The Chinese dragon is one of the most recognized symbols in the world. We see this splendid（辉煌的）creature in picture, posters, in paintings and on the streets during Chinese festivals. Dragons are deeply rooted in Chinese culture, so Chinese people often consider themselves “the descendants（子孙）of the dragon”. Nobody really knows where the Chinese dragon comes from. It looks like a combination of many animals, and it may be just a product of the Chinese imagination.
Chinese emperors believed that they were the real dragons, and the sons of the heavens. Thus, the beds they slept on were called“dragon beds”; their thrones（王位）called“dragon seats” and the emperor’s ceremonial dresses called“dragon robes”. Dragons can also be seen on the buildings of the Imperial（帝王的）Palace. The dragon is a symbol imperial power.
The dragon also plays an important part in Chinese festivals. The Dragon Boat Festival is an almost purely（纯粹地）dragon-related festival, which is now a popular international event. There are many Chinese stories about the dragon. There is very famous Chinese idiom-“Lord Ye’s Love of Dragons”, which means loving what one really fears. The story goes like this: Lord Ye loved dragons deeply. He had dragon images everywhere and he thought about dragons all the time. His love of dragons inspired a real dragon to visit him. When he saw the real dragon, he was frightened to death.
Dragon cultures exist in both the Eastern and Western world. However, Western dragons look significantly different to the Chinese dragon.