The Chinese Dragon

The mythical Chinese dragon is depicted as a long, scaled, snake-like creature with four claws. In contrast, the Western dragon stands on four legs and is usually portrayed as evil. The Chinese dragon has long been a potent symbol of absolute power in Chinese folklore and art and also the embodiment of the concept of yang (male) and associated with the weather as the bringer of rain and water in an agriculturally water-driven nation. The dragon is generally accepted in the West as a national emblem of China, however, this usage within both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan is rare. The dragon was historically the symbol of the Emperor of China and regular citizens were forbidden to associate themselves with the dragon. The dragon has aggressive, warlike connotations that the Chinese government likes to avoid. As such, the giant panda is more often used in China as a national emblem. Many oriental dragons have a flaming pearl under their chin which signifies with wealth, good luck, and prosperity. The number nine is considered lucky in China as it is the largest possible single digit, and Chinese dragons are frequently connected with it. A Chinese dragon is normally described in terms of nine attributes and usually has 117 scales - 81 (9x9) male and 36 (9x4) female.