In Chinese mythology, the horned serpent associated with power, strength, and good fortune is the Chinese dragon, or long.
Chinese dragons are generally depicted as long, scaled, serpentine creatures with four legs, horns, whiskers, and other features drawn from several animals. Unlike the fire-breathing European dragon of many modern stories, the Chinese dragon is often an auspicious spiritual being connected with water, rain, rivers, clouds, and weather.
The dragon also became a major emblem of imperial authority. In imperial China, the emperor was associated with the dragon and the “Dragon Throne,” while dragon imagery represented power and the status of the Son of Heaven. Some historical conventions restricted particular dragon designs, such as five-clawed versions, to imperial use.
The Chinese dragon is distinct from the phoenix, which is a bird associated with harmony and virtue, and from the qilin, a separate auspicious chimera. Pixiu is another protective creature in Chinese tradition, often linked with wealth, but it is not the horned serpent described here.