Rain
Each lake and river has its own dragon, according to ancient Chinese beliefs, and these dragons make it rain. In autumn, dragons hibernate at the bottom of their lake or river, then in spring they wake and fly into the sky. Their misty breath creates clouds, which in turn brings rain.
In ancient times, if the spring rains didn’t come, Chinese people believed that the dragons had overslept. They banged drums and gongs at the water’s edge to try and wake them. They also made clay dragons and raised them above their heads to show the dragons how they were supposed to fly. If the dragons still didn’t wake up, it was time for desperate measures. People tried to rouse them by throwing things that dragons hate into the water—iron, tiger bones and poisonous plants.
Sometimes that backfired and the angry dragon made it rain too much, causing floods. Then people made offerings of chickens and pigs to appease the dragon.
The Chinese aren’t the only people who believe their dragons bring rain. In Russia, the dragon Chudo Yudo is also considered to be a rain-bringer.