Okay folks, this is going to be a diddy one because I really don’t know all that much about these guys. So . . . Chinese dragons:

Are Cool Because . . .

I mentioned last week that I know very little about these types of dragon. So it makes sense to chat about them a lil bit, right? Well, as you do, I started here and had a read around. Seems like dragons don’t always look like dragons! I like the idea that these creatures – in Chinese mythology anyway – can take on different forms. I also like that they represent things that are tangible, such as water and weather.

What Do They Look Like?

Depends who you’re chatting to. Some of them look like this cool chap on the left. Some of them are missing the legs.  Some have squared off heads, others have roundish heads. No wings (*sad face*). Others of them don’t look like dragons at all, but take on the shapes of other creatures just to mess with your brain. Niiiiice, right?

In Legend

Long or Loong is the name of an ancient Chinese dragon of legend. It’s said that the emperors Yan and Haungdi were related to dragons: the former, born of his mother’s telepathy with such a creature and the former immortalised into a dragon upon his birth. In Chinese culture, the dragon also symbolises power, good luck and strength They’re also known for their fancy powers over things like water, floods and hurricanes.

In Movies

This is a tough one. Maybe I don’t want enough world cinema, but I can’t think of a single Chinese dragon in any live action film. Even after scouring blogs like this one I drew a blank on films I’ve actually seen.Guess that’s something I need to work on. Still, check out the blog in that link for a cool run down of dragons in films, in general. This chap did some nice work. I guess the only example I have (if it counts at all) is Shenlong from the travesty that is the live action Dragon Ball Z movie which I believe was named ‘Dragonball: Evolution.’ Now . . . Shenlong is the name of the dragon in the anime, I have no idea what the dragon was called in the movie, but the creature had the same serpentine shape with iiiiiiitty biddy legs. Guess I need to watch more films.

Then again . . .