Chinese Dragons There are nine types of Chinese Dragons they are: Qiulong(Horned), Yinglong(Winged), Tianlong(Celestial), Shenlong(Spiritual), Futs-Lung(Treasure), Huanglong(Yellow), Dilong(Underground), Panlong(Coiling), and The Dragon Kings. All of these dragons have the same body type: The head of a camel, horns of a stag, ears of a bull, eyes of a demon(rabbit), neck of a lizard, paws of a tiger, claws of an eagle, scales of a carp. Most Oriental dragons are good and help humans but if angered they can cause total destruction for miles by causeing droughts, tidal waves, floods, and other natural disasters. Oriental dragons are linked to the elements air, earth, and water.
Tatsu Japanese dragons are known collectively as "Tatsus". They are referred to in the Shinto religion which tells of the Dragon King Ryu-Wo. Ryu-Wo was a guardian of the Shinto faith who lived in a palace under the sea.Japanese dragons are similar to Chinese ones to which they are said to be related. Both are serpentine and usually wingless. Whereas Chinese dragons have five toes, Japanese ones have three. The dragon of Japan also has spines along its back.Like Chinese dragons, those of Japan are usually wise and beautiful. However there do seem to be more that are indifferent or actually inimical to the affairs of humankind. Many Japanese dragons have the ability to change size and shape, even becoming invisible at times. This shape-shifting is a common feature of Japanese dragon lore with stories of humans turning into dragons and vice versa.The Japanese dragon is said to be constantly in conflict with the tiger, their arguments causing storms and earthquakes. Some famous dragons from Japan include: The Blue Dragon: Protector of the Zodiac O Goncho: A white dragon that once every fifty years transforms into a golden bird. Its cry brings famine. Uwibami: More akin to the stereotypical evil Western dragon, Uwibami was a great beast that would snatch men from their horses and eat them. Yofune-Nushi: Another less than pleasant dragon who craved female human flesh and demanded a maiden sacrifice once a year.
Korean dragons are probably less well known in the Western world than their Chinese and Japanese counterparts however they are just as important. Korean dragons are generically known as Yong. There are three main sub-types: Yong The powerful sky dragon Yo The hornless ocean dragon Kyo The mountain dragon When comparing oriental dragons, the first place to look is the feet. Korean dragons usually have four toes or claws on each foot, as compared with Chinese dragons that have five toes and Japanese dragons that have three. To the Koreans "four toed" is the natural state for a dragon. Having three or five toes is a result of Korean dragons travelling too far from their homeland. Aside from the toes, the Korean dragon is usually described as having a camel's head with rabbit eyes, a serpentine neck, the belly of a frog and tiger feet. As with Chinese dragons, the number nine is significant with Korean dragons and they are said to have 81 (=9x9) scales on their backs.