A depiction of a Japanese dragon.
Dragons play a prominent role in Japanese mythology. A number of dragon varieties exist in Japanese folklore. The origins of dragons in Japan's mythology go back thousands of years. While the dragons in Western mythology tend to play a villainous role, Japanese and other Asian dragons are portrayed as being noble, just and bringers of good fortune.
Historical Origins
Dragons have appeared in Asian iconography for thousands of years, especially in China. The dragons which appear in Japanese mythology are actually Chinese imports. China has a long history of incorporating dragons into art. Examples of bronze and jade dragons from China date as far back as the 16th century BCE. Dragon iconography made its way from China to Japan in the fifth century CE through trade boats.
Dragons and Religion
Dragons were considered one of the eight classes of deities which worshiped and protected the Buddha. The role of dragons in Buddhism is also not originally Japanese. Early Buddhism teaches that there was a class of serpents called naga who guarded Buddhism. The dragons of Japanese Buddhism sprung from these roots. Shintoism, a religion native to Japan which predates Buddhism, also features dragons. The guardian of the Shinto faith is Ryu Jin, a noble dragon who ruled an undersea kingdom.
Dragons and the Royal Family
There is a myth that the Japanese royal family descended from a dragon. The Tale of Hori tells the story of Japan's first emperor. Hori, a human hunter, married Toyotama, the daughter of the Dragon King. They lived under the sea together for three years, until Hori's yearning for the "upper world" drove him to leave her. Toyotama bore Hori a son. Hori's son went on to sire four children. The youngest of Hori's grandsons, Jinmu Tenno, became the first human emperor of Japan. Emperor Hirohito claimed descent from Toyotama.
Dragon Types
In Japanese mythology, there are four types of dragons. Celestial dragons guarded the mansions of the gods. Spiritual dragons were responsible for bringing rain and could cause flooding. Earth dragons cleansed rivers and deepened oceans. Treasure guarding dragons, the fourth category, protected precious objects. Japanese dragons, unlike their other Asian counterparts, are depicted as having three claws. In Japanese mythology, the further a dragon traveled from Japan, the more toes it gained.
Dragons in Art
Generally, dragons in Japanese art are portrayed as scaly serpents without wings. Their bodies are never fully shown. Instead, dragons are hidden behind clouds or wave swells. Many times, dragons hold disks which look like jewels. Pictures of dragons became popular in temples and imperial buildings. Dragon masks used in religious rituals are intricately constructed, with strands of hair and rotating eyes.
