Dragon

Introduction to Dragon

A dragon is a legendary creature that belongs in a multi-culture myths, its appearance usually show reptilian or serpent like traits. There is 2 types of dragon that shows where the culture or tradition is from, the European dragon first derived from folklore of European countries and also related to some Greek mythologies, the other one is the Chinese dragon mainly well known that it is from most East Asian countries but there are counterparts in Japan which is the Japanese dragon. Over the years both tradition have evolved on their own, but on the way they have influenced each other to a certain point especially with cross-cultural contact of recent time. A dragon’s appearance looks like a reptile, but in some places they look like serpents but since the Middle Ages, dragons are commonly envisaged them with legs, looking like a lizard.

Asian Dragons

There are multiple Asian dragons, that includes Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and others like Indian, Vietnamese, Khmer, Philippine and Indo-Malay. Each of them are born from their local folklore and cultures.

The Chinese Dragon, sometimes called the Oriental Dragon or Eastern Dragon, is born from Chinese mythology and also appears in other Asian cultures. In China, the Chinese Dragon is a representation of power and only the King or Emperor of China can have dragons on his clothings. It is usually confused with other Asian dragons as they all have extremely similar look, it is depicted as a serpent-like creature with four claws, sometimes depicted as a creature constructed with multiple animals's body part for example, fins from certain fish, horns from either a stag or a moose.

The Japanese Dragons, also known as 日本の竜 Nihon no ryū or Ryū for short, are diverse legendary creatures in Japanese folklore and myths. the design is heavily influenced by The Chinese Dragon but with three claws instead of four. Most are water gods or deities associated with rain, sea, river or any form of water. There is also some Japanese Dragons that is influenced by Chinese, Indian, and Hindu myths and legends.

The Korean Dragons, are creatures born from the Korean myth and folklore.

There is Yong, pretty much the same as the Chinese Dragon, is a sky dragon that is usually associated with water or weather. In pure Korean it is known as mireu 미르.

The Gyo (Left picture above), is a mountain dragon. Most Korean dragons are said to reside deep withing mountains, whether is by the river, deep pond, waterfall or lakes. The Gyo is also depicted as deity of water or the weather.

The Imoogi (Right picture above), is usually depicted as a lesser dragons in the Korean myth and folklore and most of the dragons are initially Imugis. It is said to resemble a gigantic sea serpent, usually without horns. Imoogi literally mean "Great Lizard", legend said that a girl would have a dragon-shaped mark on her shoulder, a sign that proves that she is the Imoogi in human form, who will then transformed into Imoogi on her 17th birthday.

European Dragons

In western folklore, there are many kinds of dragons from all around the European countries, all sharing common traits but with unique characteristic as well. Generally the myths and folklore are Germanic Europe, Celtic Europe, and Slavic Europe. Dragons in the western folklore are usually depicted as an evil figure, with exception mainly with Welsh folklore, it is in contrast with the Chinese dragons or Asian dragons which traditionally depicted as deities and more benevolent creatures.

The European Dragon is a huge, fire-breathing, horned, scaly and lizard-like creature. With leathery wings that is similar to bats, four legs and a long muscular tail. There is also the Wyvern, which is commonly mistaken as a dragon. Wyvern has no more then two legs and sometimes 2 pair of wings.

Most dragons in the European folklore are fire-breathing dragons, while some possess venomous bite, usually wyverns. Most of the time it is scaly, horned and leathery wings, sometimes it is shown with feathered wings and crest, fiery manes with spikes all the way down to the spine. Legends said that Dragon's blood usually contain magical properties whether its to be able to speak the language of the dragons or heal terminal disease or just a curse to drink it. Many stories often associated a great hero set forth to slay a dragon, typically European dragons or wyverns are often found in abandoned castles or caves and underground lairs protecting gold, treasures and jewelries for those who is able to slay the dragon.

While most dragon in the European folklore are depicted as evil, some hates mankind, destroyer of farm crops and agriculture, bring harsh weathers and natural disaster. There are those that choose to oppose their own kind and help mankind.

Appearance in Popular Culture

Dragons has been around in many popular cultures since the 20th century, from novels, films, video games and so on. Asian dragons and European dragons has made a lot of appearance in popular cultures.

Middle-Earth, 1937

J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe setting, contains many of his great fantasy writings and also dragons

Ancalagon the Black appears in

The Fellowship of the Ring[1954]

The Silmarillion[1977]

Glaurung, the first of the dragons in Middle-earth is in.....

The Silmarillion[1977]

The Children of Húrin[2007] edited by Christopher Tolkien

Scatha appears in.....

The Return of the King[1955]

Smaug is in.....

The Hobbit[1937]

The Hobbit also has a movie adaptation that is The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and the next upcoming movie The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.

How to Train Your Dragon 1 & 2, 2010 & 2014

Toothless and other dragons appear in this 2 films, Toothless is a jet-black European based dragon.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, 2011

Skyrim was voted as Game of the Year 2011 by gamers, the developer is Bethesda Game Studios, the game lets player plays as a person born with the power of dragon known as the Dragonborn or Dovahkiin. The dragons in the game are mostly based of the wyvern.