Dragon Sidebar
Basic Information
Theories
Dragons of Fame
History
Artwork
Interactive
Media
Search
Index
Contact

Home

 Circle of the Dragon > History > Chinese Dragons versus Japanese Dragons

Chinese Dragons versus Japanese Dragons

Separator

For people who are looking for simple clarification between Chinese and Japanese dragons, this page has been put up. I am trying to collect all the information I can, but it may take quite a while to explain the differences.

Separator

Item
Japanese
Chinese
Dragon Types
  • Tatsu - generic name for Japanese dragons; symbol of Mikado1
  • Sui-Riu - Japanese Dragon King; "the rain dragon"2
  • Han-Riu - forty feet long; can never reach heaven3
  • Ri-Riu - dragon with great eye sight4
  • Ka-Riu - seven feet in length; fiery red5
  • Fuku Riu - good luck dragon6
  • Hai-Riyo - "dragon-bird"; similar to Ying-Lung; winged and most evolved form of a dragon7
see also: Japanese Dragon Types
  • "water snake"
  • Chiao (Chiao-Lung or Kiao) - scaled dragon8
  • Lung (Li-Lung or Chih-Lung) - larger than Chiao; hornless and symbolise the scholar9
  • Horned Dragon - an older dragon (thousand five hundred to two thousand) with horns)10
  • Ying-Lung - winged dragons that are also scale-less11
see also: The Life Stages of Dragons
Visual Differences
 Three-toed12
see also: The Difference between Dragons 		Five-toed13
see also: The Difference between Dragons
Dragon Attitude

Much like Western Dragons, Japanese dragons killed innocent people and forced towns to give them beautiful maidens for food.14,15

see also: Uwibami and Yofune-Nushi 		Chinese dragons were benovolent creatures who shared with humans this relationship: so long as people were loyal, the dragons were benelovant.16 Note: This is one of the five relationships that Confucius spoke of. (Ruler to Subject)

Japanese and Chinese dragon share similarities in: Flight Methods, Gender Differences, and Color Information.

Back to the Top

Footnotes

  1. Eastern Dragons
  2. Eastern Dragons
  3. Eastern Dragons
  4. Eastern Dragons
  5. Eastern Dragons
  6. Eastern Dragons
  7. Eastern Dragons
  8. Illiana the Golden Dragon (defunct)
  9. Illiana the Golden Dragon (defunct)
  10. Illiana the Golden Dragon (defunct)
  11. Illiana the Golden Dragon (defunct)
  12. <http://www.q-net.net.au/~dazsal/dragonspage.html> - Chinese Dragons - Link Defunct
  13. <http://www.q-net.net.au/~dazsal/dragonspage.html> - Chinese Dragons - Link Defunct
  14. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
  15. Myths and Legends of Japan by F. Hadland Davis
  16. Teach Yourself Chinese Myths by Te Lin

For more information, see the bibliography.

Back to the Top

Separator

Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact | Home
 
© Kylie 'drago' McCormick.
Last updated: 10 August 2008