Source: National Today
History
Dragons have always been a part of world history, with the first depiction of dragons being as far back as 4500 B.C. during the times of the Romans and Egyptians. Even with the endless variations of language and culture that people have created — not to mention every possible type of landscape and climate they’ve called home — time and again, our ancestors have conjured up the myth of the dragon.
China has the longest continuous tradition of dragon stories, dating back more than 5,000 years. And much of the dragon imagery in other Asian countries, particularly Japan and Vietnam, adapts designs long ago influenced by the Chinese. In addition to the medieval dragons of Europe, fabulous dragon-like monsters show up in folklore of the American Indians of the North American plains, and the Maya and Aztecs. India and its South Asian neighbors also have ancient dragon traditions. One even appears on the flag of the small Himalayan nation of Bhutan.
Since then, dragons and dragon motifs have featured in many works of modern literature, particularly within the fantasy genre.
5 Dragon Facts
- Highly valued by the Chinese. They are regarded as extraordinary creatures in China.
- They represent honor and courage. Dragons are used as warlike emblems, appearing on shields and ships, including the symbol of the imperial family and the Chinese flag for a time.
- They vary in types. There are two types of dragons depicted in art and literature — Western dragons have bat-like wings and can be fearsome, whereas Eastern dragons have snake-like features with no wings and are associated with royalty and heavenly forces.
- Mentioned in the “Bible”. The “King James Version Bible” actually mentions dragons at least 35 times.
- They are symbolic. The Uroboros – a tail-biting dragon — symbolizes the eternal circle of life and is also an important symbol for medieval alchemists.