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Akitawolfmon — Japanese Dragon
#dragon #japanesedragon #easterndragon
Published: 2017-05-07 00:10:24 +0000 UTC; Views: 1631; Favourites: 23; Downloads: 2
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This is actually the pic on my title page of my book The Dragon Compendium. This drawing is done to be like a manga page. I quite like how I did the clouds^^ I love the pose I did for him. His back legs are hidden if your wandering. Anyway thanks for looking^^Related content
Comments: 32
That is beautiful! I love the intricate details and how you did the clouds! Very nicely done!
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Oh thank you^^ The scales took forever to do!
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You're welcome! Well worth the effort!
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Cool! So detailed. It's a nice work. ^^
Oh, three fingers. That's quite right.
Japanese dragon came from Chinese dragon in ancient times.
Chinese have placed importance on Five Elements, so Chinese dragons have five fingers.
Japanese dragons have three fingers, because 3 have been regarded as a good number in Japan.
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Thank you so much^^
I love dragons, especially Japanese and Chinese dragons! I did not know that Chinese dragon fingers are based on the Five Elements. I thought it was about rank. Coz only the emperor was allowed to wear the five finger dragon (also called the Imperial Dragon), anyone else who wear it was sentence to death! That's why only commoners were allowed to wear the 4 finger dragon. Also I thought it depended on the type of Chinese dragon, for example the most highly ranked dragon in heaven (Ying-Long, Imperial dragon) had five fingers while others had four. Also question, why do Japanese Dragons only have 3 fingers? And why is 3 a good number in Japan, if you don't mind me asking?
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Wow, you know Asian culture well. Actually there are some popular believes. The follow is my opinion.
Since Middle Ages, numbers of dragons' fingers meant ranking in the system of China and Chinese colonies. But Japan has been an "outsider" for a long time.
In ancient China (over 1,000 years ago), both 3 (or 4) fingers dragons had been drawn in picture as the symbol of the emperor. Chinese became to often use 5 fingers dragons since Tang dynasty(7~10C).
Chinese people have thought odd numbers (3,5,7 etc.) are good numbers. 3 is a number of "Tian(sky/heaven), Di(ground/earth), Ren(people)" in traditional Chinese way of thinking. "Tian, Di, Ren" was the symbol of emperors' power.
And 5 is Five Element.
But 5 fingers dragons became the mainstream of "the symbol of Chinese emperor" in Middle Ages China(several hundred years ago). And 3 fingers dragons became to be used among citizens. It was strictly legislated in the ages of Yuan dynasty (13~14C) or Ming(14~17C) dynasty. And Qing(17~20C) dynasty also followed that rule.
In other hand, 3 fingers dragons become the mainstream in Japan over 1,000 years ago. The sea had almost isolated Japan from Chinese civilization since 8C. Japan had completely been the outside of Sinocentrism (Chinese way of ranking, racism and nationalism) and Zhonghua (the world of China & Chinese colonies). Japan was regarded as the land of "beasts" for Chinese. So Chinese ranking has been not our business because we are "beasts".
Ancient China had been a good teacher for Japanese. But Middle Ages China had almost been a stranger who live in neighbour of Japan.
Middle Ages China (since Yuan or Ming) prohibited the Aristocracy people and colonial countries draw 5 fingers dragons, and gave 4 fingers dragons to them.
Why do Japanese love 3? I don't know. But Japanese also tend to love odd numbers, except 8(lucky number) and 9(unlucky number). And Japanese hate 4=shi (four is the same pronounce of death).
And Japanese cultures remain some ancient Chinese tradition (which already extincted in China). Maybe 3 fingers dragons had been the most popular style in ancient China over 1,000 years ago.
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Wow that is brilliant! Thank you so much for the info. You know your history well^^ Do you mind if I use some of what you said in my dragon book I'm writing? You'll be credited with what you said.
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Yes. Of course. Or rather, I'm so glad you use what I said in your book.
Actually I'm searching it concretely now. The theory of the dragons' fingers is very interesting but ambiguous. I'd like to reply other information in this weekend.
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Fantastic!!!! Thank you so much SheltieWolf-San^^ Oh I'm so happy
As you can tell I'm very interested in Dragons around the world and I'm very interested in Japanese culture!
Thank you so much again SheltieWolf-San
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You're welcome.
I'm searching now. It's very interesting.
I found some mistaking in my opinion.
Obviously Japanese 3 fingers' dragons are not related with ranking in Sinocentrism. But origin of 3 fingers was not Tang dynasty. It was probably Southern Song dynasty.
And relationship of "numbers of dragons' fingers" & "ranking in Sinocentrism" (5 fingers =Chinese emperor, 4 fingers = kings in Chinese colonies) was very ambiguous.
There are a lot of new facts. I'm confused now.
I want to summarize the information this weekend. ^^
I'm glad you are interested in Japanese culture.
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Thank you so much and it is very confusing 0_0
And yet in Korea Dragons have 4 fingers and Tibet has five and in Australia they have no fingers! Lol (In Australia, where I live! We have a species of Dragon called Rainbow Serpents, they bring rain like Chinese Dragons. And whenever you see a rainbow arching across the sky it is a Rainbow Serpent travelling from one waterhole to the next.)
Thank you again and also I sent a friend request to you on Facebook, my name is Bianca Paola^^
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Hi.
I looked for some old pictures of Japanese dragons.
Original dragons mainly came from Tang dynasty to Japan in Heian periods. They were mixed with the cult of snakes in primitive Japan. They had become original forms of Japanese dragon. They had 4 fingers then.
Dragons in Kamakura period (4 fingers)
webarchives.tnm.jp/imgsearch/s…
They are 3 (or 4?) fingers' dragons in Kamakura periods
zoku-tasogare-2.c.blog.so-net.…
zoku-tasogare-2.c.blog.so-net.…
zoku-tasogare-2.c.blog.so-net.…
zoku-tasogare-2.c.blog.so-net.…
Kamakura periods was the first time that 3 fingers' Japanese dragons appeared in pictures.
Zen school (one of the Mahayana Buddhist schools) came from Southern Song dynasty (1127~1279) to Japan in Kamakura period. Chinese Zen monks had drawn a lot of pictures among Buddhist training. I think their pictures came to Japan with Zen doctrine. Their style was calm, gloomy and simple atmosphere like present Japanese "wabi". They had not been popular among then Chinese because Chinese love gorgeous and colourful style. On the other hand, Japanese were greatly influenced by them. Chinese dragons which they drew coalesced with before Japanese dragons. I think then Chinese dragons had 3 fingers. 3 fingers dragons had gradually became the mainstream in Japan in Kamakura periods.
Japanese dragons had confirmed their figure in Azuchi-Momoyama periods (1573-1615).
Chinese dragons had treat the path of other evolution.
Emperor Wenzhong in Yuan dynasty used 5 claws' dragons about 1330. Probably it was the first time Chinese emperor monopolized 5 claws'.
books.google.co.jp/books?id=mU…
But some Ming emperors used 3 or 4 claws' dragons as Emperors' dragon.
3 claws
Ages from Yongle (Reign:1402-1424) to Xuande (Reign:1425-1435)
pbs.twimg.com/media/C_X1T-6V0A…
4 claws
Ages of Xuande (Reign:1425-1435)
pbs.twimg.com/media/C_X0zutUMA…
5 claws (But Emperor Chenghua used not only 5 claws' but also 3 claws')
Ages of Chenghua (Reign:1464-1487)
pbs.twimg.com/media/C_X1tSNVYA…
pbs.twimg.com/media/C_Ytf0MXYA…
All emperors after Chenghua used 5 claws' dragons.
I think the rule of 5 fingers and 4 fingers was a comparatively new rule in China and countries in Sinocentrism. And maybe it was ambiguous.
Ming emperor sent a clothes to colonial Korean king 1444. It had an embroidery of 5 fingers' dragon. But on the other hand, Ming emperors mainly used 3 or 4 fingers' dragons then.
Probably the rule of dragons' fingers had been applied in late Yuan periods (1330-1368), late Ming periods (1464-1644) and Qing periods (1644-1912)
And maybe that rule was ambiguous. Ryukyu kingdom in Okinawa islands had entered into tributary relationships with Ming (late periods) and Qing. But Ryukyu kingdom used not only 4 fingers' dragons but also 5 fingers'. Ryukyu kings had used 5 fingers' dragons in their clothes. But Qing envoys had not blamed it.
blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/7…
BTW, thank you so much for the information. I didn't know Tivetan dragons have five fingers like this.
img03.shop-pro.jp/PA01004/498/…
I'm confused even more. Oh, what is the truth of the rule of 5 fingers and 4 fingers.
Problem of dragons' fingers are very interesting but unexpectedly difficult.
Yes. I agree. I also think ancient people who lived in Asia continent had regarded rainbows as dragons which was flying on the sky.
OK. I already followed back you.
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Oh my goodness you have done same research^^ Thank you for you help XD
The Dragons of the Kamakura period in the first pic you sent have elephant trunk. I have seen this in dragons pics in India gosai.com/sites/gosai/files/im… it is call Makara and is also seen in Tibet s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/7… (look at the dragon on the bottom left conner). It must be as you said from Buddhist, but also from Hindu sources too as Makara is Hindu.
Jeez the number of dragons fingers are all over the place! lol This more confusing then I thought! Why and how did the great dragons get 5 fingers. Well there is a interesting myth from Korea that might or might not explain: "All Dragons in Korea have 4 fingers, but the more they travel, the more/less fingers they get. For example if the Dragon were to travel to China it will gain 1 finger. But if it were to travel to Japan it would lose 2 fingers. And if it were to go even father, say Australia it would lose all of them" It is all very confusing and I think we may never know.
Really they regarded rainbows as dragons too! Maybe the Rainbow Serpent is a Chinese Dragon that went too far south! lol
I thank you very much for your help. And thanks for accepting my friend request on Facebook.
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Not at all. ^^
Wow! You found an interesting picture. It’s the same as that Japanese dragon in Kamakura periods. So interesting! Thank you so much for the information.
Dragons have excellent and beautiful parts of all animals in their bodies. Elephants are the biggest and dignified animals. Probably their noses were one of the symbols of the dragons' power. In ancient times, Asian elephants had inhabited in the widespread of Asia (India, South-east Asia, southern China and so on).
Buddhism came from India to Far East Asia. Nāga (Indian snake god/spirit) also came with Buddhism. Nāga are very famous mythological creatures in Buddhist countries in South-East Asia -Thailand, Cambodia and so on-. When Mahayana Buddhism introduced from India to Tibet and China, Nāga coalesced with ancient East Asian dragon, I think.
That is to say, Japanese dragons were originally a blend of the primitive cult of snakes in Japan and Chinese dragons which were also a blend of the ancient Chinese dragons and Nāga (Indian snake gods).
All cultures have been influenced by others for a long times. It's so interesting, isn't it?
"I Ching" -one of the ancient Chinese scripture- explained the human's way of the life. It compared to six dragons. (I think this looks like the lifetime of rainbows.)
1, Dragon which is lurking the marsh
2, Dragon which is crawling out of the march
3, Dragon which get a dragon ball and feel a burst of power
4, Dragon which is climbing to the sky
5, Dragon which is flying on the sky and enjoy the best period
6, Dragon which grow excited and die
It's one of the theories of dragons' fingers that dragons change their fingers as their growth.
1(powerless) and 6(death) are the bad periods. 2 is not so attractive. On the other hand, 3, 4, 5 are the most powerful and brilliant periods for dragons. It may be a reason of numbers of dragon's fingers. I think this theory is interesting.
Yes. I know Korean dragons has 4 fingers. And Korean people frequently say "only Chinese can use 5 fingers' dragons, because 5 finger is the symbol of Chinese emperor".
But some other Asian countries (Tibet, Ryukyu and so on) -which Chinese claim the property though it's forcible and nonsense- had frequently used 5 fingers dragons. Why are there no 5 fingers' dragon in Korea? I think 3 hypothesis about this question.
1. 4 fingers' dragons were introduced in Korean at a certain time, since then, the above became established (as 3 fingers' introduced in Japan Kamakura period).
2. Korean voluntary prohibited to use 5 fingers' dragon in the period of Ming dynasty, because Korean worshiped a Chinese emperor as the God.
3. Qing dynasty ordered to prohibit that Korean use 5 fingers' dragon as Qing's domestic area, though Qing admitted other countries use 5 fingers'.
If 2 or 3 is right answer, I need to explain their Sinocentrism.
Korean have Sinocentrism as Chinese. But it's very complex. Chinese believe Chinese are No.1 on the world. So they are always confident of their rank. On the other hand, Korean have always been subordinate to Han(Chinese) people. Han's emperor had been their God for a long time. Han had been superior to Korean in Chinese ranking. Korean had piled humiliation and venom. They vented their anger and racism to outsiders of Sinocentrism (Japanese, Manchurian and so on). (Actually it's related with present anti-Japanese racism of Korean people.)
In the case of 2
Korean worshiped the Han's emperor in Ming dynasty. So they voluntary prohibited.
In the case of 3
Qing dynasty (the dynasty of Manchurian emperors) was strictly prohibited Korean used 5 fingers' dragons. Korean had discriminated Manchurian as inferior people for a long time and took Ming's side when the war of Ming dynasty and Manchurian occurred. When Ming was ruined and Manchurian founded Qing dynasty, Korea resisted.
So Qing dynasty had strictly punished Korea for a long time. Korea was the worst rank in Sinocentrism among Qing periods. Prohibition of 5 fingers' dragons may be one of the sanctions.
My way of thinking about Korean dragons are tentative theories.
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Oh wow that makes sense actually about Korean and Chinese thinking!
I like the idea of the I Ching. It sounds like it is referring to the life cycle of Chinese Dragons. When a Chinese Dragon is born it looks like a little snake (Dragon which is lurking the marsh) then at 500 years it transforms into a Kiao which has a carp's head (Dragon which is crawling out of the march). At 1,500 the Dragons grows 4 stubby legs, elongated head and tail and a beard, It is now known as Kiao-Lung (Dragon which get a dragon ball and feel a burst of power). By 2 millennia the dragon will have grown horns and a new name Kioh-Lung (Dragon which is climbing to the sky). During the final millennia, the dragon will have grown wings. It is now called Ying-Lung (Dragon which is flying on the sky and enjoy the best period).
In the west the Dragon and the elephant a natural enemies. This is what Pliny says about them: “perpetually at war with the elephant,” he writes, “and is itself of so enormous a size, as easily to envelop the elephants with its folds, and encircle them in its coils. The contest is equally fatal to both; the elephant, vanquished, falls to the earth, and by its weight, crushes the dragon which is entwined around it.”
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The way of thinking in "I Ching" is very interesting. I recommend you will write it on your book after you investigate by yourself. ^^
(Though numbers of dragons' fingers are a tentative theory. I don't know it's true or not.)
That makes sense. ^^
I also think Chinese dragons originate from the primitive cult of snake as Nāga in India and snake gods in Shinto of Japan. They had been the symbol of water in the humid climate zones in Asia.
Kiao? It looks like the episode of 登竜門[Deng long men (Cn)] [Tou-ryuu-mon (Jp)]. It's means "the gate of climbing dragon" in Kanji. In ancient Chinese analogy, one koi fish swam and climbed to the top of the fall. Then the koi became a dragon. So "touryuumon" means "the gateway of the success" in Japanese. Koinobori (which is one of Japanese tradition, which celebrates boy's health and hopes his success 5th May) also came from this episode.
Dragons are just the symbol of the nature. The Western people had regarded the nature as the enemy which should be conquered by humans. Asians have thought humans were a part of the nature. Probably it originates from the difference of life styles and religions. I think we live with the nature and go back to the ground when we will die. Harmony with the nature is the basic way of thinking in Asia.
For example, European people have raised livestock for their life, and Japanese didn't have a custom of breeding livestock. Wolves had been devils in Europe because they attacked and ate livestock which humans owned. On the other hand, wolves had been gods in Japan because they attacked and ate deer and wild bores which ate away rice and vegetables on the fields.
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I agree we should go back to nature.
In the west dragons are seen as evil beings with terrible powers, but if we go back to the ancient days (ancient Greece, Roman, ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and so on) Snakes or serpents are highly worshiped. They can be good or bad. For example Asclepius the Greek god of medicine had two snakes coiling around his staff. In ancient Egypt Uraeus is a cobra and is used to symbolise sovereignty, royalty, deity, and divine authority in ancient Egypt.The Uraeus is a symbol for the goddess Wadjet, one of the earliest of Egyptian deities, who often was depicted as a cobra. The Ouroboros is a serpent represented in a lot of different countries. It is a serpent eating it's own tail! It represented eternity. It is only in medieval times the serpent or dragon became evil. That happen because of the christian church who had a lot of power. To them the dragon was a symbol for Satan and it represented paganism, so they had to stop that. So by then the snake and dragon were seen to be evil. Poor things!
Oh I love the story of the koi turing into a dragon! It's one of my favourites XD
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Wow, you know a lot of mythologies and cultures on the world.
I agree. Ancient Europe (the periods of Greece and Roman) are quite different from mediaval times. It's the problem of not only dragons, but also wolves.
Romulus and Remus who founded the city of Rome in Roman mythology were bred up by a female wolf, weren’t they? But they became the devils in mediaeval times.
So koi are very good fishes in Japan.
I have a photo which I took koinobori with my dog this May.
www.dropbox.com/s/7miub50ldotv…
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Yes medieval times in Europe was not a nice time for dragons and wolves. But there is some very good stories and folktales about them^^
Oh your dog is so cute! is it a Japanese spitz or a Samoyed?
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Exactly! It's one of the most interesting times for making a fantasy pictures and stories as viking ages, samurai ages, ancient China and so on.
I love armours. So designs of medieval Europe is also very attractive.
She is Japanese Spitz. Smile of Japanese Spitz is very similar to Samoyed's one. (Probably Japanese Spitz is Samoyed's relatives.) They always look like happy.
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Yes it was^^ Medieval pics of dragons and other beasts are so interesting! And the Norse and Celtic designs of them are just beautiful!
I love armours too! Especially Samurai armour!!!!!
Awww she's so cute XD My brother has a Samoyed. His name is Valentine. His a big ball of fun!!!!!
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Exactly. ^^
Norse and Celtic culture and mythology are one of the treasure houses of inspiration.
I will draw some warriors who are Takeru's friends and partners. I think one of them is an armoured boy whose design is based on Norse and viking. 
I think design of samurai armours are various, detailed and beautiful.
Thank you! She is already 16 years old. But she is pretty good and looks so young. ^^
Brilliant! I love Samoyed! He must be cute! If I can have a big dog, I must have Samoyed. I love their happy smile.
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Oh wow can't wait for that! I love your art and the story your doing of Takeru! Can't wait for the viking!
Samurai armours are absolutely stunning! The designs on them and their Kabuto is so detailed. Beats medieval knights any day!
Wow! she doesn't look it! I think Japanese spitzs and Samoyed contain their puppy looks^^
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Thank you! ^^
I'm drawing step by step now. When I will complete drawing them, I will show you it in advance.
There are a lot of gods and mythologies in their world. So when I designed them, I chose several countries and regions which has polytheism or mythological literature which came from ancient nature worship.
Yes. Their kabuto were so detailed and unique designs. It was their self-assertion on the battlefield. ^^
Medieval knight! Oh, that reminds me, do you know For Honor? (I've not played games, but) there are warriors of the most attractive 3 ages -knight, samurai and viking-.
Exactly! They always look like cute puppies and their white fur hide their "white hair".
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Oh I can't Wait!!!!!! Thank you
No I have not herd of that game.
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Actually I don't know it well. I only watched the commercial on Youtube. But there are a lots of knights, vikings and samurais. 3 type warriors fought in the game. Just the best of everything.
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I found it on youtube!!!! For Honor looks like a interesting game. Kind of want to play it (but knowing me I'll probably die on level 1 lol). I love the landscapes. It looks brilliant! Thanks for telling me^^
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I know, right?
Samurais in that game are so cool. I'm glad the Western company chose samurai with knight and viking.
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