Japan

Japanese dragons look like Chinese dragons, and retain much of the physical and powerful qualities of the Eastern Dragons, but they are much more like Western Dragons in attitude. Very vicious and killing, Japanese dragons often terrorize towns.

• Benten
• Blue Dragon
• Kiyo
• O Goncho
• Ryo-Wo
• Toyo-tama
• Uwibami
• Yamata-no-orochi
• Yofune-Nushi
• Footnotes

History: They are said to be the protectors of the Chinese/Japanese Zodiacs. Year 2000 was the Year of the Dragon. All the other years (1988, 1976 - keep subtracting twelve...you get the idea) of the dragon are also the celebration of this dragon. Those born in the Year of the Dragon are said to be lucky, outgoing, natural born leaders, short-tempered, subborn, honest, loving, and benelovant.

Symbolism: The Blue Dragon is a symbol of a leader. Perhaps the short-temper and stubborness of the dragon leaves them in-balance with other the other Zodiacs.

Physical Description: Unknown, perhaps Ying-Lung Chinese Dragon (with wings and no scales).

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History: It is said that this dragon lives in Ryugu, a mystical palace beneath the sea. Revered as god of the sea, this dragon was known as "the Dragon King". His messangers were the turtles. He also holds the Tidal Jewels, with which he controls the tidal influence of the world.²

Many believe that Otohime, Ryo-Wo's daughter, marries prince Hoori, a human. Other tales include the story about the jelly fish.³

Ryo-Wo sent a jelly fish to find him a monkey. He simply wanted a monkey's liver for a meal. The jelly fish caught a monkey and began to bring him back to the Dragon King. Sadly, the jelly fish befriended the monkey and told him why he was going to see the dragon king.⁴

The monkey was not happy to hear this. However, he explained to the jelly fish that he had left his liver in a jar on the land. The jelly fish believed him. The monkey said that he would fetch his liver and come right back. Sadly, the monkey never returned, and the jelly fish was forced to return to the Dragon King empty handed. When hearing the story, the Dragon King pounded the poor jelly fish into the shape it is today.⁵

Symbolism: Revered, the Dragon King is a symbol of the sea and power.

Physical Description: Unknown. Definately of Eastern-Style, but the specifics of him are still unclear.

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History: O Goncho lives in the pool of Ukisima. Every fifty years, this dragon is said to appear in the form of a golden bird. If he should cry, his cry would be the omen of a great famine to come.

Symbolism: They are the sign of a coming famine. Perhaps even a symbol of pestalince as well.

Physical Description: Unknown form of Eastern Dragon.

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History: Originally, Kiyo was a waitress. A priest fell in love with her, and he broke the temple rules by entering a tea house. By doing this, he almost completely lost sight of his religious obligations, and they began going out. However, after being with her for a while, he grew bored of her and stopped seeing her.

Kiyo was not happy about this. She went away to study magic in the temple. After a long time, she learned how to turn herself into a dragon. She did so one night and flew to the priest's monastary and attacked. He hid under the bell of the church, but to no avail. He was killed as she breathed fire over the bell and melted it.

Symbolism: As one of the more vengeful dragons, Kiyo is a symbol of power. While the tale is a lesson about priest and how they should not give into such desires.

Physical Description: Perhaps a Lung or Horned Eastern Dragon.

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History: He is a true symbol of storms and rain fall. Being able to live anywhere - on land, in sea, or in the air - he has an easy time locating a sleeping area. Also know as one of the four creatures of the sacred Orient.

Symbolism: As a symbol of storms, he is perhaps also a symbol of dragon power.

Physical Description: Unknown form of Eastern Dragon.

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History: Uwibami was a less than kind beast. He was huge and gigantic. Like most dragons, he could fly, and most of his attacks were from the sky. He was said to fly down and snatch men of horse's backs for a snake.

Many say Yegara-no-Heida, a hero, was the man who slew this great beast.

Symbolism: Possibly a sign of warning when riding your horse: always look left, right, and up while crossing the roads.

Physical Description: An unknown form of Eastern Dragon.

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History: Yofune-Nushi was lived under a island called Oki Island, where his cave was located. He forced the local village to sacrifice a young, beautiful maiden to him every year on June thirteenth. If they did not, he threatened to destroy their entire fleet of fishing ships with one of his storms. The fishing fleet was their main source of life, and henceforth they could not deny the dragon his meal.

A girl named Tokoyo came forward one year to offer herself to the dragon. All the people willingly brought her to the island and allowed her to wait for the dragon. When Yofune-Nushi appeared, however, she did not coward back like the others. Instead, she pulled a knife and shashed his eyes, blinding him. After this was done, he reared back in pain, reveling his venurable neck. This was the end of Yofune-Nushi.

In another version, she dived into the water and attacked the dragon in the same manner. However, in this verson she recieved a sacred stone statue (of the Emperor) that had been cast into the water. It was said that the Emperor had been acting strangely because his statue was cursed and thrown into the water.

Due to the fact that she had saved the Emperor, her father, who was banished at the time, was allowed to return home.

Symbolism: Unknown. It is interesting to note, however, that this dragon acted much like many Western-style dragons, which is very unlike Eastern Dragons.

Physical Description: Unknown

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History: (Minor note: "eight" in Japan also meant "many" so whenever you see the word "eight" there could have been many more.)

Susa-no-o was a traveling warrior that came upon distressed people. He agreed to help them on the promise that he was able to marry their last uneaten daughter. So, they put out eight jars of Sake out on a fence. Happily, Yamata-no-orochi appeared and ate them all up.

When the Sake kicked in, Yamata became very drunk. Susa-no-o easily cut off all his eight heads. When he was cutting off his eight tails, he found one to be hard to cut into. In the tail, he found a sword called Murakumo-no-Tsurugi.

Symbolism: Yamata is another example of Japanese dragons being more like Western-Style dragons than Eastern Dragons.

Physical Description: Having at least eight heads and eight tales, Yamata was a huge dragon-serpent which was eight hills long and had cypress and fir trees growing on his back.

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History: She was the sea goddess at one point. However, she became the Japanese goddes of love, wisdom, the arts, music, knowledge/wisdom, and good fortune. Dancers, geishas, and musicians are said to be her followers.

She, herself, is not a dragon. However, she rode upon a nameless dragon. It is said that there was a dragon who lived in a cave outside of Koshigoe. Here, the dragon devoured small children. Benton caused an earthquake and decended to the area. There, she married the dragon. With her possitive influence, she was able to stop the dragon's eating of children.

In an alternative story, Benton married a dragon king who had been wooing her. Many described him as an ugly creature with the shape of a serpent. He reportedly dwells in a cave on the island of Enoshima.

Symbolism: Her dragon was a symbol of perhaps Yin and Yang. Benten, herself, was the "Yang" and her dragon was "Yin".

Physical Description: Unknown

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History: Hoderi and Hoori were brothers, Hoderi being the eldest. One day, they exchanged presents. Hoderi was a good hunter, and Hoori was a good fisherman, so it was obvious what they would get for each other. When Hoderi asked for his fish hook back one day, Hoori had lost it. Hoderi was furious, so much so that Hoori ran to the sea to grieve.

Shiko-tsutsu no Oji was at this sea. He made a basket for Hoori, and placed him in it out on the sea. There, Hoori sank into the sea. From this, he made his way into the Palace of the Sea King. The Sea King's daughter was the first to spot Hoori, and she told her father everything. The Sea King was very glad to see Hoori. After a long search, the Sea King found the hook in the mouth of the Red-woman (fish/tai).

Hoori then married Toyo-tama and lived with her under the sea for three years. Later, however, he longed for home. The Sea King gave him a hook to give to his brother, and he also gave him two jewels. One jewel, if dipped into the sea, would cause chaos, and the other would cause order. He told him to dip the jewel of chaos (Tide-flowing Jewel) if his brother turned on him. If other wise, he was to dip the Tide-ebbing jewel in.

Before Hoori left, Toyo-tama told him to build a house by the sea. She informed him, too, that she would come to him later, when the winds stormed.

Hoderi saw his brother and begged his forgiveness. Hoori was only to glad to grant it, and he waited for his wife. Toyo-tama (along with her younger sister) came to the beach. After bearing Hoori a son, she turned into a dragon and went back to the sea.

Hoori's son married his aunt (Toyo-tama's sister) and produced Kamu-Yamato-Iware-Biko, or Jimmu Tenno. He was said to be the first human emperor of Japan, and therefore a descendant of the dragons.

Symbolism: Toyo-tama was the truest form of a lover, perhaps.

Physical Description: Unknown

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1. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
2. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
3. Myths and Legends of Japan by F. Hadland Davis
4. Myths and Legends of Japan by F. Hadland Davis
5. Myths and Legends of Japan by F. Hadland Davis
6. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
7. Myths and Legends of Japan by F. Hadland Davis
8. Japanese Mythology by Juliet Piggot
9. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
10. Myths and Legends of Japan by F. Hadland Davis
11. Japanese Mythology by Juliet Piggot
12. Japanese Mythology by Juliet Piggot
13. Myths and Legends of Japan by F. Hadland Davis

For more information, see the Bibliography