Beyond the speculative classification of dinosaurs as Mesozoic dragons, and the namesake Komodo dragon living in Indonesia, it’s likely that anyone who’s ever seen a ‘dragon’ has seen a crocodile. All in all, western dragons are scary, evil, dangerous creatures. Do not keep them as pets.

The Descendants of Dragons

Chinese mythology portrays dragons as auspicious, benevolent protectors. Among its earliest references are the snake-like bodies of Fuxi (fú xī 伏羲) and Nuwa (nǚ wā 女娲), China’s Adam and Eve, from whom Chinese are said to have descended.

Another story credits the legendary Yellow Emperor, Huang Di (huáng dì 黃帝), one of the fathers of Chinese culture, with evolving the dragon symbolism. His first coat of arms featured a snake. After each tribal conquest, Huang Di added a potent aspect of the defeated tribe’s totem animal to his own, so over time, his snake evolved to resemble the multifaceted Chinese ‘dragon’ we know today.

One might say the character lóng 龍/龙, (traditional & simplified chars) – originating from the sound of thunder and coming to symbolize the emperor – represents the Chinese better than any other symbol. The 龙 children admire and celebrate its spirit, from the Dragon Boat Festival to the lóng tái tóu 龙抬头 Dragon Raising Head Festival, a “Groundhog Day” of sorts, welcoming the spring rains and fertility of the land.

Speaking of fertility, women in China gave birth to 5% more babies than average in 2012, the most recent Dragon year in Chinese astrology. Not to be outdone, in Singapore the increase was 10%. Couples trying to have dragons with last minute (early) cesarean births, or putting off deliveries beyond the Lunar New Year through sheer willpower, first puts a strain on the medical system, then later on the educational system, as the bulge of students competes for limited admissions. But most consider it a small price to pay for the anticipated increase of the child’s prosperity and prestige.