In China, Shenlong is the divine dragon who controls the weather. Shenlong can change the shape of his body and turn into a human, stretch from heaven to earth, or shrink to the size of a mouse. This Chinese dragon has the head of a camel, the eyes of a rabbit, the antlers of a deer, and the ears of a buffalo. Shenlong exhales clouds that can become fire or rain. He basks in the sun with his whiskered mouth wide open, hoping that a tasty sparrow will fly right into his mouth. The claws of an eagle grow on the dragon's paws. When Shenlong unleashes his claws in an aerial battle with another dragon, a thunderstorm begins.
Shenlong's voice can be heard during a hurricane, and his claws can be seen in flashes of lightning. When Shenlong is sick, the rain smells like fish.
He controls rain, clouds and wind, which is very important in a country where the inhabitants are mainly engaged in agriculture. Large amounts of rain are essential for a bountiful harvest. The dragon must be treated with respect and deep respect. It is very important not to offend Shenlong because he gets angry if he feels that he is being neglected. Then he sends terrible weather with floods or droughts that destroy the crops on which life in China depends.
Sometimes Shenlong gets tired and retires. It shrinks to the size of a mouse to hide and not work. If lightning strikes a house or a tree, it means that the thunder god has sent a servant to search for Shenlong. When Shenlong rose into the sky, it increased in size so much that it could not be seen. He is generous but irritable. The worst floods in Chinese history were sent by Shenlong after he was insulted by mortals.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru