The Chinese dragon came first in the mythical hierarchy of 360 scaly creatures, and was one of the four animals who symbolized the cardinal points. Associated with the east, the ...

The Chinese dragon came first in the mythical hierarchy of 360 scaly creatures, and was one of the four animals who symbolized the cardinal points. Associated with the east, the dragon stood for sunrise, spring and fertility and was opposed by the white tiger of the west, who represented death. Daoism emerged as a philosophical system at about the same time as Confucianism, around the sixth century BC. Later in response to the growing popularity of Buddhism, it acquired all the trappings of a religion. Daoist dragons were benevolent spirits associated with happiness and prosperity, and were kind to humans. However, when Buddhism became popular, either character was modified by the Indian concept of the naga, which was a more menacing creature.