Where be dragons?

Lucien de Guise finds the answer in the original source of Hic sunt dracones ('Here be dragons'): a small copper globe of about 1510. The location is East Asia, where the dragon is still most active... as it is, of course, in Wales

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FOR the next year of the Chinese lunar calendar, we will be seeing a lot more of this maligned and mysterious reptile. We might even have more sightings from Loch Ness, whose most famous resident seems closer to a Chinese dragon than a Scottish monster, judging by its sinuous shape and love of water.

There are many differences between China's dragons and their British cousins. One is a wingless flying creature associated with power, wisdom and water; the other is a winged mountain dweller with an affinity for fire.

Personality-wise, one is a benign bringer of sustenance, whereas the other is a ravager of land and young women. Chinese dragons can also be vengeful, however. Rather than incinerating all in their path, they prefer to drown the disrespectful with floods. The association with fire may have come about as Chinese dragons are often depicted in pursuit of a flaming pearl, symbolising everything from prosperity to immortality.

Confusion between Eastern and Western dragons is common. Even J. K. Rowling, who knew her cryptozoology well, created an improbable Chinese Fireball-with wings and fiery breath. Middle Kingdom tradition allows for some leeway, but, 2,000 years ago, the following was written down as a standard model: 'His antlers are like those of a stag, head of a camel, eyes of a demon, neck of a snake, belly of a clam, scales of a carp, claws of an eagle, soles of a tiger, ears of a cow.' The finishing touch was a lump on his head that allowed him to fly without wings (Arts & antiques, February 7).

Of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is the only one that is generally invisible.