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The Chinese dragon, also known as loong, long or lung, is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology, Chinese folklore, and Chinese culture at large. Chinese dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles and fish, but are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs. Unlike western interpretations, Chinese dragons are symbols of luck and prosperity, which is why they make so many appearances in games like the Dragon Orb video slot. In early promotional videos for this machine, we haven’t seen much of the dragon itself – other than its claw, which grips the titular glowing orbs – but the Chinese.
| Korean dragon | |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | |
| Hanja | 龍 |
| Revised Romanization | yong/ryong (mireu) |
| McCune–Reischauer | yong/ryong (mirŭ) |
Korean dragons are legendary creatures in Korean mythology and folklore. The appearance of the dragon reflects its relation to its East Asian counterparts, including the Chinese dragons.
Korean dragons[edit]
Whereas most dragons in European mythology are linked to the elements of fire and destruction, dragons in Korean mythology are primarily benevolent beings related to water and agriculture, often considered bringers of rain and clouds. Hence, many Korean dragons are said to have resided in rivers, lakes, oceans, or even deep mountain ponds.
The symbol of the dragon has been used extensively in Korean culture, both in Korean mythology and ancient Korean art.
Ancient texts sometimes mention sentient speaking dragons, capable of understanding complex emotions such as devotion, kindness, and gratitude. One particular Korean legend speaks of the great King Munmu, who on his deathbed wished to become a 'Dragon of the East Sea in order to protect Korea'.
The Korean dragon is in many ways very similar in appearance to other East Asian dragons such as the Chinese and Japanese dragons. It differs from the Chinese dragon in that it developed a longer beard. Very occasionally a dragon may be depicted as carrying a giant orb known as the yeouiju (여의주), the Korean name for the mythical Cintamani, in its claws or its mouth. It was said that whoever could wield the yeouiju was blessed with the abilities of omnipotence and creation at will, and that only four-toed dragons (who had thumbs with which to hold the orbs) were both wise and powerful enough to wield these orbs, as opposed to the lesser, three-toed dragons.
As with China, the number nine is significant and auspicious in Korea, and dragons were said to have 81 (9×9) scales on their backs, representing yang essence.
Imugi[edit]
Korean folk mythology states that most dragons were originally Imugis (Korean: 이무기; RR: Imugi) (Imoogi), or lesser dragons, which were said to resemble gigantic serpents. There are a few different versions of Korean folklore that describe both what imugis are and how they aspire to become full-fledged dragons. Koreans thought that an Imugi could become a true dragon, or yong or mireu, if it caught a Yeouiju which had fallen from heaven. Another explanation states they are hornless creatures resembling dragons who have been cursed and thus were unable to become dragons. By other accounts, an Imugi is a proto-dragon which must survive one thousand years in order to become a fully fledged dragon. In either case they are said to be large, benevolent, python-like creatures that live in water or caves, and their sighting is associated with good luck.
It is called Ishimi (Korean: 이시미) (Isimi), Miri (Korean: 미리), Young-no (Korean: 영노) (Youngno, Yeongno, Yeong-no), Gangcheori (Korean: 강철이; Hanja: 強鐵) (Kangcheori) or Kkwangcheori (Korean: 꽝철이) or Kkangcheori (Korean: 깡철이), Bari (Korean: 바리), or Hweryong (Korean: 훼룡; Hanja: 虺龍) or Iryong (Korean: 이룡; Hanja: 螭龍).[1]
In the 2007 South Korean film D-War, two Imugi, of which one was benevolent and the other evil, were seen competing for possession of a source of power (the Yeouiju) by which one of them could become a dragon. Ultimately, the evil Imugi is destroyed by his rival moments after the latter had captured the source. Here, the two are shown to be physically different, in that the evil Imugi is darker-colored, more slender and distinguished by an inflexible hood similar to that of a cobra, whereas the good Imugi is paler, stockier, hoodless, and more closely resembles a python. Narration in the film implies that many Imugi exist at a time, whereof few are designated to become a dragon.
Korean cockatrice[edit]
The Korean cockatrice is known as a gye-lyong (Korean: 계룡; Hanja: 鷄龍), which literally means chicken-dragon; they do not appear as often as dragons. They are sometimes seen as chariot-pulling beasts for important legendary figures or for the parents of legendary heroes. One such legend involves the founding of the Kingdom of Silla, whose princess was said to have been born from a cockatrice egg. It is also the origin of the name for the city of Gyeryong in South Chungcheong province.
Gallery[edit]
Azure_Dragon of the mural of the Goguryeo Tomb
Yong Pagoda in Yongdusan Park
Dragons related to the Korean dragon[edit]
- Druk, the Thunder Dragon of Bhutanese mythology
- Nāga, a Hindu and Buddhist creature in South Asian and Southeast Asian mythology.
- Bakunawa, a moon-eating sea dragon depicted in Philippine mythology
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See also[edit]
- An Instinct for Dragons, hypothesis about the origin of dragon myths.
- Long Mu, a woman who was deified as a goddess after raising dragons
- Radical 212, the dragon radical in Chinese characters, also used in traditional Korean writing and in studies of Korean etymology
References[edit]
- ^우리 삶에 현존하는 영생의 신화 (in Korean). OhmyNews. 2004-01-05.
Further reading[edit]
- Bates, Roy, Chinese Dragons, Oxford University Press, 2002.
- Bates, Roy, All About Chinese Dragons, China History Press, 2007.
- 'Korean Water and Mountain Spirits', in: Ingersoll, Ernest, et al., (2013). The Illustrated Book of Dragons and Dragon Lore. Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti Books. ASIN B00D959PJ0
External links[edit]
- Podcast: The Meaning of Dragons in Korean Folklore from The Korea Society[permanent dead link]
Japanese Dragon Orb
By Stephen Lee
Dragons are typically regarded as highly volatile and destructive creatures, especially in European mythology. This is usually not the case when referring to dragons in Asian mythology. In many Asian cultures, dragons are portrayed to have longer beards and are considered to be bringers of clouds and rain which correlates to the belief that they resided in rivers, lakes, and oceans (Drinnon). In Korean folk mythology, dragons were known to be Imugis (lesser dragons). Koreans thought that an Imugi could only become a true dragon if it caught a Yeouiju (yoo-ee-ju) or a dragon orb which had fallen from heaven and meant that whoever could wield this dragon orb was blessed with omnipotent abilities and the ability to create anything (Volle). Thus Imugis were considered only a close relative to the dragon. Imugis physically resembled dragons, however they were hornless and cursed and therefore were unable to become dragons. Another belief is that Imugis must survive one thousand years before becoming a dragon. They are considered to be benevolent and giant creatures who dwell near water or caves and sightings of them are commonly associated with good luck.
The Korean mythology of dragons stemmed from China and India. Archaeologists discovered dragon statues in Henan which is widely known as the place where Chinese civilization began. The civilization that created the statues likely shared the same perception of dragons with ancestors of Koreans. The main similarities between Chinese and Korean mythology is the way both cultures recognized dragons. This mainly connected to the appearance and the associations of the dragon which are rain, luck, and power (Volle). The story of the dragon in Korean culture came from the mythological creature of Indian origin and member of the n?ga, family of serpentine creatures who protect Buddhism. Dragon lore in China is believed to have existed independently for centuries even before the introduction of Buddhism. It was only until 9th century AD when the Chinese started incorporating the dragon into Buddhist thought.
Dragons were displayed on robes for royalty to wear as a symbol of power. It is important to note the history of these robes as they played a very important part in representing the status of the people who wore them. The Joseon Dynasty was a Korean Dynasty which lasted about 5 centuries (Britannica). During this time, the government was ruled under a monarchy which meant that rulers had absolute authority. The Joseon Dynasty was a Korean Dynasty which lasted about 5 centuries and was founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye. The culture of the Joseon Dynasty was heavily influenced by the imperial culture of the Ming Dynasty. During this time, Confucian ideals and doctrines were embedded in Korean society. Neo-Confucianism was established as the state's ideology. Joseon centralized its rule over the territory currently known as Korea and saw the peak of classical Korean culture, trade, literature, and technology. However, the dynasty was exhausted during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, when invasions by the neighboring states of Japan and Qing nearly overran the peninsula, which led to the advent of harsh isolationist policies for which the country became known as the 'hermit kingdom' (Britannica). The government was ruled under a monarchy. The kings had absolute authority, however the total power of the kings varied with political circumstances. These circumstances include the precedents set by earlier kings, a code of law known as the Gyeongguk Daejeon, and Confucian thought (Britannica). The king was required to have complete loyalty from his officials so that if the he was wrong about taking a certain path, he would be informed of the potentially harmful outcomes of his decisions.
The rulers during this time wore gonryongpos or Dragon Robes as signs of their power and authority. The dragon robes were not only limited to the king and were also worn by other members of the royal family such as the crown prince and the first son of the crown prince (future crown prince). The difference among the gonryongpos lies in the color and the dragon emblems. The blue dragon robes were for both the crown prince and his first son. The king was the only one to don the scarlet robe with a large, round embroidered emblems of a dragon with 5 claws sewn on it known as the ohjoeryongbo, while the crown prince wore a sajoryongbo, a four-clawed dragon emblems and the first son of the crown prince, wore a samjoryongbo, the three-clawed dragon emblems. When a king or other member of the royal family wore these robes, they also wore an ikseongwan (hat), a jade belt, and mokhwa (shoes) (Drinnon). The dragon's appearance on the robe represented how the king is the one to govern and bring balance to the world.
The dragon was truly a symbol of power in the Korean culture especially among royalty and storytelling. Korean storytellers would many times emphasize on the spiritual powers of dragons as they played a crucial role in many of the famous Korean fables. In modern Korean society, Dragons are omnipresent and can be found on billboards, commercials, advertisements, temples, etc. Although the cultural impact of the stories of dragons has certainly faded compared to centuries ago, it is still a symbol that will never be forgotten.
Works Cited
Chinese Dragon Holding Orb
'Chosen Dynasty.' Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2017. Drinnon, Dale. 'Imoogi and Korean Dragons.' Frontiers of Zoology: Imoogi and Korean Dragons. N.p., 05 Aug. 2012. Web. 21 Jan. 2017. Volle, Adam. 'Behind the Myth: Korean Dragons.' Gwangju News Online. N.p., 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 23 Jan. 2017. Chinese Dragon Holding Orb Meaning