However, a white Chinese dragon symbolizes purity and virtue. White is traditionally connected to death and mourning in Chinese culture. In ancient China, the black dragon is often linked to catastrophes like storms and floods. Criminals often have black dragon tattoos on their arms or back, which represent evil or revenge. In some Chinese movies, many criminal organizations or street gangs use black dragons as their emblems. Black Dragonsīlack Chinese dragons are often related to vengeance. It is a tradition to use red dragons for dragon dances. People paint red dragons to decorate their houses or walkways to celebrate various festivals. The red dragon therefore has lucky symbolism. It is often used to decorate the house/building used for a wedding or festival. Different colors of dragon represent different things. There are blue, green, red, black, white, yellow, and golden dragons in Chinese culture. What Do the Colors of Chinese Dragons Mean? It has become a symbol of China and Chinese culture. Not only has the Chinese dragon prevailed in China, but it's also very popular among Chinese people living overseas. It represents the Chinese people's unrelenting and pioneering spirit of keeping pace with the times. The Chinese dragon has been transformed from an imaginary progenitor to a mascot from ancient times to the present.

So, the dragon is considered to bring good fortune, harvest, and prosperity. Shennong was considered as a primogenitor of the Chinese people and hero of ancient China. He taught people to develop agriculture and to use herbal drugs. In ancient China's legends, Shennong the 'Divine Farmer' was the son of a dragon and a beautiful princess, and some say the father of Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor). It is said that the two emperors were immortalized as dragons before they ascended to heaven.Īs time went by, Chinese people began to refer to themselves as 'the descendants of Yandi and Huangdi', as well as 'descendants of dragons'. So, 'emperors' Yandi and Huangdi were the ancestors of the Chinese people. With the help of the dragon and allied with Huangdi (a legendary tribal leader and, by some accounts, the grandson of a dragon), they opened the prelude to Chinese civilization. It was said that thousands of years ago, Yandi (a legendary tribal leader) was born through his mother's telepathic interaction with a mighty dragon. In pre-modern times, local people offered sacrifices to appease the Dragon Kings to stop flooding or droughts.Ī Dragon Carving Ancestor of the Chinese People In many Chinese villages, there are still some temples or shrines to worship the Dragon Kings to seek their blessings of good weather for harvests and all year round. The four Dragon Kings were believed to be the dispensers of rain and wind. Four Dragon Kings each controlled a sea of China: 'East Sea' (the East China Sea), 'South Sea' (the South China Sea), 'West Sea' (Qinghai Lake and lakes beyond), and 'North Sea' (Lake Baikal). In Chinese legend, the Dragon Kings were believed to be the rulers of weather and water, such as rainfall, waterfalls, rivers, and seas. It was against the law for common people to use things related to dragons in imperial times. Dragon emblems can be found in carvings on the stairs, walkways, furniture, and clothes of the imperial palace. Yellow Dragon Imperial Power and Authorityĭuring China's imperial dynasties, emperors used the dragon as a symbol of their imperial power and authority. Apart from that, in Chinese culture, dragons symbolize imperial power, good fortune, power over weather and water, and a pioneering spirit. The Dragon is one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, with its own astrological personality and symbolism. See more amazing facts on Chinese dragons. Chinese dragons live at the bottom of seas, rivers, lakes, or anywhere with water.Most Chinese dragons' pictures have long bodies like snakes and sharp claws like hawks - less like dinosaurs than Western dragons.Chinese dragons are symbolic of being lucky, propitious, powerful, and noble not as monsters as they are portrayed in Western stories.And, at that time, ordinary people were not allowed to have items with pictures of dragons on them. Emperors in ancient China were identified as the sons of dragons.The Dragon is one of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs.Chinese dragons don't exist factually - there is no evidence to prove that they are real creatures.What Do the Colors of Chinese Dragons Mean?.

Chinese draken tattoo