*Chinese DragonThe Chinese dragon, is a creature in Chinese mythology that also appears in other Asian cultures, and is sometimes called the Oriental (or Eastern) dragon. Depicted as a long, snake-like creature with four claws
(or five for the imperial dragon), it has long been a potent symbol of auspicious power in Chinese folklore and art.
*Indian Dragon| A serpentine dragon common to all cultures influenced by Hinduism. They are often hooded like a cobra and may have several heads depending on their rank. They usually have no arms or legs but those with limbs resemble the Chinese dragon. |
* Indonesian/Malay Dragon
Derived from the Indian nāga, belief in the Indo-Malay dragon spread throughout Maritime Southeast Asia Like its Indian
counterpart, the naga is considered divine in nature, benevolent, and
often associated with sacred mountains, forests, or certain parts of the
seawith Hinduism. The word naga is still the common Malay/Indonesian term for dragon.
* Japanese Dragon
Similar to Chinese dragons, with three claws instead of four. They are usually benevolent, associated with *Khmer Dragon
The Khmer dragon, or neak is derived from the Indian nāga. Like its Indian
counterpart, the neak is often depicted with cobra like characteristics
such as a hood. The number of heads can be as high as nine, the higher the number the higher the rank. Odd-headed dragons are symbolic of male energy while even headed dragons symbolize female energy. Traditionally, a neak is distinguished from the often serpentine Makar and Tao, the former possessing crocodilian traits and the latter possessing feline traits. A dragon princess is the heroine of the creation myth of Cambodia.
No comments:
Post a Comment