Like Western dragons, Asian ones were present at the Creation and shared the characteristics of the cosmos - great and primal power, unity with wind and water, links with treasure. Yet Asian dragons - unlike the Western monsters whose rough outline they bore - were creatures of immense complexity, partakers of enchantment. They shared the world with humankind and shared it peaceably, on the whole, despite occasional betrayals on both sides. The Asian dragons had been profoundly linked with mortals from the dawn of history.
The first humans, in fact, were formed by an ancient goddess named Nu Kua who was herself part primal dragon and part mortal. The small creatures she made were tutored by her consort, Fu Hsi, who taught such essential arts as how to weave nets for fishing, how to handle fire, how to make music. They settled into the limited rounds of the mortal world. The dragons that descended from Nu Kua, however, were as fluid as the elements. They appeared frequently in human or animal shape as in dragon form, although they always retained their dragon nature. In China, humans regarded these dragons with awe and with something akin to affection.
The Chinese considered the dragon the primary of four benevolent spiritual animals, the other three being the phoenix, the unicorn and the tortoise. The dragon was unrivaled in wisdom and in its power to confer blessings, and as a result, it came to symbolize the most beneficient of men, the Emporer.
Now let's go into the classifications of Chinese dragons. They are broken into 4 categories.
1. Celestial Dragons (Guardians): They protect the heavens, supporting the mansions of the gods and shielding them from decay. Only these dragons and their earthly likenesses on the imperial regalia had 5 claws. All other dragons had only 3 or 4.
2. Spiritual Dragons (Weathermakers): Floating across the sky, a changeable blue in color, spiritual dragons governed the wind, clouds and rain on which life has always depended. The Chinese took care to appease them, for if these weathermakers grew angry or neglectful, the result was certain disaster.
3. Earth Dragons (River Lords): Earth dragons determined the course of rivers, regulated their flow and maintained their banks. Every river in China had it's own earth - dragon king, who held sway over the waters from a palace far beneath the surface.
4. Subterranean Dragons (Treasure Keepers): These dragons were in charge of all the precious jewels and metals buried in the earth. Each of these dragons bore an enormous pearl that was reputed to multiply whatever it touched, the pearl symbolized another hidden treasure - wisdom.
