Dragon figures
A Chinese dragon figure stands for water, power and good fortune. Start by counting its claws.
Claws, pearl, body
Count the claws
In Ming and Qing China, five claws marked the emperor and his closest kin. Officials usually wore four. Today it is a style choice.
Find the pearl
Dragons chase a flaming pearl, often read as wisdom or good fortune. It explains that reaching claw.
Check the body
A long snake body, deer antlers, fish scales and, usually, no wings. Old descriptions borrow from nine animals. Bulk and big wings usually mean a Western dragon.
Most have no wings, yet they ride the clouds.
What to look for
Dragon figures
Hand-picked pieces are on the way.
Good to know
Where should I put a dragon statue at home?
Feng shui custom puts it on the east side of a room, because the Azure Dragon rules the east. Many people also keep it near water and out of the bedroom.
What does a five-clawed dragon mean?
It was the imperial mark. Ming and Qing rules kept five-clawed dragons for the emperor and top princes, so most officials wore four-clawed ones. Today anyone can own one, and the claws are only style.
What is the difference between Chinese and Western dragons?
Chinese dragons are long, usually wingless and tied to water and blessing. European dragons have wings, breathe fire and threaten towns. One brings rain, the other brings trouble.
