In Chinese mythology, the Azure Dragon represents the east and the spring season among the Four Symbols.
Known in Chinese as Qinglong, the Azure Dragon is one of four mythological creatures associated with the directions, seasons, and astronomical divisions of the sky. It governs the eastern quarter, while the Vermilion Bird belongs to the south, the White Tiger to the west, and the Black Tortoise to the north.
The Four Symbols developed from Chinese astronomical traditions. Each symbol was linked to a group of seven lunar mansions, creating four larger regions of the heavens. The Azure Dragon therefore had both a mythological and an observational role: it described a pattern of stars as well as a powerful divine creature.
The Azure Dragon is not the same figure as a dragon king or a specific imperial dragon. It is a directional guardian, and later Chinese, Korean, and Japanese traditions adapted related four-guardian systems.