In China and Japan, the dragon is considered a beneficent force of nature, exercising control over water in particular. Imperial China also associated the dragon closely with the power of the Emperor, with the symbol adorning his robes, and representing nobility and power. Indeed, the bulging eyes and strong jaw of the dragon, as demonstrated in this example, are indicative of its strength and fortitude. Surviving statues trace the presence of the dragon in Chinese culture at least as far back as the fifth millennium BC, but the symbol can still be seen today on buildings, costumes, and decorative arts.
