The Dragon Stone

Modern sources have tended to highly generalise dragon types. Dragons are often listed under three main types: Eastern Dragons, Western Dragons and New World Dragons. Each type has a sterotype attached to it, which has some basis in truth but is not the whole story. The three types also tend to ignore Africa, Oceania and Western Asia.

The three type approach has its problems, but it is also very well-known. It can be a good starting point for learning more about the diversity of dragons. This page looks briefly at each of the three general types, offering suggestions on how accurate the type is and where to find more detailed information in the World Dragon Mythology section. The pictures are aimed at showing the general appearance, and some of the variety, of each type. Click on the thumbnail pictures to see a larger version and picture description.

Eastern Dragons / Oriental Dragons

Origin: Eastern Asia. Possibly Western Asia.

Stereotype Description: Wingless, four-footed dragons, with a more serpent-like body than their western counterparts. Generally benevolent to humans.

Accurate Description: There are certainly Eastern dragons that fit the above description. There are also those that do not. Some were more snake-like (legless) and winged varieties are known. The idea of dragon benevolence is a bit overstated. The myths are less prone to being about mindless maiden killers, but that does not mean Eastern dragons are always nice. They could (and did) use their powers to cause trouble for people.

Moving a bit more west into countries like India, serpent-dragons become the more common forms. There are also more tales in this area of dragon disasters, such as dragons swallowing up rivers to cause drought.

More Information:
Examples that fit the general sterotype are:

• Chi Lung Wang
• Lung
• Nie Lang

• Pa Snake
• Ying-Lung
• Vitra

Western Dragons

Origin: Europe. Possibly Africa.

Stereotype Description: Large, fire breathing, bat-like wings, scales and usually green with four legs. They eat people, destroy the countryside and generally are not nice to be around.

Accurate Description: Western dragons are a lot more varied than the sterotype. They can be serpent-like, wingless, feathered, small and kindly. They can also be the large fire-breathing people-eater variety. It is possible that the reason for this misconception is due to a lot of European mythology being relatively unknown for quite some time. Books tend to focus on the dragons of the Ancient Greeks and other popular cultures, whilst ignoring the stories from areas like the Baltic.

The classic sterotype also ignores the water connection. Living in or coming from water is very common in the dragons of the West. Examples include Tarrasque, the Lambton Worm and Gargouille.

More Information:
Examples that fit the general sterotype are:

• Firedrakes
• Wyvern
• Hydra (Biblical)

• Puk
• Mlokoky Smij
• Zaltys

New World Dragons

Origin: North and South America. Possibly Oceania.

Generalised Description: Serpent dragons, usually with feathery wings.

Accurate Description: It does not really do the cultures of these areas credit to only look at such a limited range of dragons. The winged serpents of Toltec and Aztec origin are certainly charismatic, but are not the only stories told in the Americas. Serpents (of the non-winged variety) are probably the most common, though some dragons with feet are known.

More Information:
Examples that fit the general sterotype are:

• Quetzacoatl
• Mixcoatl

• Piasa
• Vision Serpent
• Water Serpent