Page 106 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

A-Z 99
As a magic animal, the dragon is able to shrink to the size of a silkworm; and then
again it can swell up till it fills the space between heaven and earth. It can be visible or
invisible, as it chooses. On the day of its ascent into heaven it cannot be seen, being
hidden in the rain clouds on which it rides. Pictures often show two dragons playing in
the clouds with a ball or a pearl (= thunder) – and this causes rain to fall.

Dragon and phoenix – man and wife

At an early date, cosmological speculation distinguished four kinds of dragon: first
of all there are the heaven-dragons (tian-long), symbolising the regenerative power of
heaven; then the spirit-dragons (shen-long), which cause the rain to fall; thirdly, earth-
dragons (di-long), which rule over springs and water courses; and finally the dragons
which guard treasure (fu-cang-long). In addition, people believed in four dragon-kings
(long-wang), each of which ruled over one of the four seas that encompass the earth.
These ‘sea-dragons’ play a particularly big part in popular tradition. The sea-dragon
king, it was believed, dwelt in a splendid palace full of the most beautiful and valuable
things. Those on whom fortune smiles may visit him at the bottom of the sea – they may
even be rewarded with one of his daughters in marriage!
At New Year, men in North China join in a dragon-dance, and a similar dance
takes place during the marriage ceremony at the moment when the young couple leave
the gathering and make their way to the bridal chamber. Here the dancers enact the
conjugal kiss.