LONG

[Chinese] A dragon in Chinese mythology. There are five types known: the celestial dragons who guard the abodes of the gods; dragon spirits, who rule over wind and rain but can also cause flooding; earth dragons, who cleanse the rivers and deepen the oceans; treasure guarding dragons; and the imperial dragons, who have five claws instead of the usual four. In Taoism, the dragon represents the yang principle and is often portrayed surrounded by water or clouds.