In Europe, dragons are always represented as an evil creature. However, for the people of China, the dragon symbolizes strength and power. So great tribute to this creature of the Chinese emperors so that gallant proudly wearing a dragon as their symbol.
For the Chinese, the dragon is one of the four spiritual beings who have the highest respect. Three other creatures is the Phoenix, Qilin (Kirin) and Tortoise. But among all, the dragon is the most powerful.
Characteristics of the Dragon and the number 9
In the Chinese mythology, dragons have a very close relationship with the number "9". For example, the real Chinese dragon has nine characteristics that are a combination of other creatures.
1. He has a head like a camel
2. Scales like a fish
3. Such as deer antlers
4. Her eyes were like a stealth
5. His ears were like the ox
6. Her neck like a snake
7. Her stomach was like oysters
8. The soles of his feet like a tiger
9. And paws are like eagles.
Addition to the 9 characteristics, the dragon in Chinese mythology is said to have nine children who also have different characteristics.
He also has 117 scales. 81 of them have the character of Yang (Positive) and another 36 have the character of Yin (Negative).
In general, the Chinese dragon has three or four claws on each foot. But China uses the symbol of royal dragon with five claws to show that the Emperor is not unusual dragon. This symbol became the exclusive symbol which should only be used by the emperor. Anyone who dared to use the symbol of a dragon with five claws will soon be put to death.
He also has 117 scales. 81 of them have the character of Yang (Positive) and another 36 have the character of Yin (Negative).
In general, the Chinese dragon has three or four claws on each foot. But China uses the symbol of royal dragon with five claws to show that the Emperor is not unusual dragon. This symbol became the exclusive symbol which should only be used by the emperor. Anyone who dared to use the symbol of a dragon with five claws will soon be put to death.
Four Types of Dragons
In Chinese literature, most are not found more than 100 names of different dragons. However, for convenience, the Chinese Dragon usually classified into four types, namely:
In Chinese literature, most are not found more than 100 names of different dragons. However, for convenience, the Chinese Dragon usually classified into four types, namely:
- Tien Lung the Heavenly Dragon duty or guard the palace of the gods.
- Shen Lung Dragon Spiritual or the power over the wind and rain
- Ti Lung or Earth Dragon who has power over water on the surface of the earth
- Fucang Lung or Earth Dragon world under the charge of guarding the treasure in it.
Four types of dragons are probably smelling spiritual, but as I said above, there are still about 100 other dragon's name.
Of the approximately 100 names, it is seen that the Chinese dragon is actually not always associated with spiritual beings. Could be, the dragon is an animal that has a real physical.
Therefore, we must separate the Spiritual Dragon by Dragon as a real animal.
Chinese Dragons and Cryptozoology
For example, Jiao Lung or Dragon Crocodiles. Horned dragon and the species is not known as a leader of the animals water. Based on its name, there is a possibility that this type of dragon is a crocodile. The mention of this parallel as the Komodo Dragon is the name of the dragon to a giant reptilian creatures called dragons. This name clearly indicates that the Chinese dragon does not necessarily mean the snake-bodied creatures flying, horned, grouse and clawed.
Another example is the Pan Lung or Dragon Spiral. Dragon dwells in the lakes of this type and can not ascend into heaven to be spiritual beings. Dragon of this type could be referring to the water creatures like snakes or eels. Examples are Oarfish (who live in the sea) that has enough unique characteristics that people often compare it with the Chinese dragon
There is a possibility that a similar creature sightings in the lakes Oarfish China has been regarded as the appearance of a dragon.
Then, there is Fei Lung aka Dragon Fly. This dragon has wings and ride the clouds and fog. Interestingly, this name is also used to refer to the pterosaurs in Mandarin. Lung Fei is probably the same type of dragon European dragon. Dragon sightings on the history of China
If some Chinese Dragon can be categorized into cryptid creatures, have no testimony about his appearance?
The answer: There!
History of China was started thousands of years BC. During this period, scholars documenting every event within a neat records, including the events of dragon sightings in different places in China.
However, events that poured into it may have been interpreted based on the understanding of the Chinese nation and culture of the past so most of the story sounds quite mystical. However, another story has similarities with the case of an encounter with a creature cryptid.
One example of a dragon sighting events recorded in the book Recording for the Jiaxing Regional Government is telling that in September 1588, a white dragon seen flying over the lake surface in the region Ping Pinghu, Zhejiang province. Light emitted from the white dragon is so light that illuminates some of the sky with a bright red color.
In another book, Recording for the Songjiang Regional Government, stated that 20 years after the appearance of a white dragon in the lake Ping's, a similar white dragon is also seen flying over the Huangpu river in Songjiang, Shanghai. The dragon was seen in July 1608. An eyewitness said he saw a god standing at the head of the dragon.
Testimony about the existence of god who rides the dragon is an example of the testimony of an encounter with the dragon as a spiritual being. In addition, there are other witnesses who did not mention the existence of a god or a dragon fly. Testimonies of this sounds very similar to the stories of cryptid sightings creatures in general. Below are some examples:
In the 24 th reign of Emperor Jian'an Dong Han dynasty (219 AD), a yellow dragon appeared in the river in the city Chishui Wuyang and dwelt there until nine days before finally going. Afterwards, the villagers built a temple there and an inscription was made as a tribute to the dragon.
In April of the year 345 AD, the first year of the emperor Yonghe, two dragons, one white and the other is black, appeared on the mountain Long. This makes the emergence of the dragon emperor of the kingdom of Yan Murong led some officials to the mountain to see the dragons. When it got there, they held a religious ceremony at a distance of 200 yards from both the dragon.
Hundreds of years later, in the same mountain, a dragon re-emerged. This event is recorded in the book History of the Yuan Dynasty
"In July, the 27-year reign of the emperor Zhiyuan (1290 AD), a dragon appeared near the mountains in the region Linxong Long, Shandong province. The dragon is able to make a big rock floating in the air.No further explanation on how to make a big stone dragon that floated.
Year 1162, a dead dragon is found in the lake called Taibai. This dragon has a long tentacle with large scales. His back is black while the belly is white. On the back there is a fin, whereas in the head there are two big horns. Because the creature was issued a bad odor, the resident then covered with a mat. Local authorities immediately ordered the procurement of prayer ceremony at the site. One day after that discovery, the dragon carcass lost some where.
Other testimony noted by the Recording books for the Lin'an Regional Government which tells that in 1631, the 4th year of the reign of emperor Chongzhen, a dragon looks great in a lake in Yunnan province. Because of this appearance, the lake was later named Yilong which means dragon mysterious lake. The name is still used today.
Another book, Amanded Recording of the Tang Dynasty, noted the discovery of a dead dragon events are black in Tongcheng territory. This incident occurred in the last year reign Xiantong emperor. Interestingly, this book provides a fairly detailed description of the dragon. Mentioned that the length of the dragon is about 30 meters where half is tail. Dragon tail end of the flat, such as fish scales and two horns on his head grow. Tentacle on the side of his mouth has a length of 6 meters. His legs were growing in his stomach has a layer of red. This description is very similar to the classic image of Chinese dragon.
Book Seven Books and Scriptures writing Ying Long also noted the discovery of a dragon events that occurred in the last year reign of the emperor Chenghua Ming Dynasty. The dragon is found on the coast of Xinhui, Guangdong province. Fishermen who saw him beat the creature to death. The length of the dragon is about 10 meters and looks like a dragon in classical paintings. This story is quite strange because a fisherman who saw the dragon generally will not beat him to death, given the Chinese people have great respect for these creatures. Perhaps the creature was disturbing the fishermen, but we can not tell.
Books History for the Yongping Regional Government noted that in the spring of the 19th reign of Emperor Daoguang (1839), a dragon is found on a riverbank in the area Laoting Luanhe. Dragon carcass was seen surrounded by flies and maggots. The locals then build a shelter to protect it from direct sunlight. They also poured cold water on his body. Legend has it that three days later, the dragon back to life and walked away.
Modern events concerning the discovery of a dragon is occurring in August 1944. A black dragon fell to the ground was reported in the village Weizi Chen family in the yard, about 9.4 miles northwest of Zhaoyuan region, south of the Mudan River in Heilongjiang province. Black dragon was discovered in the lifeless condition. Eyewitnesses say this creature has horns on his head and scales that cover his entire body. The creature has a smell like fish that attract flies to surrounded him.
Of all the testimony, it appears one interesting question. If the Dragon is mentioned in some of the testimony is a real animal, the animal does have a body like a snake, horned, footed and have a tentacle on the side of his mouth?
That's the mystery.
