Dragons
The typical Western dragon is a large, scaly creature resembling a dinosaur or a large lizard. It usually has wings and can fly, often it will breathe fire.
The Chinese dragon is a mythical creature. Long a potent symbol of auspicious power in Chinese folklore and art, it is the embodiment of the concept of yang and associated with the weather and water as the bringer of rain.
The typical Western dragon is a large, scaly creature resembling a dinosaur or a large lizard. It usually has wings and can fly, often it will breathe fire.
An alternative name for Western dragons is wyrm, a word clearly related to "worm". This name is more commonly used for serpentine, water dwelling dragons but can be used for any of them. Wyrms are to be especially common in Britain.
Outside of Britain, most Western dragons live in caves or mountains or hidden away in the forests. They often guard a stash of gold. Western dragons are often used to symbolise greed.
Dragons vary as much as people do. Although many Western dragons are brutal, ignorant creatures who kill and eat humans others are ancient, wise creatures more akin to those found in the East.
The dragons of China and Japan are almost exclusively benevolent mythological creatures. In fact they are so different in nature from Western Dragons that it may be more reasonable to consider them as dissimilar creatures, rather than as the same creature interpreted differently.The Chinese dragon is a mythical creature. Long a potent symbol of auspicious power in Chinese folklore and art, it is the embodiment of the concept of yang and associated with the weather and water as the bringer of rain.
