The Feng Shui Chinese Dragon

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Western Dragon verses Chinese Dragon

In contrast to the legends from western countries where dragons are depicted as fire breathing, dangerous, fearsome monsters and keepers of treasure. Chinese dragons are beautiful, gentle, friendly and wise, possessing magical powers and full of vibrant energy.

What Does the Chinese Dragon Symbolize?

Depicted as benevolent figures, Yin & Yang dragons symbolize the balance of all things in the universe and the natural forces of nature. Enhancing positive (Qi) energy and offering the protection and power of the dragon. Symbols of courage and confidence, representing success and ambition, they are often seen performing heroic or helpful acts in ancient stories and seeing a Chinese dragon in your dreams is a good omen. They’re believed to be able to control time and the seasons and associated with the following:

1. Nobleness Those born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to be more prosperous and noble than others, also strong-willed, decisive, and self-confident.

2. Kindness – Symbols of kindness and warmth.

3. Business Prosperity and Wealth The word "dragon" sounds similar to "prosperity" in Chinese, so the dragon is seen as a symbol of business prosperity and wealth. One aim of the Chinese New Year dragon dance is to ask for a prosperous new business year from the dragon gods.

4. Good Fortune Dragons symbolize fortune and good luck, thus, people often engrave dragons on utensils and personal items to attract the best life has to offer.

5. Good Harvest and Health Chinese agricultural farmers asked for water for plentiful harvests by making offerings to dragon gods. Winged male dragons possess the power to fly to the heavens and bring rain, while winged female dragons control earthly waters like seas, rivers, lakes and wells.

6. Masculinity In traditional Chinese society, men were considered to be physically strong and powerful and influential in the community. Dragons were used to represent these male traits.

7. Protective tokens Dragons offer protection to homes and businesses. They’re seen as protective figures that can be printed or engraved on personal or valuable objects and are a popular tattoo design because of their positive traits.

A Mythical Creature, What Do Dragons Look Like?

The dragon is the only mythical zodiac animal, described over 2,000 years ago by the philosopher Wang Fu as having 9 characteristics: the horns of a deer, the head of a camel, the eyes of a rabbit, the ears of an ox, a snake’s neck, the belly of a clam-monster, fish-like scales, eagle claws and the palms of a tiger.

Traditional Chinese Customs and Sayings

Popular sayings that are connected to the dragon include:

1. A leading company is described as the ‘dragon head enterprise,’ reflecting its size and status.

2. ‘Paint the dragon, dot the eyes’ or adding the finishing touches, achieving perfection.

3. “Hoping one's son will become a dragon”, expresses hope and expectation that they will achieve great success in life.

4. ‘Fish jump over the Dragon Gate’ is used to describe someone getting a place at a good university or securing a life-changing job.

See The Legends of The Chinese Dragon below.

 Events honouring the dragon can also be seen today during the celebration of the Dragon Dance.

1. The Dragon Dance was originally used as a ceremonial dance to please the Dragon Gods, to help bring rain to the fields and bless a good harvest. Today it has become a popular form of entertainment at the Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival (lunar January 15th), and the Dragon Boat Festival. The dragon costume ranges from 9 – 20 meters in length, with a large head and a snake-like body in sections lifted on poles, used to raise and lower the dragon. The head of the Dragon must be able to coordinate with the body movement and stamp to the beat of the drum. It’s performed along with lion dancers, acrobats and martial artists to the sound of drums and horns, the parade ends in a burst of firecrackers.

2. The Dragon Boat Festival is an Annual Chinese holiday celebrated throughout China in late spring or early summer, a festival to request good health as well as a bountiful harvest from the dragon gods. Racing brightly coloured boats over 10 meters long, decorated with ornately carved and painted dragon heads and long tails carved from wood.

Imperial Power

Chinese Emperors described themselves as ‘Sons of the Dragon God’ and used its symbolism as a display of their authority. One example is the Nine-Dragon Wall found in imperial Chinese palaces and gardens, like the one at the Forbidden City in Beijing.

A section of the Nine Dragon Wall at the Forbidden City in Beijing. Use of dragon motifs was reserved for the royal family. Dragon emblems were used on clothes, chairs, carriages and walkways. All the foods they ate were labelled with the word dragon to display their high status, today the dragon is still associated with imperial power.

The Legends of The Chinese Dragon

Dragons have many powers; they breathe clouds, move the seasons and control bodies of waters, like rivers, lakes and seas. They are seen as benevolent, wise, and powerful and not the cause of natural catastrophes and other disasters. The most popular legends are:

1. Agriculture For the agricultural ancient Chinese, rain and water played an important role in their life. They believed a mysterious creature (a dragon) with ultimate power ruled heaven, controlling the rain, lightning and thunder.

3. The Dragon Emperor Believed to be born of an encounter with a dragon, Emperor Yándì (炎帝) was more powerful than most leaders. He joined forces with Emperor Huang Di and together they conquered their enemies, unified China and Example of a flag from the Qing dynasty (1889-1912) pioneered Chinese civilization. Over time many Chinese came to believe that Yandi was one of their ancestors which meant they were also the descendants of dragons.

Types of Chinese Dragons

In Chinese mythology, there are many dragons all endowed with magical gifts and abilities.

Spiritual Dragon (Shenlong 神龙) – The spiritual dragon is blue and controls both the rain and the winds. Its job is to ensure that humans benefit from these two elements.

Winged Dragon (Yinglong 应龙) - The oldest of all the Chinese dragon; served the yellow emperor, Huang Di. It is the most skilled dragon in combat and symbolizes rain and at times, floods.

Celestial Dragon or Heavenly Dragon (Tianlong 天龙) - This dragon resides in the sky, where it protects the celestial gods from falling to earth. Legend has it that in the Palace of the Jade Emperor, eight powerful and ultimate celestial Dragons coil around the eight pillars to protect the palace. It represents good fortune, prosperity, and abundance.

Cloud Dragon (Feilong 飞龙) - the rarest species among the Dragon family. It is born in heaven, with its body wrapped in clouds and mist. When it soars and moves, it looks like a moving cloud. They have gentle personality and is the easiest dragon to get along with.

Coiling Dragon (Panlong 蟠龙) - A water dragon sometimes known as a river dragon, resembling a crocodile. It controls time and has not yet ascended to the sky and heaven, it is restricted to the earth and waters. Named because they like to coil around pillars.

Underworld Dragon or Treasure Dragon (Fuzanglong 伏藏龙) - is the guardian of precious metals and jewels buried in the earth. Volcanoes are said to be created when they burst out of the ground to report to heaven.

Earth Dragon (Dilong 地龙）- Lives in and controls rivers, streams, and seas. It spends springtime in heaven and autumn in the sea. Some believe it’s the feminine version of the spiritual dragon.

Horned Dragon (Qiulong 虬龙）- One of the most powerful dragons in the Chinese tradition. A young dragon, sometimes depicted as having evil tendencies, it’s also associated with making rain.

Dragon King (Longwang 王龙）- The dragon king or dragon god is the most powerful of all dragons who guards the central universe in the Chinese mythology. He can appear in a variety of shapes and is often depicted as human. Composed of four separate dragons each ruling over the seas of China in all four directions - north, south, east and west.

Yellow Dragon (Chilong 螭龙) A hornless dragon known for its scholarly knowledge. It has a small and compact body but it is extremely strong in combat. It symbolizes beauty, kindness and is auspicious. It’s appearance can change, but a red one is always a female dragon.

Torch Dragon (Zhúlóng 燭龍;) illuminates the darkness. A giant red dragon, with a human's face and snake's body, created day and night by opening and closing its eyes, and created seasonal winds by breathing.

Azure Dragon (Qīnglóng 青龍) - of the East is one of the most well-known dragons in China. One of the Four Constellations, it can be seen in the night sky alongside the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Turtle of the North. The Azure Dragon is associated with protection, Spring and the element of wood.

What Do The Different Dragon Colours Mean?

Much of the Chinese dragon symbolism and mythology is tied to colour. The Chinese dragon colours are significant to their power and can be used as good luck symbols and support for manifesting goals.

Blue and Green Dragon Symbolize nature, new life, health, harmony and peace.
In Feng Shui blues and greens are Wood element colours. Nurturing, promotes peace, security and calm.

White Dragon Symbolizes purity, virtue and integrity. Also death and mourning (the cycle of life).
In Feng Shui white is a Metal element colour. Brings clarity, simplicity and innocence, clean and clear.

Red Dragon Symbolizes good fortune. For this reason, the image is popular at weddings and other celebrations to encourage happiness and good luck.
In Feng Shui red is a Fire element colour. Bringing energy, drive and passion.

Yellow / Gold Dragon Symbolizes good fortune and power, wealth and social standing. Used as a symbol of empire and the emperor.
In Feng Shui yellow is an Earth element colour. The colour of the sun, warming the earth, promoting health and harmony.

Black Dragon Symbolizes power and honour, sometimes linked to catastrophes like storms and floods.
In Feng Shui black is a Water element colour. Helpful for learning and absorbing information.

Feng Shui

The Chinese Zodiac

The 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac begin with the Rat branch and are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
The Dragon is the 5th branch in the Chinese Zodiac and it is the only mythical creature in Chinese astrology and said to carry messages from Heaven to Earth.
The Dragons (Chen in Chinese) Earthly Branch symbol is

Ba Zi (The Four Pillars Of Destiny)

Using the Ba Zi you may find a Dragon in your hour, day, month or year of birth.
The Dragon Hours: if you were born between 7-9am.
The Dragon Month: if you were born in the month of April.
The Dragon Years: Dragon Years appear every 12 years and the Wood Dragon arrives every 60 years. Those born in 1964 are now 60 and find the Wood Dragon back for the first time since they were born.

Dragon years are said to be outside time, where all things are possible.

Chinese Dragon Years

The dragon is your Chinese zodiac animal sign if you were born between:

         

The Dragon is an auspicious symbol of power, good luck and strength, representing influence and authority, particularly control over typhoons, rainfall and floods. Emperors were believed to have descended from the dragons. Each zodiac animal is associated with certain personality traits, those born under the dragon are believed to be successful, lucky, and honourable.

Famous People Born in Dragon Year include: Charles Darwin, John Lennon, Sandra Bullock, Tom Jones, Martin Luther King Jr, Tracy Chapman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sharon Osbourne, Keanu Reeves, Adele, Bruce Lee, Rihanna, Al Pacino, Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, Reese Witherspoon, Che Guevara.

Yang Wood Element

The wood element is associated with Spring, new growth, potential, creation and new beginnings. In the physical body it represents the Liver and Gallbladder and relates to movement. If you can’t move physically or mentally you may feel frustrated this year. In the mind it inspires imagination, dreams and intuition.

Earth Dragon

 The dragon also represents Spring - planting seeds, manifesting and intellect (Yi). All Dragons also contain natal earth energy. The earth element is associated with storage and containment, also belonging, it may feel like seeds need to break through this to grow and flourish.

Flying Star Period 9

 In Addition this year, on the 4th of February 2024 (Wood Dragon Chinese New Year) we entered a new 20 year period (2024 – 2044) in Feng Shui, moving out of Period 8 (Metal) and into Period 9 (Fire). This creates a huge change in energy in every home and business throughout the world. Fire energy (Li in Chinese) brings illumination, shining a light and opening eyes.

Ba Gua

Dragon symbols offer protection throughout your home, using the Bagua the Wood Dragon is especially beneficial for the Wood areas of your home (Family & Ancestors, Fortune, Wealth & Blessings) in the East and South East and the Fire area (Fame & Reputation) in the South.

 

Acknowledgements

This article is based on a variety of Traditional and Modern Feng Shui principles and Dragon symbology; including: www.theworldofchinese.com, www.newworldencyclopedia.org, www.chinahighlights.com, Chinese Mythology Barnes & Noble Books 1996.

For a wealth of information on all areas of Feng Shui; Consultations, Workshops and Articles please visit Vanessa Edwards: https://www.vandaehworks.co.uk.