Japanese dragon is the personification of a variety of divine powers. This fabulous creature can be evil and kind, noble and treacherous. His image is inextricably linked with water, which with its power and unpredictability as it personifies the awesome energy of a powerful animal. The role that dragons play in Japanese mythology will be discussed in this article.
Origin
It is not known how independent the Japanese dragon is. Firstly, all oriental fabulous animals ( including Korean and Chinese) are very similar to each other. Secondly, the Japanese myths recorded in the annals not only fully copy the legends of a distant neighbor, but are also written in Chinese. Nevertheless, the legend of dragons in Japan has its own flavor, different from the traditions of other nations. We will talk about the features of the national folklore of this country below.
Distinctive features
Japanese dragon differs from Chinese, primarily physiological features. The fact is that the number of claws, tails and heads of these creatures is different. The Japanese monster has only three claws. Scientists attribute this fact to the fact that the dragon looked the same in China before. Moreover, in his own way he personified the strength and power of the country. However, after the conquest of China, the Mongols hoisted their dragon on a pedestal, which already had four claws in a sign that it was much more powerful than its predecessor. When the Chinese gained independence, they did everything to forget about Mongol rule. They again altered their dragon, drawing him another claw. Naturally, all these metamorphoses of the Japanese dragon were not touched. He came as three-fingered from China, so he remained. But he got a lot of heads and tails. Therefore, to deal with the raging monster was not easy. All Japanese legends testify to this.
Habitat
The dragon's natural habitat is water. In legends, he is inextricably linked with Japanese water deities. In ancient times, the dragon itself was considered a powerful product of heaven, which was revered in various places in the country. The center of worship for these creatures is Kanagawa Province. Legends and myths of Japan say that before, two famous dragons lived here. The nine-headed monster lived in Asinoko Lake, in the Hakone Mountains, and the five-headed monster lived on Enoshima Island. Each of these fabulous creatures has its own special story.
Five-headed dragon
On Enoshima, a dragon sanctuary appeared in 552. It is located in the rocky northern part of the island. Not far from the temple, at the very edge of the water, there is a grotto where, according to legend, the Japanese dragon still lives. The five-headed patron of the island did not immediately become a deity. To do this, he had to marry a goddess.
In the 6th century AD, Japan developed a cult of worship of the goddess Benten - the patroness of the hearth, women, arts and fiery eloquence. According to legend, she was so beautiful that she subdued the great dragon. He swung to Benten and obtained consent. Since then, the five-headed animal has become a full member of the Japanese divine pantheon. He was recognized as the bearer of moisture for the Sagami land. The animal was also given a special name - Ryukomeijin, which translates as "the bright dragon deity."
Sacred rites
A spacious temple is dedicated to the five-domed creature on the coast in the vicinity of Ethnosima, and on the island is the sanctuary of his noble wife - the goddess Benten. In Japan, they believe that lovers should always be together everywhere. Eastern mythology involves the performance of certain rites. So, on the first day of the lunar calendar (Day of the Snake), a ceremonial ceremony takes place every year: a symbolic image of a deity is sent from the dragon’s sanctuary to the temple of the goddess Benten. Spouses, thus, appear nearby. And every 60 years, a wooden figurine is taken out of the dragon temple with all sorts of honors, which is then transported to the Benten statue on the island.
Nine-headed dragon
This creature from Asinoko has a completely different fate. It is considered a very ancient animal, which from time immemorial was selected on the coast of the lake and ate children from the surrounding villages. No one could resist the gluttonous monster until a pious priest named Managan appeared in those parts. Dragon hunters are often featured in oriental traditions, and each time, besides courage, they have a remarkable ingenuity. A Shinto minion owned not only God's Word, but also acting magic. With the help of witching charms, the hero managed to subdue the dragon and chained him to the trunk of a huge tree growing at the bottom of the lake. More than a thousand years have passed - and since then no one has seen a gluttonous dragon get out on land.
Healing tears
Japan is famous for such traditions. Most interesting, the creators of legends believed that the evil monster could be re-educated. It is believed, for example, that the inhabitant of Lake Asinoko has long repented of his criminal acts and weeps bitterly, remembering them. But there is no one to dispel the dragon, for Managan has long died. The tears of a fairy-tale creature are considered healing, therefore medicinal properties are attributed to Asinoko waters. Some Japanese people come to these parts to heal from illnesses and wounds. There is even a path along which the dragon climbed out of the lake. Above it, the lake torii of the sanctuary has now been erected.
Patron of family happiness
For some reason, the nine-headed dragon is considered the patron saint of matchmaking, and now twice a year - on the Japanese holiday of all lovers of Tanabat and Western Valentine's Day - unmarried Japanese women rush to the shore of Lake Asinoko to ask the fabulous creature for prosperity in his personal life. And every month, on the 13th, a service is held in the dragon’s sanctuary, during which everyone who wants to find family happiness is asked to be protected by the deity.
Yamata no Orochi
Japanese folklore mentions yet another formidable dragon, which could not be corrected - had to be destroyed. It is said that in the southern part of the island of Honshu, in the Izumo region, an indomitable monster raged by the name of Yamato-no Orochi. One family was especially unlucky - it had eight daughters, and each year a fabulous creature abducted and ate one of them. The dragon's description says he was terrible. The red-eyed, eight-headed monster was of exceptional size: its length was eight hills and eight valleys. In addition, he had eight tails, and trees and moss grew on the back of the monster. The belly of the dragon was always engulfed in fire and no one could resist his atrocities. When only one daughter remained in the house of the unfortunate parents, Susanoo-no Mikoto (the local god) came to them and offered help. In return, he demanded the hand of a rescued daughter. Of course, the old people agreed, and God ordered to do the following. He ordered a large amount of sake to be brewed, which he then poured into eight large barrels. Susanoo-no Mikoto then placed alcohol on the dais surrounded by a high fence. In each of them, an opening was made for the head of the dragon. The serpent, who apparently was not indifferent to sake, did not smell the catch and drank the cooked treats of each of the heads. He instantly became drunk and fell asleep, which allowed the cunning god to chop him into pieces. Then Susanoo-no Mikoto married the rescued girl, and in one of the tails of the dragon he found Kusanagi's sword, which has magical properties. Later, this item became one of the symbols of imperial power.
Colored dragons
The Japanese dragon is a very unpredictable creature. He can change his appearance, size, shape and even become invisible. Legendary animals vary in color. Perhaps this is their only constant sign. Each color has its own meaning. The golden dragon brings happiness, wealth and good fortune. Blue (or green) symbolizes spring, a meeting with it promises good luck and good health. Red indicates strength, activity, storm and summer. The black dragon represents winter, north, storm, revenge and worry. White is associated with mourning, autumn, and death.
Vatatsumi no kami
Ryujin or Vatsatsumi no kami is the god of the water element, the dragon. He is considered the good patron of Japan. Fairytale creature is credited with many glorious exploits. Once, for example, he saved Japan from the Mongol invasion: it caused a hurricane and sank the enemy flotilla. In netsuke, this dragon is depicted as a gray-haired old man in imperial vestments. But among the people, his very different appearance is much more popular: Ryujin, naked to the waist, bearded and long-haired, holds a pearl in his hand that controls the tides, and a huge dragon or octopus has perched on the back of the god.
The Japanese believe that Ryujin possesses tremendous wealth and is the most powerful creature in the whole world. He lives at the bottom of the sea, but sometimes turns into a man and visits people. His attention is allegedly enjoyed by the most attractive women in the country. Dragon children are very beautiful: they have green eyes and black hair. And they own black magic.
The legend of Ryujin
There are many legends about this dragon. They say, for example, that once two gods (the fisherman Hoderino-Mikoto and the hunter Hoori-no Mikoto) decided to trade crafts to find out if they could master an unfamiliar business. They were siblings and loved to compete on any occasion. Hoori no Mikoto drowned his brother's magic hook while fishing. In order to recover the loss, the hero had to go down to the seabed. There he met Toyotama-bime-no Mikoto, Ryujin's daughter, fell in love and married her. Only three years later, the unlucky fisherman remembered why he had come. The sea god quickly found the hook and handed it to his son-in-law. He also gave Hoori no Mikoto two pearls, one controlling the tides and the other controlling the tides. The hero returned to earth, reconciled with his brother, and he lived with his beautiful wife happily ever after.
Ryo wo
The legend of dragons says: many of them have magnificent palaces at the bottom of the sea, as befits a powerful sea deity. Ryo Wo has such a spacious dwelling that it accommodates all drowned people. This dragon is distinguished by nobility and wisdom. He is the patron saint of Shinto faith. The Japanese believe that this creature has great power and can travel around the world. He is also very handsome and smart. Ryo Wo sometimes does not mind playing with the clouds and thereby cause rain or a hurricane. Another weakness is pearls. For the sake of a rare instance, the Japanese dragon is capable of much.
Famous dragons
The legacy of dragons in Japan is great and diverse. In addition to the most famous, in the country of the rising sun there are other, less well-known. Here are some of them:
- Fuku Riu is a dragon that brings luck. It is difficult to call him ferocious, so any Japanese dreams of meeting him. After all, this creature symbolizes luck, prosperity and abundance.
- Sui Riu is a dragon that can cause rain. Moreover, it is blood-red in color and can portend trouble.
- Han Riu is a colorful dragon. His body is decorated with strips of nine different shades. In addition, his body is 40 feet long. This creature eternally strives for heaven, but can never reach them.
- Ka Riu is a small scarlet dragon . He is only seven feet long, but his body is always enveloped in a bright flame.
- Ri Riu is a keen dragon. He sees 100 miles around.
- Benten is a Japanese goddess. According to legend, she sometimes comes down from heaven on an anonymous dragon and stops the atrocities of other fairy creatures.
- Kinryu is a dragon of gold color.
- Kiyo is a female being. Originally, this dragon was an attractive waitress, later reborn and is now considered the patron saint of inns.
- O Goncho is a white dragon, a fierce eternally hungry monster. He hunts with his brother, the red Uwibami. He attacks people and feeds on large men.
Temples and Altars
Dragon shrines are found in all the prefectures of Japan. Usually they are located on the shores of seas and rivers, because these creatures are aquatic animals. In the inland sea of Japan there is the famous island of the Temple. He is visited to meditate and pray to the great dragons. The descendants of these legendary creatures, according to legend, become rulers. Sculptures depicting dragons adorn the outside of Buddhist temples and castles in Japan. They symbolize all the obstacles and difficulties that a person must overcome in order to subsequently achieve enlightenment.
Dance of the golden dragon
In Akasusa, in the Sensoi Temple, a symbolic golden dragon dances annually for the jubilant crowd. He is present during the parade, and then returns with honors to the sanctuary. First, people throw coins into the grate of the temple and try to touch the dragon for good luck. After that, the animal’s symbol is taken out to the street, where it “dances” in front of a jubilant crowd. This annual festival is held in honor of the temple of the goddess Canon, which symbolizes mercy, opened in 628. The sanctuary was found by two brother-fishermen, fishing on the Sumida River. According to legend, they recognized the temple because two golden dragons flew out from there. The festival is held in order to attract good luck for the whole coming year.
"Black dragon"
As mentioned above, the black dragon is a symbol of anxiety and retribution. It is assumed that before the outbreak of World War II, Japan had an influential secret society. He was led by Secretary of War Tojo, a man who dreamed of starting a war with the United States and defeating it. The organization was called the Black Dragon. Japan then tried to defend its military superiority over other countries. Members of the terrorist organization committed a series of high-profile killings, paving their way to power. According to some reports, the Second World War in the Pacific Ocean began precisely thanks to the activities of this society, because it included representatives of the nobility, who hated the United States fiercely. Tojo eventually became the sole dictator of Japan, but his power did not last long. The FBI is still studying the activities of the Black Dragon organization and is finding ever new evidence of its crimes.
Now you know that Japanese mythology represents a centuries-old cultural heritage. Dragons in the land of the rising sun continue to deify. They are revered much more than real animals. For example, Japanese yakuza consider this outlandish creature their patron and not only wear tattoos with his image, but also decorate it with their statues at home. Dragon hunters in Japanese mythology are rare. Indeed, in local legends, they most often do not at all look like the fierce monsters from children's fairy tales and you can always agree with them. And a person who has managed to please such a creature can forever find happiness, wealth and longevity.