All About Chinese Dragons attempts to foster a wider understanding about the Chinese dragon and the many forms it took, in art, legend, and folklore. It is dedicated to the dragon, and its many offshoots and variations, and gives not only details of what a Chinese dragon was, where it was used, and what it was called, but also a few of the hundreds of legends about it that have arisen. The reader will become more acquainted with the dragon, and will gain a greater understanding of this magnificent beast. This book will interest and please the serious student and the enthusiastic tourist alike.

Ancient artefacts and legends indicate that the concept of dragons was imprinted on the Chinese consciousness as far back as the Neolithic era. The dragon - considered divine by all - was sacred to the people and came to symbolize Chinese imperial power and majesty. Dragons are depicted in a wide variety of enchanting shapes and forms: embroidered or woven into textiles, glazed in pottery, carved into roof beams and temple pillars, designed in light or high relief on screens and panels, and cast in bronze. Dragons can change shape, have particular likes and dislikes, and have specific functions. There are said to be nine sons of the dragon, and a multiplicity of dragon types.Chinese Dragons takes us on a fascinating journey through the intriguing complexities of dragon lore, the evolution of the Chinese dragon, the different types of dragons and their uses, the art of the dragon in all its forms, and dragon legends and sightings. This unique book will appeal to anyone interested in folkore, as well as anyone who has ever been, or has dreamt of going, to China.

What is a dragon? Is it real? And what is so special about Chinese dragons? This book is the classic explanation of the origins and temperament of Chinese dragons and their complex role in the history of China over thousands of years. L. Newton Hayes, born in China and a great lover of Chinese culture, provides all the details of who they are, where they come from and what they represent. This is a new edition, lovingly reproducing word for word and image by image, the original published in Shanghai in 1922.