Japanese mythology: Dragons of the Orient & Hengeyokai Shape-shifters (ukiyo-e)
Dragons of the Orient “Hengeyokai” Shape-shifters
By Ledia Runnels
Mysterious Japan
The Dragon King's Daughter, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
The Dragons of the orient have long, thin bodies, covered in rainbow-hued scales that are strong as steel and magnificently beautiful to behold. They have no wings and instead can bound from the Earth to the Heavens in a single leap. Their heads resemble horses with great billowing whiskers, like a mighty tiger’s, sprouting from their lips. They hear through a pair of horns worn atop their heads like crowns.
When a Dragon of the orient speaks, their voice is like the jingling of coins, yet they possess a melodic quality unequaled by mortal musicians. Closely linked to the elements of water and air, they were originally created from the storms that lashed the earth a the beginnings of creation. In fact, these Dragons love storms so much that they play inside great typhoons. Their claws slash the ground along with the lightning that streaks from their eyes. Their breath creates great clouds that sail into the sky while rain is formed from the pressure of their feet squeezing water from the clouds as they climb into the sky. The wind itself comes from the passing of their breath as they move.
Sea dragon, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
They are known for their wealth and their generosity with humans they are fond of. They are also known to pay unfathomable riches for the freedom to rule the skies. They are especially fond of pearls and will go to great lengths to gain possession of these gems of the sea. Many a human, who has gained favor with a Dragon of the orient, has been presented with pearls that possess magical abilities.
The ama diver Princess Tamatori steals the Dragon Kings's jewel, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Their king is Ryu-Jin, the greatest and wealthiest of all the Dragons of the orient. Ryu-Jin’s palace is located at the bottom of the ocean, made from crystal and held upright by magnificent jade pillars, encompassed by walls laced with coral and, of course, pearls. Every day precious stones wash down into his palace from the mountains near the seashores. The stones are so numerous that they pile up like mounds of sand that mingle with great piles of magical trinkets and artifacts that litter his palace.
Japanese Dragon Shrine in Fujiyoshida
High in the mountains of the Orient is a secret place with a waterfall known as the Dragon Gate. This is the birthplace of all, but the first dragons and is said to lead to their magical domain.
Kiyohime changes from a Serpent, by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka
Dragons can take human form and often come in the guise of a humble scholar. In this form, they have been known to sire children that may or may not have the capacity to shape-shift from human to dragon form. Though not all are born with this ability, they all are physically perfect with unblemished skin, sparkling green eyes and flowing black hair. And there is within them all some level of the Dragon’s magic.
About LediaR
A writer since high school, Ledia Runnels has published several travel related and fact-sheet articles online. Her screenplay “Sakura, Jewel of the Rising Sun” won the “Grand Award for Best Screenplay at Worldfest Houston in 1998. She posts a weekly blog entitled: “Mysterious Japan”. The author lived in the Tokyo, Japan area for three years. She now resides in East Central Texas near her two adult children.
Please visit Mysterious Japan at http://lediarunnels27221219.wordpress.com/ and read fascinating articles by Ledia Runnels
Hengeyokaihttp://www.mjyoung.net/dungeon/char/race007.html
The World of Darkness Wiki: Hengeyokai
http://wiki.white-wolf.com/worldofdarkness/index.php?title=Hengeyokai
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia: Yōkai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C5%8Dkai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_dragon
The Buddha riding a sea-dragon, by Kunisada
Japanese Yen Exchange Rate
