Dragon Mythology
Jp. = Ryū, Ryu, or Ryuu 龍; Also written 竜; Chn. = Lóng or Long
Mythological animal and cosmological symbol of Chinese origin.
The beginnings of dragon myths are obscure, but belief in such a creature predates written history.
The image of the reptilian dragon as known today throughout East Asia had achieved its form by the 9th century Tang ink painting. Typically the dragon is covered with scales, has a long serpentine body with a scalloped dorsal fin, claw-like feet and pointed tail.
Its face is distinguished by small horns, large eyes with bushy brows, flaring nostrils, long whiskers and sharp teeth.
The dragon is associated with water, and is often shown emerging from vapour and clouds to produce rain.
Living in the sky it is considered closely related to heaven, and from early times was used as a symbol of imperial power.
In addition to serving as a deity of rain and of Heaven, the blue-green dragon (seiryuu 青竜) is the directional symbol of the east, and thus one of the guardian animals of the four directions (shishin 四神).
Dragons figure importantly in popular folk beliefs and Taoism, often serving as a vehicle for immortals.
By the 9th century, the Chinese had incorporated the dragon into Buddhist thought and iconography as a protector of the various Buddha and the Buddhist law.
For example, the character for dragon 龍 is often found in temple names.
The earliest representations of dragon-like creatures are Shang and Zhou period (ca. 16th - 9th centuries BCE) bronzes and jades bearing abstract animal or monster designs.
By the Warring States or Han period (ca. 8th century BC to 3rd century AD), dragons were frequently painted on tomb walls to ward off evil spirits.
Beginning in the late Tang period (9th century), the dragon was painted in ink monochrome (suibokuga 水墨画).
The so-called "Nine Dragons Hand Scroll" (Kyuuryuuzukan 九竜図巻, 1244, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston) by Chen Rong 陳容 (Jp: Chin You, act. 1235-58) exemplifies ink painting of the subject in the Song period.
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