Chinese and animal: What is the significance of dragons in Chinese culture

What is the significance of dragons in Chinese culture?
The Chinese believe that dragons are a symbol of luck, power, success, and honor. In Chinese history, the dragon symbolized the Emperor of China. From the Qin dynasty, dragons appeared on their flags and emblems. The emperor, declared as the son of heaven was assigned the 5-clawed dragon to represent him. The four clawed and three clawed dragons symbolized those who are lesser in stature to the emperor CITATION Sle04 \l 1033 (Sleeboom, 2004). The emperor is usually pictured as having divine or dragon attributes racing across the heavens with their dragon gowns or sitting on their dragon thrones. The emperor Huang Di was said to have the birthmark of the dragon. He is believed to have come from the sky. The Chinese attributed their racial origins from this legend.
In fact the Chinese believe that they descended from dragons. The dragon is their national totem and ancient symbol as a people. In fact, it is a sign of disrespect to picture any kind of dragon slaying as is common in western culture for the dragon for the Chinese is a benevolent and wise creature with whom their identity as a people finds close affinity. The Chinese dragon does not breathe fire like the western dragon. The Chinese dragon is magical, wise and caring as compared to the scheming and evil dragon of the West.
It was during the Yuan dynasty that the sacred symbol of the dragon was elevated to a high level that normal citizens were forbidden to associate themselves with any dragon symbol. Even now, the symbol of the dragon in any place cannot be desecrated and is comparable to the symbol of the cross in Christianity.
Archeological evidence show that the dragon as a powerful symbol dates back up to 6,000 years ago. Dragons are found in ornaments, drawings, carvings, pictures, coins, and flags. Dragon symbols were used as amulets to ward off evil or to attract good health and fortune. Even up to now, we witness dragon dances, dragon boat races and the dragon is the most fortuitous sign in the Chinese zodiac.
The dragon also symbolizes fertility, intelligence, happiness, health and immortality. It was said that the dragon symbol came about as the totem of the most powerful tribe that eventually overcame all the lesser tribes in china and found the nation. Legends of dragons grew upon each other so that temples and palaces were adorned with dragons. Dragons also became the deity of agriculture and good harvest for it was believed that the dragons ruled the seasons. An upset dragon might bring in floods or drought which will spell untold hunger and suffering. A happy dragon ensures that the seasons will flow harmoniously and bring in a bountiful harvest.
The dragon symbol is so widespread in China so that there are more than 100 dragon names found in Chinese literature CITATION Car90 \l 1033 (Carr, 1990). We have celestial dragons guarding the palaces in the sky. We have the god dragon that controls ...