East Asian Dragons 

     East Asian Dragons are usually considered to be good luck, and sometimes worshiped as gods. East Asian Dragons are believed to be the mythical rulers of weather, especially water and rain, and are most often depicted as the guardian of pearls.

      Amongst the East Asian countries, various types of Dragons make their way through the legends of the area, none of whom are depicted in lore or pictures as having wings as they are believed to have the ability to fly by magical means. The exception is the Siberian Yilbegan, which is closely related to European Turkic and Slavic Dragons.

Dragons

     Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent of the East Asian Dragons of myth and legend. The Naga of Indonesian legend is said to be a long, snake-like Dragon found mainly in forests and on sacred mountains, although it can also be found in certain parts of the sea. In local stories, it is a benevolent divine creature. The name Naga comes from the Malaysian language, and literally means Dragon.

     One of the most well known of East Asian Dragons is the Chinese Azure Dragon, or Lung. It is a wingless, snake-like Dragon with four claws. The Chinese Azure Dragon is often referred to as the Oriental Dragon, and is a mythological symbol of power in the folklore and art of the Chinese people. Chinese Dragon lore says that the magical creature lives mostly underwater, and occasionally the people leave it gifts of rice. The Azure Dragon represents spring in the Chinese constellation, the element of wood, and the east.

     The Yellow Dragon or Huang Long of Chinese myth represents the changing seasons, has five claws, and is associated with the earth element. The Huang Long, along with the Phoenix, also symbolizes imperial supremacy in China. The Japanese Dragon, also called Ryu, is very similar to the Lung, with three claws instead of four. As with the Lung, the Ryu is benevolent and according to superstition, grants wishes. Another legendary Asian Dragon of the same style as the Long is the Korean Yong, which stories say is an air Dragon, though it is still associated with water and weather in myth.

     The Bakonawa of Philippine fables is yet another water dweller. In ancient times, the natives of the area believed that the Bakonawa caused the sun or moon to disappear during an eclipse by rising from its sea home and swallowing the moon. In order to keep the Dragon from consuming the moon, the natives had to go outside their homes during the eclipse with pots and pans and make very loud noises. This, according to legend, scared the Dragon into spitting the moon back into its place in the sky.

     The final East Asian Dragon tale we will look at is the Vietnamese Rong or Long. While they are similar to the other East Asian Dragons, there are some differences as well. The Rong is a segmented Dragon, having twelve sections to symbolize the twelve months of the year. Area mythology tells us they control weather and always carry a chau (gem) in their open mouths, which is a symbol of knowledge, nobility, and humanity. The Rong has no horns as do the other East Asian Dragons.

     East Asian Dragons have been part of the lives and myths of the people for many centuries, symbolizing wisdom and strength, magic and nature, eternity and completion. Long live East Asian Dragons.

Unique Gifts for everyone 

You can write to us at contact@folkloredreams.com