Chinese dragon
Benevolent celestial serpent
A Chinese dragon is the serpentine, wingless dragon of East Asian mythology—a benevolent creature associated with power, wisdom, and good fortune, quite unlike the fire-breathing, treasure-hoarding dragons of European legend.
Chinese dragons control water and weather, symbolize imperial authority, and appear throughout Chinese art, architecture, and festival celebrations: Dragon boats raced across the harbor.
The dragon remains one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.
Cunning, limbless reptile
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- clawsAnimal gripping nails
- pearlMollusk-formed gemstone
- hornsBony animal projections
whiskers · antlers · flying · clouds · river · rain · thunder · celestial
Indicating future success
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- prosperityGood fortune, success
- luckChance affecting outcomes
harmony · power · strength · wisdom · nobility · emperor · imperial · sovereignty
Male ruler of empire
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
- palaceMonarch's official residence
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
mandate · sovereign · robes · regalia · emblem · seal · banner · jade
Ceremonial public procession
- lanternsEnclosed portable light sources
- firecrackersSmall explosive novelties
- Lunar New YearFestival marking moon-calendar's beginning
- Spring FestivalLunar new year celebration
red envelopes · hongbao · costumes · drums · procession · performers · poles · undulating
Pigment on canvas
- scrollWound document of parchment
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- embroideryDecorative stitching on fabric
- sculptureShaped three-dimensional art
ceramics · motif · cloud pattern · architecture · carving · lacquerware · bronze · tapestry
serpent
Cunning, limbless reptile
horns · whiskers · antlers · flying · clouds · river · rain · thunder · celestial · divine
auspicious
Indicating future success
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- prosperityGood fortune, success
luck · harmony · power · strength · wisdom · nobility · emperor · imperial · sovereignty · yang
emperor
Male ruler of empire
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
- palaceMonarch's official residence
court · mandate · sovereign · robes · regalia · emblem · seal · banner · jade · porcelain
parade
Ceremonial public procession
- lanternsEnclosed portable light sources
- firecrackersSmall explosive novelties
- Lunar New YearFestival marking moon-calendar's beginning
Spring Festival · red envelopes · hongbao · costumes · drums · procession · performers · poles · undulating
painting
Pigment on canvas
- scrollWound document of parchment
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- embroideryDecorative stitching on fabric
sculpture · ceramics · motif · cloud pattern · architecture · carving · lacquerware · bronze · tapestry · woodblock
- Regional iconsSwiss chocolate, Scottish tartan, London fog, Florida orange
- Asian Motifscranes, lotus flower, phoenix, cherry blossoms, koi
- dragon art
- dragon decoration
Chinese dragonEuropean dragon
Winged, fire-breathing mythical reptile
Western dragon · fire-breathing dragon · winged dragon · Smaug · Welsh dragon
Chinese dragonfire dragon
Flame-spewing mythical reptile
salamander · phoenix · fire-breathing dragon · fire elemental