A dragon is a legendary creature found in stories and myths around the world, usually depicted as an enormous reptile with scales, claws, and often the ability to breathe fire. In European tales, dragons typically appear as fearsome beasts guarding treasure hoards in mountain caves. Knights would battle these dragons to prove their courage, like Saint George in the famous medieval legend. These dragons usually had bat-like wings, long serpentine bodies, and could incinerate their enemies with blasts of flame.

In Asian cultures, particularly China and Japan, dragons look and act quite differently. Chinese dragons have long, snake-like bodies without wings, yet they fly through the air effortlessly. Rather than terrorizing villages, these dragons traditionally symbolize wisdom, power, and good fortune. They control rain and rivers, and emperors claimed dragons as their personal symbol. You'll see these dragons in parades during Chinese New Year celebrations, brought to life by dancers holding up the dragon's colorful, flowing body.

Dragons populate countless modern stories, from The Hobbit to How to Train Your Dragon. Some authors portray them as intelligent beings capable of speech and complex thought, while others portray them as dangerous animals.