DRAGONS or Lung ( Long) in Chinese folklore are positive & benevolent creatures. Hurricanes and tornados were thought to be evidence of their physical structure and of their existence. Dinosaur bones were further proof, to the ancients, that dragons were real. The were thought to live under mountains, in marshes, oceans and the skies. Chinese dragons are featured in much of Shaolin history and myth and for thousands of years the fossilized bones of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals were interpreted to be those of dragons. The bones were collected and sold as potent ingredients for use in traditional Chinese medicines. In the Shaolin fighting systems the Ground Dragon forms are potent and powerful. The major characteristics of a lung type dragon include a head like a camel's or wild horse with a mane, horns like a deer's, eyes like a hare's, ears like a bull's, a neck like an iguana's, a belly like a frog's, scales and like a carp's, paws like a tiger's, and claws like an eagle's, whiskers like a catfish's. In Taoism, the dragon represents the yang principle and is often portrayed surrounded by water or clouds. Familiar dragons for the martial artist are :
Snake dragon
Northern
China Shanxi
Azure or (Green)
dragon,
Water
Changjiang
(Yangtze, or Long River) south
Black dragon, 
"Sky"
Heilongjiang River North China
King
"Lord" dragon, 
" Zhujiang
(Pearl?) in the very far south.Fire
Yellow dragon
"Earth"
Huanghe "Yellow" River in Central China
Phoenix
The mythical Phoenix bird (Ho-Oo) (Hoo) has appeared on objects in China for over 7000 years had the head of the golden pheasant, a large bill or beak like a parrot, the neck of a snake, the body of the mandarin duck, the wings of the roc, the feathers of the peacock and the legs of the crane and the tail of a fish. The male phoenix is named "phuong" and is the yang, solar, fire bird, but as the female "huang" it is feminine, yin, and lunar. Perhaps earlier discoveries of feathered dinosaur fossils (shown below) convinced early dynasties of the phoenix existence .
Archaeopteryx lithographica
Confuciusornis sanctus
ChiLing
Half-Lion -Half Dragon
Roc (Tai Ping) "Big Bird" Like the Phoenix perhaps the fossils of pterodactyls and other flying dinosaurs led to the conclusion that this huge legendary bird was real. Or perhaps the Giant Eagle did exist!
Asian Vietnamese Crocodile
Komodo Dragon| Dragons in Chinese
architecture, paintings, and culture. According to legend the Dragon had nine sons, and each had a strong personality. |
| HAOXIAN A reckless, adventurous dragon whose image can be found decorating the eaves of palaces. YAZI Valiant and bellicose; his image is seen on sword-hilts and knife hilts. CHIWEN Chiwen likes to gaze into the distance and his appearance is often carved on pinnacles. BAXIA Baxia is a good swimmer and his image decorates many bridge piers and archways. PULAO Pulao is fond of roaring and his figure is carved on bells. BIXI Bixi is an excellent pack-animal whose image appears on panniers. QIUNIU Qiuniu loves music and is a common decoration on bridge of stringed music instruments. SUANMI Suanmi is fond of smoke and fire; his likeness can be seen on the legs of incense-burners. JIAOTU Jiaotu is as tight-lipped as a mussel or a snail. His image is carved on doors. |
