The Chinese call the dragon lung because it is deaf. It is the largest of scaly animals, and it has nine characteristics. The number nine represents luck and good fortune. The dragon's nine characteristics show great nobility. Its head is like a camel's, its horns like a deer's, its eyes like a hare's, its ears like a bull's, its neck like an iguana's, its belly like a clam, its scales like those of a carp, its paws like a tiger's, and its claws like a eagle's. The Chinese believe that there is a male (yang) and female (yin) for everything. For example, the sun is male, the moon is female. The dragon, symbolizes everything yan (male).

According to Chines legend, the Dragons had nine sons, none of whom became a dragon. The first son is Qiuniu who loves music, so his image adorns all manners of traditional musical instruments. The second son is Yazi who is very belligerent. He is very familiar to martial artists because his image adorns the handles of swords. Often his head forms the guard and his tongue forms the blade. Chaofeng was an adventurer, his image is used in the corners of rooftops. The fourth son is Suanni who is actually a lion and also Buddha's mount. Like his father, the sixth son Baxi is fond of water so his image is used in the design of bridges. The seventh son is Jinni, who loves smoke and fire, so his image is used to adorn incense burners in temples. Jiaotu has a mollusk shell like a snail. His image is used to adorn knockers on doors. The ninth son, Bixi, looks like a giant terrapin with a dragon head. He is the one who carved the world's rivers.

Many of the ruling emperors were believed to be direct blood descendants of the dragon and became very attached to the dragon images. Only the Emperor was allowed to bear a full-faced, five-fingered dragon. All others would have to settle for a profile head shot and less fingers, under penalty of death. Since it was the emperor's exclusive, they adorned themselves with dragons in every nook of their palaces. They ruled from the Dragon's throne while wearing the imperial Dragon robes.

In Taiosm, two beasts served as temple guardians. Generally, Green Dragon stood guard on the left, while white tiger stood guard on the right. This has crossed over to Buddhism and martial arts in one of our most popular legends. Many stories retell that Shaolin monks branded themselves with a dragon and tiger on either forearm as a diploma of graduation.

This year is the year of the metal dragon and is one of the most martial years in the sixty zodiac cycle. The dragon symbolizes power. Tempered with the element of metal, which is rigid, unyielding, and strong, this year offers both the inspiration to seek the enlightenment of martial path and the iron-willed tenacity to endure the hardship that path will present.

Written By Sifu Rino Côté