AThesisSubmittedinPartialFulfillmentoftheRequirementsfortheDegreeofBachelorofArts.IntroductionNowadays,withthedevelopmentofnationalstrength,Chinaenjoysamuchmoresignificantplaceintheworldanditsinfluenceshavespreadthewholeworld.NaturallyandsubsequentlythereexistmanyculturalconflictsbetweenChinaandthewest.Anddragoncultureisoneofthemosttypicalexamples.FrommanybooksandotherchannelswehavegraspedageneralknowledgeofChinesedragonandwesterndragon.Butinordertounderstandmoreabouttheirculturesandsymbolisticmeanings,weneedtostudyfurthertheirorigins,images,culturalmeaningsandotheraspects.Sinceancienttimestonow,dragoninChinahasbecomeatypicalsymbolofthenation,whichhasbeenacknowledgedbybothChinesepeopleandforeigners.InChina,theimageofdragonenjoysapositivesymbolandpeoplegiveallkindsofvirtuesandgoodqualificationstodragon.AndChinesepeoplebelievethattheyaredescendantsofdragon,whichmakesthemveryproud.SowecanunderstandthatdragonisverypopularandwelcomeinChina.However,inthewest,dragonisregardedasevil,whichbringsdisastersandharmfulnessestohuman.Thetraitsofwesterndragonarefierce,violent,aggressiveandharmful.AlthoughtherearesomanydifferencesbetweenChinesedragonandwesterndragon,weshouldstudythedeeperculturalmeaningsundertheirimagesandachievebetterunderstandingsbetweenChinaandthewest.Inchinawehavespentalongtimestudyingandresearchingtheoriginofdragonsandfinallyweachievearelativelycommonviewthattheimageofdragonsisamixtureofotheranimals’differentphysicalparts.Inancienttimesdragonswereregardedastotemsbymanyethnics.Intheprimitivesociety,ancientpeoplecouldnotgivenaturalphenomenaanappropriateexplanations,sotheycontributedthosephenomenatogods,whowererepresentedbyanimals.Accordingtolegend,inancienttimes,differenttribeshaddifferenttotems.However,afterYellowEmperorunifiedthewholeChinahegraduallyintegratedothertribes’totemsandcreatedhisowntotem,calledLunganditwasendowedwiththepowerofwind,rainandthunderandcouldswiminwaterlikefish,flyintheskylikebird.Dragonswereregardedasthekingofallanimalsandtheablestgod.Itissaidthatdragonscanbothbecomevisibleandinvisible,thinandthick,longandshort.Basedonhistoricalarchaeology,adragonmadeofshellswasfoundinatombofSongDynasty,whichwasaboutsixthousandyearsago.Thereforewecanfigurethatthedragonsappearedintheprimitivesociety,earlierthanXiaDynasty.Inotherwords,dragonsemergedattheNeolithicAge.Inaddition,theearliestoriginofdragoncangobacktoeightthousandyearsago.WhilewesterndragonsappearedmuchlaterthanChinesedragons.Aboutfourthousandyearsago,westerndragonsfirstappearedinwesternfairytales,whichwereactuallyregardedasharmfulmonsters.AndtheBiblealsotellssomestoriesaboutdragon.Job41describesthemostvividanddetailedimagesofdragons,whichwaswrittenbefore10BC.Sowecanseethatwesterndragonsmustappearearlierthanthattime.InancientGreece,theHomerEpicwasfinishedbetween9BCand8BC.WhilethelegendofwesterndragonswereatthetimeofancientGreekculture,from2oooBCto1000BC.SothedragonsinmythologymustbebeforethetimeofancientGreececultureperiod,namelytheprimitivesocietyofGreece.WecanseefromthemaleandfemalestatuesfoundinEridurelicsofMesopotamiathattheirheadswereshownaslizardorserpent,whichmaybeakindofvariantsofdragon.TheEriducultureappearedapproximatelybetween4300BCand3500BC,beforewhichwastheprimitivesociety.AccordingtoGreekmyth,thedragonsfirstmentionedwasagiantdragonwhichfoughtagainstZeus,thekingofgods.Thesegiantdragonshaduglyfaces,clutterhairsandlongscaledtales.However,themosttypicalfairytaleaboutdragonwasthatApollousedhisbowandarrowtokillagiantdragoncalledPython,whichcausedgreatdisasterstohuman.AstheancientGreekcultureinfluencedthewesternculturedeeply,theimageofGreekdragonwasinheritedandexpandedinEurope.Later,theappearanceofdragonswerefoundinItaly,German,northEuropecountriesandBritain.2.DragoninChineseandWesternMythologiesBothChinesedragonandwesterndragonareverymysteriouscreaturesinlegend.Inmythologies,theyhavemysticforces.However,themostdifferentthingisthatChinesedragonusesitspowertohelpandblesspeopleandthewesterndragondosetheopposite.Sotheyhavedifferentimagesinmythologiesandpeoplehavedifferentfeelingsaboutthem.2.1.DragoninChineseMythologyAsChinesedragonsandwesterndragonshavedifferentorigins,theyhavedifferentsymbolisticmeaningsandcultureinfluencesandtheirinheritancesarealsodifferent.InChinesemythology,dragonsareakindofsupernaturalandmagicalanimal,whicharegoodatchanging,winding,andraining.Theyarethekingofallscaledanimalsandtheycanbecomevisibleandinvisible,thinandthick,longandshortwhenevertheywant.Accordingtolegend,theThreeSovereignsandFiveEmperorshadcloserelationswithdragon,aswellasShennong(patronofagriculture)andNuWa(agoddessinChinesemythology).ItissaidthatYanEmperorwasbornbecauseofhismother’scatchingaglimpseofadragon.InChinesefeudalsociety,dragonssymbolizedthepowerofemperorandalltheemperorsofpastagesregardedthemselvesasdragonsandworedragondecorations.ItisalsosaidthatYaoandShun(ancientsages)bothhadconnectionswithdragons.WhenitcametotheperiodofKingYu,itwassaidthatdragonshelpedhimtametheflood.AndatthelastyearsofQinDynasty,peopleregardedQinShiHuangasthefatherofdragons.IntheHanDynasty,LiuBangfabricatedthathewasthesonofdragontoconsolidatehisregime.Allinall,theimageofdragoninChinesemythologyispositiveandpeoplerenderallkindsofvirtuesandgoodqualificationstodragons.Wecanalsoseefrommanytalesandlegendsthatdragonsarebraveandneverafraidofviolence;theyaresocleverandthatcanpredictthefuture.2.2.DragoninWesternMythologyInwesternmythology,therearemanykindsofdragons,whichhaveabigfamily.Astheproverbgoesthatadragonhasonehundredsonsandtheyarealldifferent.Somedragonshideundersea,somesleepundervolcanoandsomelayinmarsh.Westerndragonshavestrongmagicsotheycanresistallkindsofmagicattacks.Butwhentheireyesareexposed,theyareeasytogethurt.Westerndragonscanbreathefiretoattackenemies.Theyliketohideincavesprotectingagreatdealoftreasure.Amongallkindsofwesterndragons,thedragonsportrayedintheBiblehavethedominantrole.AccordingtotheBible,dragonsareserpents.InGenesis,SatanincarnatesaserpentandinducesEvetoeattheforbiddenfruit.InRevelation,therearetwosentencessaying:Thegreatdragonwashuffeddown--thatancientserpentcalledthedevilorSatan,wholeadsthewholeworldastray.TheOldTestamentalsomentionsdragonsformanytimes,forexample:theyarefromGreece,calledDrakon,poisonousserpents.Usually,westerndragonshavethesetraits:akindofimaginativeandfabulousanimal,likelizard,largebody,fierce,wearingtwowingsandalongtail,havingeagle--likeclaws,abletoflyandbreatheoutfire.

3.ImagesandSymbolisticMeaningsofDragonChinesedragonandwesterndragonbelongtodifferentculturesandtheytheybothhavevariousimagesandsymbolisticmeanings.InChina,dragondragonisregardedasaverykindandblessingspiritwhichisworshipedasthegodofthunderandrain.Itprotectshuman’spossessionsandrescuehuman’slives.Whileinthewesternculture,dragonplaysaverynoxiousandviciousrole,whichalwaysbringsdisasterstohumanandeveneatspeople.IntheBible,dragonisportrayedasanevilfightingagainstGod.SoChinesedragonandwesterndragonhaveessentiallydifferentsymbolisticmeanings.3.1.ImagesofDragoninChinaInchina,thedragonsaresaidthattheyaremadeupofmanyotherdifferentanimalsontheEarth.Wecandescribeadragonlikethis:thebodyofasnake,scalesofacarp,headofacamel,hornsofagiantstag,theeyesofahare,earslikeabull,anecklikeansnake,bellyofaclam,pawslikeatiger,andclawslikeaneagle.Mostofthemareshowntohavealion-typemanearounditsneck,onitschin,andoneachelbow,andtheyhavetwohornsdecoratingtheirwide-mouthedheadandtwolongfeelerwhiskerswhichspreadoutfromtheirsnout.Chinesedragonshave117scales,81infusedwithyang,thegood,and36infusedwithyin,thebad.Thisevensoutthedragon’stemperandpersonality.Theimageofthedragonhasgonethroughaseriesofchangesoverthecenturiesbecomingmoreandmoremightyandbeautiful.Theoriginaldescriptiononaprimitivebronzewareportraysitasaferociousandmysteriouscreature.IntheHanDynasty(206BC-220),itbecamemagnificentandunrestrained.FromtheSongDynasty(960-1279),theimagebecamedelicateandflowery.Accordingtocolors,thereareseveraldifferentkindsofdragons,whichmaybeyellowdragon,bluedragon,blackdragon,whitedragonorreddragon.Amongthesethemosthighlyworshipedwastheyellowdragonandsoeachemperorinthepastagesworeagowndecoratedwithayellowdragonpattern.Althoughtherearedifferencesinappearance,thebasesaresimilar.Thisisbecauseitisacombinationofthefeaturesofotheranimals,withwhichpeoplearefamiliar.Adragonhasareachingforeheadindicatingwisdomandapairofantlerssignifyinglongevity.Itsoxearsimplysuccessintheimperialexamination;ithastigereyesasasymbolofpower;eagleclawsshowingbravery;whileafish'stailimpliesflexibilityandthehorseteethareamarkofdiligenceandsoon.3.2.SymbolisticMeaningsofDragoninChinaSinceprimitivetimespeoplehaveregardedthedragonasanauspiciouscreaturewiththepowertoblessandprotecttheirlives.Astribesfoughtfordominationandcametobeunitedunderacommonbannerthedragonwasadoptedasanationalicon.Becauseofthemysterioussupernaturepoweritwasregardedasthegodofrain,thunder,therainbow,andthestars.Theancientsocietythatwasfoundeduponagricultureandanimalhusbandrytotallyrelieduponitsnaturalenvironment,particularlytheclimate,thedragonwasworshipedasthesourceofallthatwasbeneficialtowellbeing.Thisconcepthasbeenkeptforthousandsofyearsandmoreandmoredeificationsarebestoweduponthedragonrangingfrombeingabringerofjoytoprophecyandmiracles.Withtheestablishmentofafeudalsociety,emperorsregardedthemselvesasthedragontherebymakingittheexclusivesymbolofimperialmajesty.Anyonewhosubsequentlyusedthedragonasasymboleitherintentionallyorerroneouslycouldberegardedasoffendingtheirrulerandcondemnedtodeath.AccordingtomanyChineselegends,dragonshavemanydifferentappearancesandthedifferentappearancesexpressdifferentsymbolisticmeanings,suchasakindofdragonsappearsasatortoisethatsymbolizesgoodluckandtolerance.ThiskindofsymbolisticmeaningexpressesChinesepeoplecouldtakeresponsibilitiesandduty.Anotherkindofdragonsislikeatiger,whichmeansjusticeoftheworld.AndthiskindofsymbolisticmeaningexpressesChinesepeopleloveakindofjusticelife,andsymbolizesChinesepeople’shealthyattitudesoflife.Someofdragonsarelikealizardwithoutatail.Itsymbolizesthatapersonlikestotakeadventureormeansabravecharacter.WeknowthatChinesepeoplehadabravecharacterinancienttimeandtoday,soweasanationhavesocharmingculturesandexperiences.WealsoknowthatweChinesepeopleholdloyaltymottofromancienttimetotoday,wealsocanfindsuchinformationfromakindofdragons,anditislikeaspiralshellbearingalikenesstoaclosedmouth,whichsymbolizeshonesty.

Sowealwayssayhonestyisbestpolicy.Thereisadragonthatlookslikeadolphinorawhale,symbolizingthatChinaalsoisapowerfuloceancountry.Chinaisfamousforherdeliciouscousinintheworld.Akindofdragons,named“taotie”symbolizesacultureofChinesefoodandatthesametimethiskindofdragonssymbolizesgreedycharactersofpeople,andtowarnpeopleagainstself-indulgenceandgreed.TherearemanyreligionsinChina,suchasBuddhism.Akindofdragonsislikealion,whichisoftenintroducedintotheimageryofChineseBuddhismandwouldbedepictedonBuddhathronesandincenseburners.ItsymbolizesChineseBuddhism,andtellsusthatChinacouldgoinparallelwithotherculture.WeknowthatChinesepeoplelovetousesomethingstosymbolizesgoodluckandwealthy.Akindofdragonsisthebestonetoexpresswealthyandgoodluck,whichiscalled“pixiu”.Forthisreason,manyChinesepeoplehaveastatueof“pixiu”oncertainfurniture,anditisbelievedthat“pixiu”madeofjadeisthemosteffectiveforsuchpurposes.ThesedifferentsymbolisticmeaningsofdragonsaresopopularamongChinesepeople.AncientChinesePeoplebelievedthatdragonshadmanymysteriouspowerscontrollingtheworld.Chinesepeoplethinkthattheyaredecedentsofdragons,sotheylovedragonsandrespectthem.AsdifferentsymbolisticmeaningsofdragonsspreadamongChinesepeople,Chinesepeoplethemselvesalsoenrichthesesymbolisticmeaningsofdragons.3.3.ImagesofDragonintheWestThedragonisalegendarycreature,whichisprevalentinthemythicculturesofmanycountries.Britain,withitsdiversehistory,hasatraditionofdragonsstemmingfromSaxon,CelticandNorseinfluences,aswellasthosefromfurtherfield.ThemostcommondragontoappearinBritishfolklore,perhapstheearliestrootofthedragonlegendistheworm(wurm),whichstemmedfromNorseinfluencesandtheAngloSaxonwordWyrmorvurm.Inappearancethewormiswinglessandscalywithnoarmsorlegs,verysimilartoagiganticsnakebutwiththeaddeddreadofpoisonousbreath,andtheabilitytorejoinafterbeingcutintopieces.Thesegreatwormswereoftenthemetaltotestthecourageofaspiringheroes.TheLambtonwormwasonesuchcreatureaswasthedragonofLoschyHill.Aswellasmakingyoungheroes,dragonsoftenhaveothersimilaritieswithinfolklore.Theyareoftenassociatedwiththeguardingoftreasure(orcaptivemaidens),andwithsacredwells,hillocks,springsanddeepcaves.Thismayhavesomerelationstoancientreligiousbeliefsandmythicpatterns,andesotericallydragonshavebeenlinkedwiththebeliefinearthenergiesandchthonicsubterraneanforces.ThetypicalWesterndragonisalarge,scalycreatureresemblingadinosauroralargelizard.Itusuallyhaswiazorsngsanditcanflyandbreathefire.Thewyvern:thesedragonshavetwowings,butonlytwolegs,sometimesshownashavingclawsonthewings,actinglikeanotherpairof“hands”.TheWyvernissometimesdepictedashavingarharpstingerfilledwithpoisonontheendofitstail.TheHydra:thesedragonshavemultiplenecksandheads.Theymayormaynothavewingsorlegs.PerneseDragon:Thesedragonshavefourlegs,andtwowings.Theyhavesmooth,leatheryskinwithoutscales.Thedragon’seyesarecompoundandfacetedlikeafly'sthatcanchangecolorsdependingonthemoodsofthedragon.Theyhaveatelepathicabilitywithotherdragons,andtheirrider.Pernesedragonscanalsoteleportinto“between”,whichcanavoiddanger.GoldandgreendragonsareFemale.Bronze,brownandblueisMale.TheycanbreathefirebyfirstswallowingacertaintypeofflammablerockknownasFirestone.Fromtheinformationofwesterndragonsweknowthatwesterndragonsalsohavedifferentkindsandappearances.Butallkindsofwesterndragonsarestrongandhugeandallofthemarelikeakindofhugeanimals.Theyhavenointelligenceandminds.

3.4.SymbolisticMeaningsofDragonintheWestWesterndragonsareusuallyportrayedasevil,mean,andbloodthirsty.Theyarealsoknowntohavehugehoardsofgoldandjewelshiddenintheirlairs.ThemostfamousdragonsareportrayedasWestern-typedragonsinBeowulfandtheDragon,andDracointhemovieDragonHeart.SomestorieshavethewesterndragonsastheDevilinChristianity.Otherstoriesinlegendsaythateatingadragon’sheartwillgiveapersonthepowerofunderstandingbirds,eatingadragon’stongueenablesthepersontowinanyargument,andrubbingthedragon’sbloodonskinwillprotectapersonagainststabwounds.AnothermythreferencesVladDrakultomeanSonoftheDragon,orDevil.TheendofthedragoncamewiththeestablishmentofChristianity,andknightsthatwereeagertoprovetheirfaith.Theknightsquicklyrealizedthatdragonhuntingwasveryprofitable,andsoonmostthedragonsintheworldweredestroyedinaveryshorttime.Vikingshaddragonfigureheadsontheprowoftheirships.ThedragonsontheshipswerebelievedtoendowkeensiteandcunningtotheVikingwarriors.TodaytheWelshflagstillhasareddragononagreenorwhitebackground,andthereddragonistheirnationalsymbol.ThehistoryofthewyvernseemstocomefromEurope.Thehistoryofthisdragonisnotsoclear.Itseemstobemixedinwiththehistoryofthe4-leggeddragon.Wyvernhasbeendepictedinheraldryonshieldsandbannersforhundredsofyears,andisconsideredasignofstrengthtothosewhobearthesymbol.OneofthemorefamouswyvernsisVermithraxinthemovieDragonSlayer.InGreekmythologyHerculesfoughtagrandhydrawith8heads(historytellsus6to9headsforthisparticularhydra).Everytimehemanagedtoslashoneoffwithsword,twowouldcomeinitsplace.Hefinallyfiguredoutbyburningthestumpwithatorch,anditcouldnotgrowanotherhead.ThatishowHerculesridtheworldofthemightyhydra.AlsoinGreekmythology,JasonkilledahydratogettheGoldenFleece.ThecolonistsofPern(AworldcreatedfromthestoriesbyAnneMcCaffrey)geneticallyengineeredthesehugedragonsfromtheirsmallcousins,Firelizards.Pernesedragonsandtheirridershavealife-longrelationship.ThisisstartedattheImpression.Thisiswhenthedragonshatchandchoosetheirhumanpartner.Ifthehumanpartnerdieswithoutthedragon,thedragonwillgobetweenpermanently.Ifthedragondies,thehumanusuallywastesawayuntiltheypasson。Fromaboveinformationofwesterndragonsweknowthatthesymbolisticmeaningsofwesterndragonsaresoevilandterrible.Mostoffilmsandbooksaboutdragonstellusthatdragonsareevilandstrong.Sowecouldjudgethatthesymbolisticmeaningsofwesterndragonsareevilandhorrifying.4.ComparisonsofDragonsBetweenChinaandtheWestAlthoughChinesedragonandwesterndragonaredifferentinmanyaspects,suchasorigins,images,andsymbolisticmeanings,theyhavesimilarphysicalbodyparts,powersandfunctions.Here,wewillmakeacomparisonbetweenthemtofurtherseethesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthem.4.1.ParallelsofChineseDragonandWesternDragonTheyarebothfictiveanimalsinfable,theyarebothhugeanimals;theybothcanfly;theyaresimilarontheshape.Theyarebothimaginaryanimalsandhavecomedownthroughtheirownculture.Chinesedragonsarehugeandpowerful,andtheyaresostrongthatnoanimalcouldcomparewiththem.Westerndragonsalsoarestrongandpowerful.Weknowdragon’spowercomefrommanywesternlegendssuchaswyrm,thesepowerfulcreaturesliketoeatandkillmanorothercreatures.Thesizeofdragonsishugeandlong.Westerndragonsarelikedinosaur.Weknowndinosaursaresobigthattheycouldbethebiggestmonstersinoldage.Chineseandwesterndragonsbothcanfly.Althoughwesterndragonshaveapairofbatwings,theycanflyineverywesternstory.Chinesedragonscanflywithoutwings.Thisreflectsadifferentwayofthinkingoforientandoccident.Chinesepeoplehavearomanticandcolorfulwayofthinking,intheirmind,apowerfulandmysteriousdragoncouldflywithoutwings,butthismysteriousdragonhassomesupernaturalpowerwhichmakeitcanflywithoutwings.Butwesternpeoplestudyathingphysically.Theyseebirdsandbatsflywithwings,sotheycouldnotimagineacreaturecanflywithoutwings.Chineseandwesterndragonsbothcouldbreathefire.FromwesternlegendsorstoriesweknowallofdragonscouldbreathefiresuchasDragonHeart.FromChineselegendwecouldfindsomedragonscouldbreathefiresuchasfiredragon,andthisdragonisonlyakindofChinesedragons.Therearesomanykindsofdragonswhichhavedifferentsupernaturalpowersuchasbreathingfire,water,cloudandsoon.4.2.DifferencesofChineseDragonandWesternDragonInsteadofbeingfearedandhatedChinesedragonsarehighlyrespectedcreaturesofgoodfortunethatbringultimateabundance,prosperityandgoodfortune.Chinesemythologysaysdragonscontroltherain,rivers,lakes,andseas.ManyChinesecitieshavepagodaswherepeopleusedtoburnincensetoprayforthedragonstofavortheircropsorchangetheweather.Dragonsareregardedasthedivinemythicalcreature.Chinesedragonsaresowisethattheyhavebeenregardedasroyaladvisers.Athirteenth-centuryCambodiankingspenthisnightsinagoldentower,whereheconsultedwiththerealrulerofthelandanine-headeddragon.ChineseDragonsarevain,eventhoughtheyarewise.Theyareinsultedwhenarulerdoesn'tfollowtheiradvice,orwhenpeopledon'thonortheirimportance.Then,bythrashingabout,dragonseitherstopmakingrainandcausewatershortages,ortheybreatheblackcloudsthatbringstormsandfloods.WhenWesternersfirstcameintocontactwiththecivilizationofChina,theydiscoveredthatChinesemythologyandartarerichwithtalesandpicturesofalarge,powerfulreptiliancreaturethatlookedremarkablylikethelarge,powerfulreptiliandragonwithwhichtheywerealreadyfamiliar.TheChinesecalledthecreaturethelung.Westernerscalleditthedragon.ThishasledtoabeliefthatthedragonisauniversalsymbolinbothEastandWest,basedonmemoriesofthedinosaurorsomeothergreatlizardofthepast.Inreality,thereisnoevidencetosupportthisperspective.TheWesternandChinesedragonshavequitedifferentorigins.Thetwoformsofdragonsreallyhavefewthingsincommonapartfrombeinggenerallylongandratherfearsomeinappearance.InmythologybothWesternandChinesedragonsarereputedtobepowerfulandtheguardiansofgreatfortunes.Westerndragonswereevilmisers,whileonerarelyencounteredandChinesedragonwithoutcomingawaywithagenerousgift.Chinesedragonscouldoccasionallybecapriciousandevenmalevolent,buttheyareusuallybenevolent.UnliketheWesterndragon,whichisasymbolofevil,theChinesedragonisoftenasymbolofroyaltyandgoodluck.Westerndragonsarenotoriouslysolitary,whileChinesedragonslivedincrowdedChinese-stylesocieties.Thereis,forexample,ahierarchyofdragonbureaucrats.5.ReasonsfortheDifferenceBetweenChineseDragonandWesternDragonAswehaveknownthatChinesedragonandwesterndragonhavemanydifferences.Butinordertobetterunderstandthecausesoftheirdifferences,wewillexplorethedeepermeaningsbehindthem.Ingeneral,itispolitics,humancharactersandreligionsthatmainlygeneratethediscrepanciesbetweenChinesedragonandwesterndragon.5.1.InPoliticsTotheChinese,theImperialDragonorLungisconsideredtobetheprimaryoffourbenevolentspiritualanimals,theotherthreebeingthephoenix,theunicornandthetortoise.HavingunrivaledwisdomandpowerthedragonsymbolizedtheEmperorsofChinathemselves,whowereactuallycalleddragons.Shun,thefirstChineseemperorwassaidtohaveadragontail.ShenNung,hissuccessorwassupposedtohavebeenfatheredbyadragon.TheChineseemperorssatonadragonthrone,rodeinadragonboatandsleptinadragonbed.TodistinguishtheChineseimperialdragonfromallotherdragons,onlytheImperialDragonborefiveclaws.Theseemperorsarethemostfamousimagesinchina.Soeveryemperorusedragontobehissymbol,becausedragonmeansasuperpowerandwillofgod.Ifanemperorwasconsideredasadragonthenhecouldreceivemanypeople’ssupport.ForexampleLiuBangwhoisthefirstemperorofHanDynasty,whenhestarttofightagainstQinDynastyhespreadastorythathewasthesonofdragon,throughthiswayhewassupportedbymanypeoplewhocouldnotbearthebrutalcontrolofQinDynasty.AtlastheestablishedapowerfulandstrongHanDynasty,andallofpeoplebelievedhewasthesonofdragon.Afterthateveryemperormadesuchstoriesofhimanddragons.Thiswaywassoefficientthatitmadeemperor’spowerandwealthymoremysterious.Becausedragonsarethesymbolofemperor,therearesomanydragons’imagesinarchitectureaboutemperors.ThemostfamousarchitectureisForbiddenCityinPeking.ThiscitywasbuiltinMingDynasty.Therearesomanydragons’imagesinForbiddenCity,suchasNineDragonsWall.Intheancientsociety,manyemperorspresidedsomeceremoniestoprayfordragonssothatthecomingyearwouldhaveagoodharvestandallnationprosperity.Theseceremonieswerealsohostedbycommonpeople,whowerealwayssufferedbynaturaldisasters,suchasflood,droughtandsoon,especiallyinthattimethemostpeoplewerepeasants,agriculturewassoeasytobedestroyedbynaturaldisasters.Soasadragonwhocouldcontrolrain,wateranddroughthasahighpositioninpeople’smind.Soinancienttime,dragonhasahighpoliticpositioninroyalfamilyandcommonpeople.However,wecanhardlyfindclearevidencetoprovethatwesterndragonshaveacloserelationwithpolitics.5.2.InHumanCharactersInordertoknowwhytherearesomanydifferencesbetweeneasternandwesterndragonsweneedtoanalyzetheeasternpeopleandwesternpeople’scharacters.WehaveknownthatChinesecultureiscontinentalagriculturalculture,especiallyinancienttime.Dragonisanancienttimeculture,sothedragoncultureisinfluencedbythiskindofculture.Butwesternculture