The Green Dragon

The Green Dragon of the Four Divine Beasts 

The four great mythical beasts in ancient China are the green dragon, the white tiger, the vermillion bird, and the tortoise. In ancient times, the four beasts were also called the four images and the four spirits, and they belonged to the worship of the ancient stars. 

In ancient Chinese astronomy, the many stars of the sky were divided into twenty-eight constellations, which were formed by connecting the seven main constellations in each part and named after their shapes. The seven constellations in the east, Jiao, Kang, Shi, Fang, Xin, Wei and Ji, are shaped like dragons, so the East Palace is called green dragon. 

According to the Five Elements theory, the east is blue and belongs to wood, so the green dragon is the god of the east, also known as "blue dragon". 

Legend  

In Eastern legends, the green dragon has a body like a long snake, a unicorn head, a carp tail, a long beard, horns like a deer, five claws, and a mighty appearance. 

Implied meanings 

Green dragon symbolizes the clear flow of rivers, and is said to be a mythical beast that can bring wealth and fame to people. Green dragon guards the east and is in charge of the spring. It can bring good harvest. It is also known as a symbol of success, good luck and climbing. 

In addition, in ancient China, the dragon has always been supreme, so the green dragon also implies supreme power and status. 

The green dragon and the white tiger are mainly regarded as gods to ward off evil because of their physical appearance and bravery. In the tomb, the role of the dragon is not to help the tomb owner ascend to heaven, but to deter the demons and protect the tomb owner's soul.