You have certainly heard and read a lot about dragons. A dragon is, basically, a legendary creature with reptilian or serpentine characteristics. It is considered to be a ferocious creature that blows fire from its mouth. The dragon is usually aligned with evil and has found a place in scores of myths. The dragon has two separate cultural traditions, the European dragon and the Chinese dragon. The European dragon has been derived from folk tradition of Europe whereas the Chinese version is a part of myths in China, Korea, Japan and other East Asian nations. Below is more information about Chinese dragon mythology in different Asian countries.
Indian
In India, the myth of the dragon is largely associated with the Nagas. The Indian version is a dragon with serpentine traits and it forms a part of all Indian cultures that have been influenced by Hinduism. The Indian dragons are hooded like cobras and have multiple heads. The number of heads of a dragon depends on its rank. Higher the rank more is the number of heads. An Indian creature usually does not have legs or arms. However, a few of them do have limbs and the Indian dragon with limbs is very similar to the Chinese dragon.
Chinese
The Chinese dragon is omnipotent in Chinese mythology. In fact, this mythical creature of China appears in other Asian cultures from time to time as well. The Chinese dragon is also known as the Eastern dragon or dragon in some parts of Asia. The Chinese dragons are big, serpentine creatures that have four claws. In Chinese art and folklore the creature is linked to power. In certain parts of East Asia, the Chinese dragon is considered to be a creature that is made up of parts from different animals. Therefore, while some have the stag’s horns other have fins of the fish.
Korean
Basically three kinds of of these mythic creatures are found in the Korean culture. The first one is the Yong which is a sky dragon. In ancient Korean language it is known as Mireu. The Yong is quite similar to the Chinese adaptation and is associated with weather and water. The second kind is the Imoogi which is also known as the sea serpent. The Imoogi is an ocean dragon without horns. According to legends, the Sun God gave Imoogi dragon its power through a girl. The girl transformed in an Imoogi when she tuned 17. The dragon shaped mark on a girl’s shoulder reveals that she is actually an Imoogi dragon. The third kind is the Gyo dragon which is a mountain dragon.
Philippine
In Filipino culture, the dragon is known as Bakunawa. It is believed to be an enormous serpentine creature that lives under the sea. A Filipino legend has it that the Bakunawa caused the sun and the moon to disappear during eclipses. A lot of people in Philippines believe that direct eye contact with the Bakunawa can result in death. Some also believe that Bakunawa can kill people by simply imagining their death.
