Let me say a bit more about Eastern dragons. Did you know that they basically revolve around the number nine (a lucky number in China)? Let me list the ways:
1.They have eighty-one scales (nine squared) running down the dorsal ridge of their back.
2.There are nine types of Eastern dragons. They include:
the K'uei (this is the dragon that the Chinese carve on nine places.)
the horned dragon
the winged dragon
the celestial dragon (they support and protect the mansions of the Gods)
the spiritual dragons (which creates wind and rain for the good of mankind)
the dragons of hidden treasure (which keeps guard over, well, hidden treasures)
the coiling dragon (who lives in water)
the yellow dragon
the Dragon kings (there are actually 4 dragon kings, one to rule over each of the four seas, those of the north, south, east and west)
3.The Chinese represent the dragon by carving them in nine places, places to match each of the dragons nine personal characteristics (they will be mentioned in brackets). These nine places are:
bells and gongs (because dragons roar extremely loud when they are attacked)
screws on fiddles (because dragons like music)
tops of stone tablets (because dragons like literature)
bottom of stone monuments (because dragons can support heavy weights)
eaves of temples (because dragons can sense danger)
beams of bridges (because dragons like water)
Buddha's throne (because dragons like to rest)
hills of swords (because dragons are able to kill)
prison gates (because dragons are very mischievous
4.The nine major characteristic of a dragon. They are:
head like a camel
horns like a deer
eyes like a hare
ears like a bull
neck like an serpent
belly like a frog
scales like a carp (fish) 117 scales total - 81 infused with yang, projective energy, and 36 infused with yin receptive energy. This evens out the dragons temper and personality.
paws like a tiger
claws like an eagle
Aside from those nine major characteristics, they have large canine teeth in the upper jaw, as well as long, slender whiskers coming out from both sides of the head. These are probably used for feeling its way along the bottom of muddy pools. Also, they have long spines along their back that get bigger as they lead toward the tail.
Lastly, unlike Western dragons, Oriental dragons only lay one egg (which by the way looks like a pearl) at a time, which they carry beneath their chin. However, both dragon types' eggs are as hard as stone and take months to hatch.
