The prevalence of dragon legends in ancient times leads to an obvious question: Could dragons have...

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The prevalence of dragon legends in ancient times leads to an obvious question: Could dragons have actually existed and then become extinct? For centuries, people assumed that was the case, and scientists published detailed reports on dragon anatomy and behavior. Early investigators mistook the bones of dinosaurs and other reptiles for dragon bones. Today, we know that no dragon fossils have ever been found. 5 If there were no real-life dragons, how did a belief in dragons arise? Perhaps a monitor lizard, crocodile, or some other large reptile was the basis of the first dragon tale. More likely, the image of the dragon grew in the human imagination, springing from our natural fear of snakes, reptiles, and predators with claws and wings. Dragons became the stuff of legends and, after countless retellings, took on a life of their own. These possibilities, however, do not explain the different attitudes toward dragons in the East and the West. The Chinese dragon represents promise and good fortune. It brings rain, for example, which supports prosperity in an agricultural society. The dragon was also the symbol of the emperor, whose wisdom and divine power protected his subjects. The Chinese dragon's supernatural powers are limitless; it can become as small as a silkworm or as large as the universe. It can fly among the clouds, become invisible, or turn into water or fire. A traditional way to offer best wishes to a young child in China was to say, "May you become a dragon!" The prevalence of dragon legends in ancient times leads to an obvious question: Could dragons have actually existed and then become extinct? For centuries, people assumed that was the case, and scientists published detailed reports on dragon anatomy and behavior. Early investigators mistook the bones of dinosaurs and other reptiles for dragon bones. Today, we know that no dragon fossils have ever been found. 5 If there were no real-life dragons, how did a belief in dragons arise? Perhaps a monitor lizard, crocodile, or some other large reptile was the basis of the first dragon tale. More likely, the image of the dragon grew in the human imagination, springing from our natural fear of snakes, reptiles, and predators with claws and wings. Dragons became the stuff of legends and, after countless retellings, took on a life of their own. These possibilities, however, do not explain the different attitudes toward dragons in the East and the West. The Chinese dragon represents promise and good fortune. It brings rain, for example, which supports prosperity in an agricultural society. The dragon was also the symbol of the emperor, whose wisdom and divine power protected his subjects. The Chinese dragon's supernatural powers are limitless; it can become as small as a silkworm or as large as the universe. It can fly among the clouds, become invisible, or turn into water or fire. A traditional way to offer best wishes to a young child in China was to say, "May you become a dragon!"

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Dragon legends have been around for thousands of years and they have evolved over time While some cu... View the full answer