Tianlong
Quick Summary
In Chinese mythology, the Tianlong is a type of majestic beast that resides in rivers, lakes, and oceans, and roams the skies. Unlike the malevolent European dragon, the Chinese dragon is associated with heavenly beneficence and fertility. Ancient Chinese cosmogonists identified four types of dragons, with the Tianlong being the Celestial Dragon that guards the heavenly dwellings of the gods.1
The long, or Chinese dragon, is generally depicted as a four-legged animal with a snakelike body, horns, claws, and large eyes. It was considered the king of animals and was adopted by Chinese emperors as a sacred symbol of imperial power. In Chinese cosmology, the dragon represents yang, the principle of heaven, activity, and maleness.12
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