Dragons are the leaders of the animals of the zodiac and if we think of great generals, we think they are like dragons. This means using strategy to win, prevent attack, create a victory, and possibly build a new friendship in a clever and unexpected way. Use of strategy can be superior tactics, seizing advantageous terrain, creating a larger, and better army, technology, spies, or diplomacy, or a tricky element of surprise that can each lead to victory without fighting. This is the lesson of the “Art of War” written by Sun Tzu.
“The Art of War” is essentially a book about how to maintain peace and avoid a war despite its name. Sun Tzu convincingly argues engaging in war is the most dangerous and potentially damaging or expensive thing a nation can do. Being able to win without fighting is the ultimate strategy that should be sought whenever possible. This is the strategy of a dragon like Emperor or General. One aspect to this imagery is the Dragon moving in and out of the clouds and being hard to see or invisible whenever it chooses. This shows the ability to hide their true stratagem and achieve the element of surprise that all great generals are famous for.
If you find yourself feeling like you need to go change something or someone with a strong aggressive energy and “go to war” if you want to be a dragon like general it would be wiser to calm down, clarify your what you want or need in your own mind and then think of a way to achieve this while creating friends and helping others also win and succeed. If you can do that then you are certainly being more dragon like! Bonus points for disappearing and reappearing in a mist of magical mystical energy.
I hope you can all become dragon like leaders in your own lives and learn how to move like a dragon in your martial arts practice!