|
 |
|
|
|
|
28. Dragon — In contrast to their western counterparts who breathed fire and usually symbolized evil, the dragons of Chinese folklore controlled water and were worshipped as deities that could relieve drought or floods. While both are mythical creatures, their features were most likely inspired by real-life animals. Some scholars think the Chinese dragon was inspired by a now-extinct, giant crocodile species. Others think that Chinese dragons may look like several animals combined because one of the first Chinese emperors, Huang Di, combined the symbols of those he conquered into one coat of arms. Which real animals do you see in the mythical dragon?
|
|
