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Japan / China: Japanese dragon, Chinese school, 19th century

Japan / China: Japanese dragon, Chinese school, 19th century

Chinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology and folklore, with mythic counterparts among Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Bhutanese, Western and Turkic mythology.

In Chinese art, dragons are typically portrayed as long, scaled, serpentine creatures with four legs. In yin and yang terminology, a dragon is yang (male element) and complements a yin (female element) fenghuang or phoenix.

In contrast to European dragons, which are considered evil, Chinese dragons traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, hurricane, and floods. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck. The emperors of China usually used the dragon as a symbol of imperial power.

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