Have you noticed that many depictions of Chinese dragons have unfocused eyes? 

Ancient Chinese described dragons by piecing together features from nine different animals: the eye of a rabbit, the antlers of a deer, the mouth of an ox, the head of a camel, the belly of an oyster, the paws of a tiger, the claws of an eagle, the scale of a fish, and the body of a serpent. There's also a saying that "dragons have the eyes of ghosts". I guess this explains the unfocused eyes with scattered pupils. (I started to think that Chinese dragons might just be crocodiles.)

By modern standards, if we need so many metaphors to describe something, it’s probably just an urban legend. But regardless of ancient or modern times, people love legends and storytelling. The dragon symbolizes authority, wisdom, divinity, and kingship. Yet, among the twelve zodiac animals, I find the dragon to be the most romantic, fantastical, and symbolically creative. With so many animals to choose from, we've still reserved the most crucial place for an abstract belief.

Oh, the mighty ruler of all things, if our belief has built your majesty, please bless the world with a peaceful 2024.