Dragon King
| Dragon King | |||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 龍王 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 龙王 | ||||||
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The Dragon King is a deity in Chinese mythology commonly regarded as the divine ruler of the ocean. It is believed that the Dragon King is based on the Nāga in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, to distinguish him from the Chinese dragon. He has the ability to shapeshift into human form and lives in an underwater crystal palace. He has his own royal court and commands an army comprising various marine creatures. Apart from presiding over aquatic life, the Dragon King can also manipulate the weather and bring rainfall. The Dragon King often appears in classical Chinese literature. Detailed descriptions are given of the grandeur of their palaces.
[edit] Dragon Kings of the Four Seas
There are four major Dragon Kings, each ruling a sea corresponding to one of the four cardinal directions. They appear in the classical novels Fengshen Bang and Journey to the West.
The four Dragon Kings in Journey to the West are:
- Ao Guang (敖廣), Dragon King of the East Sea
- Ao Qin (敖欽), Dragon King of the South Sea
- Ao Run (敖閏), Dragon King of the West Sea
- Ao Shun (敖順), Dragon King of the North Sea
The origin of their family name, Ao (敖), however, remains unclear. The names of the Dragon Kings also vary according to the stories they are featured in.
[edit] Worship of the Dragon King
There are numerous temples dedicated to Dragon King in China and one in Oregon, United States. One temple in Beijing was built during the Yuan Dynasty and renovated in the early 21st century. Chaotian Palace (朝天宮) of Beigang, Yunlin County in Taiwan, is devoted to the goddess Mazu, also has human-shaped statues for the four Dragon Kings, each riding on a dragon. In contrast to the Dragon Kings, Mazu, although also a deity of sea, is a motherly figure who never wreaks havoc.
