The Chinese dragon represents spring, water and rain. The dragon of Chinese folk tales has magical abilities and is extremely long-lived: it can take thousands of years until it reaches its final size. As an imperial animal it has five claws and is yellow in color, otherwise it only has four claws, such as in the flag of Bhutan. The Dragon and Phoenix duo have represented since the time of the Warring States the Emperor and the Empress. The imperious and protective dragon of mythology is also opposed to the evil dragon of Chinese folk tales.