In the Chinese calendar, the 'dragon' is the only creature that does not 'exist'?

Question

Could it be that this creature is more representative of creatures such as dinosaurs?
Could this indicate that this creature did in fact exist when the Chinese calendar was created?
Could the rituals that are associated with 'dragons' be more representative of survival teachings for those who lived around these creatures?
Obviously to answer yes to the 2nd and 3rd question you need to at least consider question 1. Have a think about it and at least consider the possibility. Let me know what you think and why.

Answer 1

Dragon History - Universal Concept in Ancient Cultures
Dragon history is nearly universal throughout the world's ancient cultures. Where did this global concept originate? How did societies throughout the world describe, record, draw, etch, sew and carve such creatures in such uniformity, if they did not witness these creatures during their lifetimes?

Dragon History - Dinosaurs Revealed
Dragon history can be summed up as follows: "The dragons of legend are strangely like actual creatures that have lived in the past. They are much like the great reptiles [dinosaurs], which inhabited the earth long before man is supposed to have appeared on earth." (Knox Wilson, "Dragon", The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, 1973, pg. 265.)

In light of that statement from The World Book Encyclopedia, many people don't realize that paleontology (the study of past geological ages based primarily on the study of fossils) is a relatively new science. In fact, the concept of dinosaurs (giant lizards) only surfaced in its present form less than 180 years ago. Prior to that, anyone who found a large fossilized bone assumed it came from an elephant, dragon or giant. There wasn't any notion of "science" attached to these finds.

It wasn't until 1841 that English scientist Richard Owens suggested that the group of "newly discovered" animals be called "dinosaurs," which literally means "terrible lizards." Throughout the next few decades, the first artist depictions of dinosaurs were actually comical when compared to what we can scientifically discern today. How then, do pottery, linens, cave paintings, and written descriptions of "dragons" from 2,000 to 4,000 years ago depict dinosaurs better than what science could muster in the mid-1800's?

Dragon History - A Summation of the Evidence
Where are all these accounts of dragon history? Actually, let's start with the Bible, the most widely published book in history. A search for the word "dragon" in the King James Version of the Bible produces 34 separate matches across 10 different books written between approximately 2000 BC and 90 AD. The word "dragon" (Hebrew: tannin) is used throughout the Old Testament, and most directly translates as "sea or land monsters." In the Book of Job, the author describes the great creatures, Behemoth (Job 40) and Leviathan (Job 41). Although the latest Bible translations use the words elephant, hippo or crocodile instead of Behemoth and Leviathan, the original Hebrew and the context of the descriptions do not allow for these interpretations.

Of course, dragon history is by no means limited to the Bible. Dragon accounts from China, Europe, the Middle East, and ancient Latin America share similar accounts of "dragons" and other beasts. Some cultures revered these creatures. For instance, records of Marco Polo in China show that the royal house kept dragons for ceremonies and dragons were hunted for meat and medicine in the Province of Karazan. Records of the Greek historian Herodotus and the Jewish historian Josephus describe flying reptiles in ancient Egypt and Arabia. In other cultures, it was a great honor to kill these creatures. There are numerous records of warriors killing great beasts in order to establish credibility in a village. Gilgamesh, Fafnir, Beowulf and other famous legends, including the mythology of Egypt, Greece and Rome, include specific descriptions of dragons and other dinosaur-like creatures.

Dragon history is revealed on numerous objects of ancient art throughout the world. Dinosaur-like creatures are featured on Babylonian landmarks, Roman mosaics, Asian pottery and royal robes, Egyptian burial shrouds and government seals, Peruvian burial stones and tapestries, Mayan sculptures, Aboriginal and Native American petroglyphs (carved rock drawings), and many other pieces of ceremonial art throughout ancient cultures. What does all this evidence really mean? Please keep reading…


Read Dragon History Page 2 Now! http://www.allaboutcreation.org/dragon-history-2.htm

Answer 2

the other animals in the chinese zodiac actually look like what they represent. the dragon doesn't look like any dinosaurs that i have seen. of course i'm not an expert on dinosaurs. i don't believe they existed when the calendar was created, but i suppose it's possible that the chinese had found dinosaur bones and hypothesized their appearance to be that of the dragon image

thanks for asking a unique question, you get a star!

Answer 3

I doubt dinosaurs were still living around the time that the many mythologies were being created, but their bones were definately here. That's a simple explanation for why so many cultures have dragon stories, they all had generally the same bones laying around to influence them.
To be honest, I think dragons may have really existed and might still, just like fairies, elves, unicorns, etc. But I have no evidence to support that, just a gut feeling, same as a belief in gods. Dinosaurs we do have evidence for, so at least we have more scientific weight to the argument their bones influenced dragon stories.

Answer 4

Somehow I doubt raptors and t-rexes would have conversed with humans or had the ability to change shape, as well as other qualities dragons possess in Chinese folklore.

The closest the ancient Chinese probably came to a dinosaur would've been finding fossils and thinking they're dragon bones.

Answer 5

Marco polo wrote about dragons in his diary.He said the Chinese keep them as pets. There is lots of other evidence that they were real . Before the word dinosaur was used in the 1800's the dragon and other animals like them were called dragons.

Answer 6

To the ancient Chinese the bones were proof enough that there were dragons (Though in reality they were dinosaur bones.)

Answer 7

yes

Answer 8

dinosaurs weren't around, but bones were.

Answer 9

what i think is you have way too much time on your hands, you should put your time to good use......maybe lending yourself to a medical school, theres always a need for cadavers to study on.

Answer 10

It is the only 'mythical' animal