The Probert Encyclopaedia of Other Mythology

DRAGON

In Chinese mythology, the dragon or long is a beneficial spirit of the moist yang principle. The dwell in the clouds or waters. There were five sorts: heavenly, which guarded the mansions of the gods; spiritual, which controlled winds and rains, and only accidentally caused flooding; earthly, which cleared rivers and deepened seas; those of hidden treasure; and imperial, marked by five claws, the others having four.

In Christian tradition, during the Middle Ages the dragon was symbolic of paganism, rather than a winged crocodile-like creature that breathes fire.
Research Dragon