Eastern.....

In Eastern culture, the dragon represents the essential forces of Nature. While Emperors consulted them as revered advisors, they did not always follow that advice, and consequently the dragons’ anger would either produce storms and floods though the clouds they breathed out, or such things as water shortages, when they beat their tails about, and emptied lakes and rivers. A dragon’s celestial breath, known as sheng chi, bestows warmth from the sun, wind from the ocean, soil from the Earth, and water from rain.

The number nine figures in many aspects of dragon worship in Chinese culture, for example, the nine ways in which they are shown:

• On the screws of fiddles because they are said to like music
• On top of bells and gongs, because they call out loudly
• On the bottom of stone statues, since dragons can support heavy weights
• On the top of writing tablets, because dragons are fond of literature
• On bridges, because dragons are associated with water
• On the eaves of temples, because dragons guard against danger
• On Buddha’s throne, where dragons rest
• On prison gates, which represent trouble-making dragons
• On the hilt of swords, because dragons can slaughter their enemies