Lóng is a class of dragon of singular mythological importance in China. It displays a long figure, similar to a serpent, and has some of the same abilities like all other animals, such as claws. Most of the times he appears represented without wings. This dragon is who orders climatic and chronological conditions: it dominates time and the water. In addition, it is conceived as an energy symbol and is part of the folklore and the Chinese popular arts.

Sometimes referred as the “Eastern dragon of the West” and is considered the incarnation of the concept of yang, the master of rain and the water in general. The Chinese often are named “descendants of the dragon” as a mark of ethnic identity. In addition, the dragon is often used like national emblem of China.

This fabulous animal was, during many years, emblem of the emperor; he appeared drawn in the national flag of the last Qing dynasty. These monarchic connotations are opposed to recent Chinese ideologies that see the dragon like a symbol of imperial authority.

On the other hand, the dragon has an aggressive warrior-like cultural connotation. At the moment it is a perjury to disfigure the painting of a dragon. As an anecdote, it is worth mentioning a Nike advertisement that showed an American basketball player killing a dragon. The campaign was censured immediately by the Chinese government after a public protest reproaching the insult to the dragon. On the other hand, an endless number of Chinese proverbs make reference to this venerated animal. An example says: “Wait until the boy becomes a dragon”.

It’s a believe that the origin of this adoration goes back to the totems used by diverse tribes of the ancient China, although some investigators suggest they appeared in cave paintings that exhibit animals such as serpents, fish or crocodiles. The archaeologists think that it was from these “long fishes” that was conceived the aspect of the typical Chinese dragon.