Symbolism abounds in China. In the west, the dragon has a negative connotation (evil, aggressive, & cold blooded) but in China and asia in general it is quite different. The dragon represents divinity, power, immortality, procreation, fertility, activity and good fortune. Many of the dynasties would not allow the likeness of a dragon to be worn by the common folk because the dragon was a God as the Emperor felt he was as well. Of the dynasties that did allow one to display a dragon on a building or anything certain rules must be obeyed. Only the Emperor could wear or display yellow or gold. Only the Emperor's dragon figures could show 5 fingers. Note this one shows three. Only the Emperor could have a ball in the mouth resembling a pearl (the ball in a dragon's mouth demonstrated that the dragon could fly up and swallow the sun if he wished). Today if you can remove the ball, you will be very properous but even touching it brings good luck. The longer the whiskers, the more powerful the dragon. The frog below the dragon represents the common folk and if they were to catch the saliva of the dragon, their lives would be more properous. This dragon image is in Shanghai in a famous garden built in 1577 so the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) allowed such images. Many older Chinese hold on to these beliefs.
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