Chinese mythology reveres a huge number of creatures and animals, each of which represents something. Probably the most popular character that each of us has heard about is the dragon, and in China its various varieties 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?
The 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 to this day are found in the buildings of this country, including the Imperial Palace. Chinese mythology makes the dragon a symbol of goodness, peace, prosperity; in honor of it, the dragon festival, which is held on the fifth of the fifth month, is even established. Love for this animal is reflected in the language itself, which is full of proverbs and sayings dedicated to him.
All dragon power
In Chinese culture, it is no coincidence that such an important place is given to the dragon. It is believed that this is a magical creature that was such in ancient times. It was on the basis of these ideas that other cultures were formed and developed. Even the ancient ancestors of the present 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 to heaven or plunge into bodies of water. But wherever these beings were, they were powerful and acted as messengers of spirits or deities. Emperors of all dynasties believed that they were the sons of heaven, and therefore the real descendants of the dragon. And ordinary people worshiped the power of this animal, which still serves as a symbol of prosperity in China.
Mother of dragons
Dragons are considered cult creatures in China, and even have a mother of dragons. She, according to legend, raised 5 dragons, which were symbols of devotion and parental love. It is noteworthy that Lunmu - the mother of dragons - was a simple woman who once picked up a white stone on a river, which turned out to be an egg. Five serpents hatched from him, which helped her in everything. Over time, they turned into powerful dragons.
In Chinese mythology, there are a huge number of dragons. So, some are responsible for the East China, South China Sea, the Indian Ocean. Some dragons are classified by color: lapis lazuli is considered the most compassionate, the scarlet dragon gives blessings to the lakes, their fellow hears the petitions, and white is considered virtuous.
Dragon species
China is a country in which they still believe in fabulous creatures, including dragons. By the way, they are found in different forms, perform different functions and personify different properties. The most popular dragons in Chinese mythology are as follows:
- Tianlong is a heavenly dragon, which, according to myths, serves as a heavenly guardian, guarding the heavens and protecting its gods. It was believed that Tianlong knows how to fly and maneuver, therefore they depict it including with wings. The celestial dragon has five toes, while the rest of his brothers have four toes.
- Shenlong - these are divine dragons, which are ways to command thunder and control weather conditions. Often, Chinese mythology depicts them with the body of a dragon and with the head of a person, while they have an unusual belly that looks like a drum. According to legend, Shenlong can not fly, but floats in the sky, and due to the blue tint of the skin merges with the sky. Thanks to its excellent disguise, it is difficult to notice, therefore it was considered a great success if someone succeeded. It was believed that if the divine dragon was offended, it could send bad weather, drought or floods to the country.
- Dilong is an earth dragon, capable of controlling rivers and any other water bodies. According to myths, these dragons live in the depths, in unusually chic palaces.
- Futsanlong, as Chinese mythology says, is a dragon who is an underground guardian of precious stones. It is believed that he lives deep underground.
Spirits of various elements
Among the deities of China who are responsible for the elements and phenomena of nature, we can mention the god of thunder Leigun. The spirits of 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 things, no matter what kind and origin. Among all the spirits of Chinese mythology, one can distinguish:
- Rong Cheng in the mythology of China is the magician who invented the calendar. Legends say that he appears on earth in 1010 years. And the Chinese believe that Rong Cheng is able to restore youth, restore the color of hair in older people and return their teeth.
- Hou Yi is the son of the supreme deity, the shooter, who performed brave deeds. Chinese mythology plays an important role for him , the spirits of which are found in many myths.
- Huangdi is the personification of the magical powers of the earth. According to myths, this spirit was of enormous growth, outwardly looked like a dragon, had a sun horn, four eyes and four faces. It is believed that it was Huangdi who invented the mortar, ax, arrows, clothes and shoes. In general, Huangdi is one of the most popular spirits, who was a skilled shooter, a strong man, and a craftsman.
- Yui. This hero is a flood suppressor. In myths, he was portrayed half man, half dragon. For 13 years he worked to end the flood.
In addition to the spirits of various elements, attention was also drawn to the creatures who were responsible for fertility and drought. Ba - the drought spirit in Chinese mythology - was one of the most frightening, as it could send dry weather to cities, thereby reducing yields. In general, the Chinese very much believed in mystical and miraculous 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 Moon 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 a bright green color. It was believed that this image brings happiness to those who see it, so it was always placed on military banners. Qing Lun was also a guardian of doors.
- Bai-hu was considered the patron saint of the west and the kingdom of the dead, so the image of a white tiger was placed on the burial structures. It was believed that he protects the living from evil.
- Zhunyao was the spirit of the south and was portrayed as a phoenix bird.
- Xuan-wu embodies the harsh spirit of the north, which is closely connected with water. Initially, Xuan-wu was depicted as a turtle entwined with a snake.
Demons of Chinese myths
Chinese mythology is very interesting and original. It also has demons, and the forces of evil are represented by numerous characters. Thus, according to myths, the master of demons is Zhong Kui, who was originally depicted as a club. He was painted with red paint and hung this image for magical purposes. The lord of the underworld was Yanwan, who, according to myths, investigated the earthly life of the dead and then decided what punishment they should be given at the trial. Zhang Tianshi was considered the main magician and master of demons. There was a huge scary snake in Chinese mythology, whose name was Mans. 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.