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Eastern Dragon
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PhysiologyThese dragons are much different from their Western cousins. They have long serpentine bodies, four short legs, no wings, and do not
breath fire. They are said to be made up of twelve different animals: the body of a snake, scales of a carp, head of a camel, horns of a stag, eyes of a
hare, ears of a bull, neck of an iguana, belly of a frog, paws of a tiger, claws of an eagle, mane of a lion (around neck, on chin, and on each elbow), and
whiskers like a cat. There are three main types of these dragons:three-toed (Japanese), four-toed (Korean or Indonesian), and five-toed (Chinese).
They are said to have 118 scales, 81 infused with yang (good) and 36 infused with yin (bad). This is said to even out the dragon's personality. The
Oriental Dragons come in a variety of colors. They are blue, black, white, red, and yellow or gold (gold and red being the most popular). It is also
believed that this dragon is a morphling or shape-changer. This means that they can appear in any form; whether it be dragon, human, or another animal.
This is because of the "magic" pearl that they are always portrayed with, it is usually found in one of three places: in the dragon's mouth, in the dragon's
claws, or under it's chin. It is also believd that if the pearl would happen to be taken from them, the dragon would become tame and the thief would become
its master. This dragon does not have wings but it still flies, this is due to its magic. Though not much is known about these animals, other then myth and
tradition, it is said that the favorite food of the Chinese dragon is roasted swallows.
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History Legend states that the Eastern dragon was present at creation and shared the characteristics of the cosmos: great and primal power, unity with
wind and water, and links with the treaures of the planet (these are precious metals and gems). They are creatures of immense complexity and partakers of enchantment.
These gentle beasts shared the world with mankind for centuries in peace, despite the occassional betrayals on both the human side and the dragon side. They have been
linked with mortals since the beginning. In fact, it is said that the first humans were formed by the ancient goddess Nu Kua. She was believed to be part dragon and part
mortal herself. The creatures she made were tortured by her consort, Fu Hsi. Legend states that he taught the essential arts of making nets for fishing, how to handle fire,
and how to make music. These two beings settled in the small rounds of the mortal realm. Their descendants were as fluid as the elements and could change shape whenever they
willed it to be.
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In China, the dragon was one of the four magical creatures. The others being the unicorn, the pheonix, and the tortoise. The Eastern dragon was unrivaled in wisdom and the power
to confer blessings. The first of these magical animals appeared on Chinese utensils in the Neolithic period. The dragon was/is almost always associated with the pheonix, both in
and out of the art world. The art work of the early ages always showed these beings as companions to great heroes. Around 2000BC, dorsal ridges, scales, and horns began to appear.
They were even thought to have the ability to produce rain. In fact, in 500BC, dragons were blamed for elemental disasters such as tornadoes or floods. Some people even thought
they were gods, but others tought they were simply mounts to ride upon. Dragons became more and more popular in the first centuries BC and AD. They became so popular that the emperor,
if born to a humble family, claimed that his father was a dragon to elevate his position with the people of his realm. Because of this, the dragon became a symbol of good luck and was linked
with the emperor. The dragon may have became a holy symbol to many people, but there were still people who thought it was just another basic animal like the horse or the cow.
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These magnificent beings became associated with water around 400AD. This was because of the sudden uprise in the Buddhist religion. The dragon became more popular with art around this time
period as well. The practice of painting dragons to pray for rain became more popular around the tenth century. The dragon became so well loved that rulers prohibited the use of them, this occured
around 1300AD. This was understandibly ignored. Eventually, the emperors changed this law to only prohibit the use of five-clawed dragons, saving them for himself; three- and four-clawed dragons were
renamed pythons and used by the common people. this law was so strong that if a person other than the emperor was found with a five-clawed dragon he/she would be beheaded without trial. The Chinese term
for these beings was "Lung". These lung are divided into four categories.
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Tien-Lung: The Celestial Dragons or Guardians protect the heavens by supporting the palaces of the gods on their backs and shielding them from decay. These are the only dragons with five-claws. The Tien-Lung are always gold in color.
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Shen-Lung: The Spiritual Dragons or Weathermakers controlled the wind, the clouds, and the rain. The Chinese took care to appease them due to the fact that these things were needed to sustain life. They also were responsible for causing storms or natural disasters if made mad or angry. These dragons are always Blue in color.
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Ti-Lung: The Earth Dragons or River Lords determined the course of the rivers, they regulated the flow and maintained the banks. All the rivers in China had its own Ti-Lung (Dragon King) who held sway over the waters from a palace hidden well below the surface. These dragons are always green in color.
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Fut's-Lung: The Subterranean Dragons or Treasure Keepers were in charge of the precious jewels and metals of the world. They bore an enormous pearl that was reputed to multiply whatever it touched. Their pearl symbolizes wisdom. These dragons are always red in color.
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