The Azure Dragon (?? Q?nglóng), also known as Bluegreen Dragon or Green Dragon, also called the Blue Dragon (?? C?nglóng), is one of the Dragon Gods who represent the mount or chthonic forces of the Five Forms of the Highest Deity (???? W?f?ng Shàngdì). He is also one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations, which are the astral representations of the Wufang Shangdi. The Bluegreen Dragon represents the east and the spring season. It is also known as Seiryu in Japanese, Cheong-ryong in Korean, and Thanh Long in Vietnamese.
The Dragon is frequently referred to in media, feng shui, other cultures, and in various venues as the Green Dragon and the Avalon Dragon. His cardinal direction's epithet is "Bluegreen Dragon of the East" (???? D?ngf?ng Q?nglóng or ???? D?ngf?ng C?nglóng). His proper name as the "Dragon King of the East Sea" (???? D?ngh?i Lóngwáng) is Ao Guang.
Video Azure Dragon
The Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon
As the other three Symbols, there are seven "mansions", or positions, of the moon within Azure Dragon. The names and determinative stars are:
Maps Azure Dragon
Cultural depictions
In the Romance of the Tales of the Tang (Shuo Tang Yanyi), the White Tiger's star is reincarnated as General Luo Cheng (Chinese: ?? / Chinese: ??), who serves Li Shimin. The Azure Dragon's Star is reincarnated as General Shan Xiongxin (Chinese: ??? / Chinese: ???), who serves Wang Shichong. The two generals are sworn brothers of Qin Shubao (Chinese: ??? / Chinese: ???), Cheng Zhijie (Chinese: ??? / Chinese: ???) and Yuchi Gong (Chinese: ??? / Chinese: ???). After death, their souls are said to possess heroes of the Tang dynasty and Goguryeo, such as Xue Rengui (Chinese: ??? / Chinese: ???) and Yeon Gaesomun (Chinese: ????).
The Azure Dragon appears as a door god at Taoist temples. He was represented on the tomb of Wang Hui (stone coffin, east side) at Xikang in Lushan. A rubbing of this was collected by David Crockett Graham and is in the Field Museum of Natural History. The dragon featured on the Chinese national flag in 1862-1912, and on the Twelve Symbols national emblem from 1913-1928.
Influence in other East Asian cultures
In Japan, the Blue-green Dragon is one of the four guardian spirits of cities and is said to protect the city of Kyoto on the east. The west is protected by the White Tiger, the north is protected by the Black Tortoise, the south is protected by the Vermilion Bird, and the center is protected by the Yellow Dragon.
In Kyoto there are temples dedicated to each of these guardian spirits. The Azure Dragon is represented in the Kiyomizu Temple in eastern Kyoto. Before the entrance of the temple there is a statue of the dragon which is said to drink from the waterfall within the temple complex at nighttime. Therefore, each year a ceremony is held to worship the dragon of the east.
In 1983, the Kitora Tomb was found in the village of Asuka. All four guardians were painted on the walls (in the corresponding directions) and a system of the constellations was painted on the ceiling. This is one of the few ancient records of the four guardians.
In Korea, the murals of the Goguryeo tombs found at Uhyon-ni in South Pyongan province features the Azure Dragon and the other mythological creatures of the four symbols.
See also
- Chinese dragon
- Four Symbols of China
- Four Benevolent Animals of China
- Four Holy Beasts of Vietnam
Gallery
In popular culture
- In the mobile game Puzzle & Dragons, the Azure Dragon is known as "Incarnation of Seiryuu, Karin" with a woman who appears with a blue dragon tail.
- In the first 3 Beyblade series from Japan, the Azure Dragon is known as Dragoon, and belongs to the protagonist Takao Kinomiya (Tyson Granger in the English dub).
- In B-Daman Fireblast, Riki Ryugasaki (who was previously the main character for B-Daman Crossfire) owns Rising Dracyan (upgraded from Thunder Dracyan), whose B-Animal is the Azure Dragon of the East.
- In the Digimon series, Azulongmon is designed after the Azure Dragon.
- In the Fushigi Yugi series Yui Hongo was transported to Universe of Four Gods where she became the Priestess of Seiryu.
- In the video game Final Fantasy Type-0 the Azure Dragon is the name of one of the four Crystals of Orience, representing the Kingdom of Concordia.
- In the video game World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria the character of Yulon, the Jade Serpent, is heavily inspired by the Azure Dragon.
- In the video game Runescape there is an island chain heavily influenced by Buddhism, complete with followers of Seriyu.
- In the video game Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate the monster Azure Rathalos, a variation of the regular Rathalos, is inspired by the Azure Dragon.
- In the video game series Yakuza (???? Ry? ga Gotoku) the character Kazuma Kiryu (?? ?? Kiry? Kazuma) has an Azure Dragon as a tattoo on his back.
- In the anime Akatsuki No Yona, the character Shin-ah is the dragon warrior seiryuu.
- In the video game Sega Golden Gun, the Azure Dragon, represented by Gao Qiu, is a boss. Its weak point is Gao Qiu himself.
- In the video game Age of Mythology: Tale of the Dragon, Azure Dragons, available to Ao Kuang, are firebreathing myth units that can travel on both land and water.
- In the series Blue Dragon, the character Shu has a shadow monster that represents similar to the Azure Dragon.
- In the Persona series (and other Shin Megami Tensei works), Seiryu is a persona (or demon/devil/beast) that the protagonist can acquire.
- In the video game Overwatch 2018 Chinese New Year (Year of the Dog) event, the character, Pharah, has a cosmetic skin that represents the Azure Dragon.
References
Citations
Sources
- Tom, K. S. (1989). Echoes from Old China: Life, Legends, and Lore of the Middle Kingdom. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824812859.
External links
Media related to Azure Dragon at Wikimedia Commons
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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