When Westerners first learned of this magical creature that existed only in Chinese legend, they called it a "dragon". Indeed, this elongated creature with scales, sharp teeth and claws, and great powers, fit the image of the "dragon" in Western culture. Therefore, this name has been passed down to this day. However, some scholars have recently pointed out that the term "loong", which originated from its Chinese pronunciation, should be used to refer to the Chinese dragon in order to make a distinction.

If we take a closer look, the difference between the Western dragon and the Chinese dragon is indeed quite big.

According to legend, Chinese dragons are endowed with "divinity" and are the lords of the sea. Although they do not have wings, they are able to fly high into the sky and drive away the fog and clouds. They have a pair of horns at the top of their heads, two long tentacles on their faces, and a lion-like mane on the side of their faces. They had two pairs of feet and sharp claws. Dragons with five toes symbolized supreme imperial power and therefore, appeared on the emperor's clothes. Over time, the Chinese dragon has become a symbol of good fortune and luck and is one of the totems of Chinese civilization.

Unlike the Chinese dragon, the Western dragon is often winged and is a powerful race other than humans. The ancient Western legend of "knight versus dragon" set a dark tone for Western dragons. They are often evil, cunning and fierce, capable of breathing scorching fire, imprisoning beautiful princesses, or guarding untold riches, waiting for the next "lucky one" to come along and die. However, under the molding of Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon and many other movies and TV productions, dragons have also become friendly, lovable and mysterious creatures.

Which of these two magical creatures do you prefer?