2.5. Oriental Dragon Myths
Oriental dragons, those of china and Japan, are said to be some of the wisest and most benevolent dragons in the world, beneficial to humans.
Chinese dragons are some of the most beautiful and well-known. beneficial to man, they are considered a kinder, gentler dragon. Water, weather, and royalty are their most common associations, and most live in beautiful palaces under bodies of water. They were also in possession of the magical dragon's pearl. This pearl was held by dragons who guarded precious treasure. It is a jewel of amazing size. Even when carried in the folds beneath the chin or in the side pockets of the dragon's jaw, the pearl shone with a light that never dimmed and could illuminate a great area. The dragon pearl had other magical properties too. It was a stone of power and health, and anything it touched multiplied. It's power was even stronger when held by mortals. Chinese dragons also had a lump on their heads which enabled them to fly...even without wings, called a ch'ih-muh. If the dragon lacked the chi'ih-muh, it would carry a baton called a po-shan that also had the power to enable it's holder too fly. Most dragons could take the forms of other beasts or humans. When in human form they were said to be extremely handsome or beautiful, and very proper. They had a strict honor code and could be deadly if angered.
Chinese Dragon Kings
Known as: Long-Wang or Lung-Wang
These are ruled by Yuan-shi tian-zong (aka: Tian-bao-jun, Lord of the Heavenly Jewel) who resides in the Heaven of Jade Purity. They send their reports to him once a year. Their names are Ao Kuang, Ao Jun, Ao Shun, and Ao Ch'in. They are also brothers and had specific duties. They were the patron deities of rivers, lakes, seas, and rains, and had valuable pearls in their throats.
Celestial Dragons
Known as:Imperial Dragons or Tien-lung
These are the dragons who support the palaces of the gods and have the unique five clawed feet. Other dragons only have three or four. The emperor is the only one who may wear the Celestial Dragon symbol on his robes or have it painted on anything.
Treasure Dragons
Known as: Fu-ts'an lung
These do exactly what their name implies. They are guardians of hidden treasures and deposits of precious metals. Occasionally they may share their treasure with a worthy human.
Weather Dragons
Known as: Shen lung
These dragons bring rain, and when angry, horrible storms. Because their tempers are so mercurial, these dragons must constantly be placated by the Chinese people...especially around spring.
River Dragons
Known as: Ti lung
These dragons controlled the rivers and assured their safe arrival to the sea. Each river had it's own dragon guardian and these guardians built fantastic palaces under the water the likes of which mortal eyes could never believe.
The Dragon of Kinabalu
This was a dragon that lived at the top of Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo. The emperor decided that he wanted the dragon's pearl. So, he sent some of his men to get it. However, most of them perished. When the few survivors returned, he decided to send his two sons named, Wee Ping and Wee San, to get it for him. Wee San decided that the best option was to steal the pearl by stealth, and so he fashioned a kite and flew into the dragon's cave while it was hunting. There he switched the pearl for a fake and left before the dragon returned. Of course, the dragon knew immediately that it wasn't his pearl, and made chase for their ships. Again it was Wee San who came up with the plan. He ordered his men to shoot a cannon ball which had been heated to near melting at the dragon, and when they did the dragon swallowed the ball thinking it was it's pearl, killing it immediately. Although Wee San had been the brother who had done all the work, Wee Ping decided to take the credit for everything. Wee San, being a good man, decided it wasn't worth losing his family over. He then went into self-imposed exile and was prosperous. he was made the ruler of Burnei, living a happy life. His brother, however, was never to know happiness.
A land of grace and beauty, Japan has long been known for it's beautiful dragon carvings and exquisitely embroidered dragons on clothing. It does not have as many dragons as China, and Japanese dragons aren't known for their benevolence. They dragons may resemble Chinese dragons in appearance, but for the most part, they behave much as Western dragons do. They appear to be associated more with the Earth and Water than anything else. Japanese dragons are beautiful to look at, but meeting them does not seem to be a very intelligent thing to do, unless you are feeling suicidal. They are a cold breed, prone to sudden acts of violence like the elemental forces they are said to control.
Kiyo
Once a beautiful waitress, Kiyo was spotted by a visiting priest who fell in love with her. After they had been together for a while, the priest lost his passion for her, and would no longer meet her for their trysts. Kiyo swore revenge, and went to the temple of Kompera to learn magic. It took quite a while, but eventually she was able to learn the magic that would turn her into a dragon. Once in her new form, she quickly flew to the monastery where the priest lived to exact her revenge. The priest saw her coming and hid under the temple bell. Kiyo breathed fire over the bell melting it which instantly killed the priest. It is said that the moral to be learned here isn't that you shouldn't spurn your loved one, it is that priests shouldn't give in to their baser desires.
Ryujin
Also known as: Ryo-Wo, Rinjin, "Luminous Being"
This great dragon is the god of the sea and lives in a mystical palace called Ryugu beneath it's waters. Known as "The Dragon King", Ryujin controls the tidal flows with the magical Tide Jewels and is depicted with a very large mouth. Turtles are considered his messengers. It is said that his daughter Otohime (Toyo-Tame) married a human prince named Hoori.
A popular tale of Ryujin is how he asked a jellyfish to fetch him a monkey, since he had a craving for the liver of a monkey. The jellyfish got the creature by lying to it about why the dragon wished to see him. Unfortunately, he decided the monkey wasn't such a bad fellow so on the way back to the palace he told him the real reason why the Dragon King wanted to see him. The monkey said that he had left his liver in a jar back home and had to retrieve it, but it soon became apparent that he wasn't coming back. When the jellyfish returned to the Dragon King and told him what had happened, the king became so furious that he beat the jellyfish until it had the jelly-like shape it has today.
Ryu
One of the four sacred creatures of the Orient, this dragon can live almost anywhere - land, air, and water. He symbolizes rain as well as storms.
Uwibami
This fearsome beast was said to be a flying serpent of gigantic proportions. It was known to fly down out of the sky and snatch a man right off the back of a horse. Then it would devour him whole. Yegara-no-Heida, a hero of Japanese legend, was said to have killed it. Still looking for the story of how this happened.
Yofune-Nushi
This sea serpent lived in cave under the rocks of Oki Island and could cause storms. It was another dragon with a taste for young, beautiful, female flesh. (You ever notice that dragons never go for old and ugly? Just a thought...) Anyway, this dragon required the people to sacrifice a beautiful maiden every year on the night of June 13th. If they refused, it threatened to destroy their whole fishing fleet, which would have been disastrous for the village. Finally a girl named Tokoyo came forward to offer herself. The people agreed, and she was sent to the coast to await the dragon. When it came out of the water she did not cower like most of it's victims. Instead, when the beast tried to eat her, she pulled a knife and slashed at it's eyes, effectively blinding it. When the dragon reared back in pain and confusion it exposed it's vulnerable neck, and Tokoyo was able to kill it.
Other sources say that she dove into the water to kill the dragon, although the result was the same. In this version, however, she retrieves a sacred stone statue of the Emperor which had been cursed and thrown into the water causing him to behave most strangely. Since she had released the Emperor from the spell, her father, a Samurai who had been banished to this island of dragons, was granted immunity and allowed to return to his home with his warrior daughter.
Yamata-no-orochi
A huge Dragon said to have eight heads, eight tails, and to be over eight mountains long. Understand that 'eight' in ancient Japanese stood for the word 'many', so this dragon may have actually had more heads. This dragon also ate beautiful young maidens. Here is the myth of 'The Dragon With Eight Heads'.
During the travels of Susano (aka: Susanowo, Susanou, Susanoh), he came upon a family who was very upset. He soon found out from the old man and woman there that Yamata-no-orochi had eaten their other seven daughters, and they only had the beautiful Kusa-nada-hime left to them. After securing their promise that he could marry the girl, Susano had them prepare eight big jars full of Sake (Japanese liquor) and place them on eight platforms surrounded by a fence with eight openings. Susano also transformed Kusa-nada-hime into a hair comb and stuck it in his hair. When all was ready, he himself hid in the woods. Before long Yamata-no-orochi came.
His eyes were bright red, he breathed fire, his back was mossy, and his tails swung and made noise like thunder. Yamata-no-orochi found the eight big jars of sake, and happily lapped them all up. Soon, it began to feel the effects, and became dead drunk.
Suddenly, Susano appeared. Using his sword, Susano cut all Yamata-no-orochi's heads off and then seven of his tails too. But when he tried to cut the last tail off, he hit something. Slicing it open, he found a sword in it. It was a highly celebrated sword which he later presented to his sister Amaterasu. This sword, called The Kusanagi, is now one of the Japanese National Treasures. After Yamata-no-orochi was dead, Susano married Kusa-nada-hime.
O Goncho
A white dragon said to turn into a golden bird every fifty years. It's cry is said to herald famine.
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