Dragons And Dragon Kings In Ancient Mythology

A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – We encounter dragons in almost every ancient world culture. Dragons played an essential role in the beliefs of our ancestors and were depicted in various ways.

Four Seas Dragon King. Credits: Unknown (Qing Dynasty) – Public Domain

Dragons can be placed in East and West groups, regarded as either good or very fearsome and evil creatures.

Dragons in Ancient Chinese Mythology

In ancient China, the dragon was a highly significant creature that became a symbol of the Emperor, and his throne was sometimes called the Dragon Throne.  Ancient Chinese believed dragons were in control of the weather and water. These creatures were said to be able to manipulate oceans, floods, tornadoes, and storms.

There are nine distinctive Chinese dragons; some are serpent-like creatures with large bodies and long heads. The dragon in China is a benign creature that is said to bring wisdom, power, and luck. They are famous for their goodness, warding off evil, protecting the innocent, and ensuring safety.

Tradition and celebration of New Year in China can be traced to a dragon named Nien (or “year”).

Nien was a legendary wild beast that attacked people at the end of the old year. Villagers would use loud noises and bright lights to scare the creature away, a practice that slowly morphed into the Chinese New Year festivities. Today the dragon has its year on the Chinese calendar.

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