Chinese mythology: characters. Dragons in Chinese mythology

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

Chinese mythology honors a huge number of creatures and animals, each of which personifies something. Probably the most popular character that each of us has heard about is the dragon, and in China, different varieties of it are revered. It is noteworthy that the first drawings dedicated to these animals were found during ancient excavations.

What is the essence of the riddle?

Dragon in Chinese mythology is a creature that personifies the elemental forces of nature, heaven, the power of the emperor. Numerous images of this animal are still found in the buildings of this country, including the Imperial Palace. Chinese mythology makes the dragon a symbol of goodness, peace, prosperity, even a dragon festival is established in honor of it, which is held on the fifth day of the fifth month. Love for this animal is reflected in the language itself, which is full of proverbs and sayings dedicated to him.

The full power of the dragon

It is no coincidence that the dragon is given such an important place in Chinese culture. It is believed that this is a magical creature that was such in antiquity. It was on the basis of these ideas thatother cultures were formed and developed. Even the ancient ancestors of the current Chinese recognized the dragon as a totem cult, today it remains an integral part of the country's culture, always appears on architectural structures and in painting. It is also noteworthy that dragons in China are magical creatures endowed with gifts and combining the features of many other animals.

The ancient Chinese believed that the dragon does not live on earth, but it can rise into the sky or dive into the water. But wherever these beings were, they were powerful and acted as messengers of spirits or deities. The emperors of all dynasties believed that they were the sons of heaven, and therefore the real descendants of the dragon. Yes, and ordinary people bowed to the power of this animal, which still serves as a symbol of well-being in China.

Mother of Dragons

Dragons are considered iconic creatures in China, and there is even a mother of dragons. She, according to legend, raised 5 dragons, which were symbols of devotion and parental love. It is noteworthy that Longmu - the mother of dragons - was a simple woman who once picked up a white stone on the river, which turned out to be actually an egg. Five serpents hatched from it, which helped her in everything. Over time, they evolved into powerful dragons.

In Chinese mythology, there are a huge number of dragons. So, some are responsible for the East China, South China Seas, Indian Ocean. Some dragons are classified by color: the most compassionate is lapis lazuli,the scarlet dragon gives a blessing to the lakes, their yellow fellow listens to petitions, and the white one is considered virtuous.

Types of dragons

China is a country that still believes in fabulous creatures, including dragons. By the way, they are found in different guises, perform different functions and personify different properties. The most popular dragons in Chinese mythology are as follows:

Tianlong is a celestial dragon who, according to myths, serves as a celestial guardian, guarding the heavens and protecting its gods. It was believed that Tianlong could fly and maneuver, so they depict him with wings as well. The celestial dragon has five toes, while the rest of its brethren have four.
Shenlong are divine dragons who are able to command thunder and control the weather. Often Chinese mythology depicts them with the body of a dragon and the head of a man, while they have an unusual belly that looks like a drum. According to legend, Shenlong cannot fly, but floats in the sky, and due to the blue tint of the skin, it merges with the sky. Thanks to his excellent camouflage, it is difficult to see him, so it was considered a great success if someone succeeded. It was believed that if you offend the divine dragon, he could send bad weather, drought or flood to the country.
Dilun is an earthly dragon capable of controlling rivers and any other bodies of water. According to the myths, these dragons live in the depths, in extraordinarily luxurious palaces.
Futsanglun, according to Chinese mythology,is a dragon who is an underground guardian of gems. It is believed to live deep underground.

Spirits of various elements

Among the deities of China, who are responsible for the elements and natural phenomena, we can note the god of thunder Leigong. The spirits of the water resembled dragons, fish, turtles, and the spirits of the rivers were both male and female. It is noteworthy that the Chinese believe in any of these creatures, regardless of what kind and origin they are. Among all the spirits of Chinese mythology, one can distinguish:

Rong Cheng in Chinese mythology is the magician who invented the calendar. Legends say that he appears on earth after 1010 years. The Chinese also believe that Rong Cheng is able to restore youth, restore hair color in older people and restore their teeth.
Hou Yi is the son of the supreme deity, a shooter who did brave deeds. He plays a big role in Chinese mythology, the spirits of which are found in many myths.
Huangdi is the personification of the magical powers of the earth. According to the myths, this spirit was of enormous growth, outwardly looked like a dragon, had a solar horn, four eyes and four faces. It is believed that it was Huangdi who invented the mortar, axe, arrows, clothes and shoes. In general, Huangdi is one of the most popular spirits, who was both a skilled shooter, a strongman, and a craftsman.
Yu. This hero is a flood pacifier. In myths, he was portrayed as half man, half dragon. For 13 years he worked to stopflood.

Besides the spirits of various elements, the creatures that were responsible for fertility and drought attracted attention. Ba - the spirit of drought in Chinese mythology - was one of the most terrifying, as he could send dry weather to cities, thereby reducing crops. In general, the Chinese really believed in mystical and wonderful creatures, and the characters of Chinese mythology described above are proof of this.

Guardian spirits of the cardinal points

Chinese mythology is rich in various characters. The creatures that are the four sacred animals are as follows:

Qing-long is a green dragon, which is a symbol and spirit of the east. He, in turn, is always associated with spring, so this dragon was always depicted in bright green. It was believed that this image brings happiness to those who see it, so it was always placed on military banners. Qing-Long was also a door guard spirit.
Bai-hu was considered the patron of the west and the realm of the dead, so the image of a white tiger was placed on the funeral structures. It was believed that he protects the living from evil spirits.
Zhonyao was the spirit of the south and was depicted as a Phoenix bird.
Xuan-wu personifies the harsh spirit of the north, which is closely associated with water. Xuan-wu was originally depicted as a turtle wrapped in a snake.

Demons of Chinese myths

Chinese mythology is very interesting and original. There are also demons in it, and the forces of evilrepresented by numerous characters. So, the lord of demons, according to myths, is Zhong Kui, who was originally depicted in the form of a club. He was painted with red paint and hung this image for magical purposes. The ruler of the underworld was Yanwang, who, according to myths, investigated the earthly life of the dead and then decided what punishment should be given to them at the trial. Zhang Tianshi was considered the main magician and master of demons. There was a huge terrible snake in Chinese mythology, whose name was Man. It was believed that this is the king of snakes, but he looked like a dragon with four claws.

Conclusions

Chinese mythology is a combination of various images of dragons, which are reflected in architecture and art. Today, the country has a huge number of monuments dedicated to dragons.