No. 017
Dragon
龍용 (yong)
An imaginary animal counted with the qilin, phoenix and tortoise among the Four Spirits. The Korean dragon largely follows the Chinese image, but was deeply worshipped as a water god that brings and stops rain, and stood for royal power. From Silla times people painted dragons to pray for rain in drought.
Names
- Korean
- 용
- Hanja
- 龍
- Revised Romanization
- yong
- English
- Dragon
Appearance
The Chinese dictionary Guangya says the dragon resembles nine animals: a camel's head, a deer's horns, a rabbit's eyes, an ox's ears, a snake's neck, a clam's belly, a carp's scales, a hawk's talons and a tiger's paws.
Habitat
Seas and deep waters. The Five Sea Gods (五海神) prayed to for rain in Goryeo were the dragon kings of the five directions.
Abilities
- Brings rain and stops it.
- Stands for royal power and the throne.
Related creatures
- Related Imugi - The great serpent that has not yet become a dragon.
- Related Girin (qilin) - One of the Four Spirits.
- Related Bonghwang (phoenix) - One of the Four Spirits.
Attestations
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History of the Three Kingdoms Chronicle
Original夏，大旱，移市，畫龍祈雨。
Translation (Korean)여름에 크게 가물어 시장을 옮기고, 용을 그려 비를 빌었다.
Translation (English)In summer there was a great drought; the market was moved, and a dragon was painted to pray for rain.
What it says: The entry for King Jinpyeong's 50th year: in drought, a dragon was painted to pray for rain. An early record of the dragon as a rain god.
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Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms Classical text
Original還次西海中。龍邀入宮中。念經施金羅袈裟一領。
Translation (Korean)돌아오는 길에 서해 가운데에 이르자 용이 궁으로 맞아들여 경을 읽게 하고 금빛 비단 가사 한 벌을 시주했다.
Translation (English)On the way back, in the middle of the West Sea, a dragon invited him into its palace, had him chant sutras and gave him a robe of gold silk.
What it says: The dragon of the West Sea welcomes the monk Boyang into its palace and sends its son 璃目 with him.
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Encyclopedia of Korean Culture Encyclopedia
What it says: The dragon article: its form, its meaning as one of the Four Spirits, its worship as a water god and object of rain prayers, and dragons in the tales of Samguk Yusa and other texts.
Interpretation and notes
The encyclopedia cites the King Jinpyeong year-50 entry as volume 34 of Samguk Sagi; the text is in volume 4, the Silla annals for Jinpyeong.