grandsons’.

What is your favorite dragon? How would you describe them? What kind of dragon questions do you have? Share with us in the comment box.