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Chinese dragon mythology appears to be the source of Japanese dragon mythology. Japanese words for "dragon" are written with kanji ("Chinese characters"), either simplified shinjitai 竜 or traditional kyūjitai 龍 from Chinese long 龍. These kanji can be read tatsu in native Japanese kun'yomi, [b] and ryū or ryō in Sino-Japanese on'yomi. [c]
Ryūjin (龍神, lit. "Dragon God"), which in some traditions is equivalent to Ōwatatsumi, was the tutelary deity of the sea in Japanese mythology. In many versions Ryūjin had the ability to transform into a human shape. Many believed the god had knowledge on medicine and many considered him as the bringer of rain and thunder, Ryūjin is also ...
For instance, multi-headed dragons in Greek mythology include the 9-headed Lernaean Hydra and the 100-headed Ladon, both slain by Heracles. Two other Japanese examples derive from Buddhist importations of Indian dragon myths. Benzaiten, the Japanese form of Saraswati, supposedly killed a five-headed dragon at Enoshima in 552.
Agatamori battling mizuchi in the pool. From Zenken kojitsu (1878) The Mizuchi (大虬, 蛟龍, 蛟, 美都知) is a type of Japanese dragon or legendary serpent-like creature, either found in an aquatic habitat or otherwise connected to water. Some commentators perceived it to have been a water deity. It is described in the Nihon Shoki and one ...
Japanese dragons: Ikuchi: A water dragon youkai in Japanese mythology. Tatsu: Dragon of Japanese mythology, and the master of the water, like the Ryu. Orochi: the eight-headed serpent slain by Susanoo in Japanese mythology. Kuraokami: A Japanese dragon and a deity of rain and snow. Ryū: Similar to Chinese dragons, with three claws instead of ...
Kōjin (三宝荒神), is the god of fire, the hearth, and the kitchen. Konjin (金神) Kotoshironushi (事代主神) Kuebiko (久延毘古), the god of knowledge and agriculture, represented in Japanese mythology as a scarecrow who cannot walk but has comprehensive awareness. Kukunochi, believed to be the ancestor of trees.
Kotobuki. A Japanese chimera with the features of the beasts from the Chinese Zodiac: a rat's head, rabbit ears, ox horns, a horse's mane, a rooster's comb, a sheep's beard, a dragon's neck, a back like that of a boar, a tiger's shoulders and belly, monkey arms, a dog's hindquarters, and a snake's tail.
The dragon name Zennyo Ryūō is written with Japanese zen 善 "good, goodness; virtuous", nyo 女 "woman; female" or nyo 如 "like; as if; be like; thus" (differentiated with the "mouth radical" 口), and ryūō 龍王 or 竜王 "dragon king". Zennyo is a common theme in Japanese art, usually depicted as a small dragon but sometimes as a human ...