The Chinese dragon, known as the loong, is considered especially auspicious, because in Chinese culture, the creature represents good fortune, wisdom and immense power - unlike in the West. But are dragons always considered as destructive and evil in the western culture? Helen Fulton, Professor at Bristol University explains. #YearofLoong #ChineseNewYear2024
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00:00 Well, I suppose it's partly because of the dragon's strength and power to destroy.
00:04 It's a very destructive animal because it can breathe fire and because it's so big it
00:09 can trample things down and destroy things.
00:11 So it does have that destructive element.
00:14 But I think in Wales it is seen as more protective.
00:17 I think it's partly to do with the early arrival of Christianity in Wales because Wales was
00:22 a Christian country from about the fifth century.
00:26 So it was already Christian when the idea of the dragon became popular.
00:31 Whereas in cultures like England and some of the European cultures, dragons are associated
00:36 with paganism.
00:38 So paganism is seen as a kind of evil that has to be conquered, has to be driven out.
00:44 So I think that's partly the difference in Wales is that they were already Christianised.
00:48 So the dragon was their friend as it were.
00:50 (laughing)