FOR the next year of the Chinese lunar calendar, we will be seeing a lot more of this maligned and mysterious reptile. We might even have more sightings from Loch Ness, whose most famous resident seems closer to a Chinese dragon than a Scottish monster, judging by its sinuous shape and love of water.
There are many differences between China’s dragons and their British cousins. One is a wingless flying creature associated with power, wisdom and water; the other is a winged mountain dweller with an affinity for fire. Personality-wise, one is a benign bringer of sustenance, whereas the other is a ravager of land and young women. Chinese dragons can also be vengeful, however. Rather than incinerating all in their path, they prefer to drown the disrespectful with floods. The association with fire may have come about as Chinese dragons are often depicted in pursuit of a flaming pearl, symbolising everything from prosperity to immortality.
Confusion between Eastern and Western dragons is common. Even J. K. Rowling,).
