Chinese Dragon - How the Chinese Dragon Evolved Into the Identity of a Chinese Culture

For centuries, the Chinese dragon has been a symbol of power, wealth, and good fortune. So how did it come to pass that this legendary creature became the most revered and respected icon of Chinese culture? Many can only speculate about the true origins of the very first Chinese dragon. The following information reflects popular Chinese cultural beliefs, as well as professional research, into the origins of the Chinese dragon.

The most logical explanation for China’s deep admiration of the dragon is that it gives an identity to the Chinese culture and its people. Looking at China from a geographical standpoint, you will notice that the entire country consists of hundreds of villages and provinces. Naturally, spoken Chinese dialect and customs will vary between regions. Similar to Native American customs and beliefs, the native Chinese began to identify themselves through the usage of totems.

Chinese totems would establish each clan’s uniqueness from all of the others, as well as sociological status. You will notice that at the base foundation of most primitive Chinese totems and/or monuments, there is a dragon or a similar form of reptile. This may attributed to the simple fact that water is a natural element, which is necessary for sustaining life. Creatures who thrive in such aquatic environments, such as reptilian and amphibious creatures, were highly respected and revered as “gatekeepers” or “guardians” to life, success, and prosperity.

In order for clans to survive, access to water was very crucial to their heirs and future generations. The more reliable their access to water resources was, the more prosperous the clan’s reputation became. In conjunction with agricultural or sociological evolvement, each clan’s “mascot” would reflect these historical landmarks by evolving into a more powerful creature. For example, a clan would choose to designate a crocodile as a representative for their people.

In the years to follow, they would become well known for their trademark fighting abilities. To display their fighting abilities, they would probably select a tiger to represent stealth and strength. They would then take their ancestral crocodile and morph it with the tiger, in order to interpret their success and achievements in fighting abilities. As the years progress, they may acquire new skills (again, represented by an animal or natural element), causing their mascot to further evolve into a more powerful being.

Thus, we welcome the birth of the Chinese dragon. As Chinese clans began to integrate and mix with each other, so did their clan “mascots”, or dragons. Neighboring countries- Japan and India also reflect dragon and Chinese cultural influence in religious and cultural beliefs. Thanks to innovative continuity, the Chinese dragon is always getting a makeover to keep up a current status, while at the same time maintaining its original ancient Chinese cultural appeal.