Azure Dragon
One of the Four Symbols of Chinese constellations, representing east and spring.
The Azure Dragon, known in Chinese as Qīnglóng (青龙), is one of the Dragon Gods that serve as the mounts or earthly forces of the Five Regions' Highest Deities (Wǔfāng Shàngdì). It also ranks among the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations, which themselves represent these same deities in the stars. This dragon governs the east and the season of spring. It goes by several other names, including the Blue-Green Dragon, Green Dragon, or Blue Dragon (Cānglóng, 苍龙).
In Japanese, it is called Seiryū; in Korean, Cheongryong; and in Vietnamese, Thanh Long. Its directional title is the "Blue Dragon of the East" (Dōngfāng Qīnglóng or Dōngfāng Cānglóng).
Like the other three Symbols, the Azure Dragon contains seven lunar mansions—astrological positions of the Moon—each with its own name and determinative star.
In the *Romance of the Tales of the Tang*, the star of the White Tiger is reborn as the fictional general Luo Cheng, who serves Li Shimin, while the Azure Dragon's star is reborn as General Shan Xiongxin, who serves Wang Shichong. These two generals are sworn brothers of Qin Shubao, Cheng Zhijie, and Yuchi Gong. After death, their spirits are said to possess heroes of the Tang dynasty and Goguryeo, such as Xue Rengui and Yŏn Kaesomun.
The Azure Dragon appears as a door god at Taoist temples. It was depicted on the stone coffin of Wang Hui, on the east side, at Xikang in Lushan; a rubbing of this image, collected by David Crockett Graham, is held at the Field Museum of Natural History. The dragon also appeared on the Chinese national flag from 1862 to 1912, and on the Twelve Symbols national emblem from 1913 to 1928.
In Japan, the Azure Dragon is one of the four guardian spirits of cities, believed to protect Kyoto on its east side. The west is guarded by the White Tiger, the north by the Black Tortoise, the south by the Vermilion Bird, and the center by the Yellow Dragon. Kyoto has temples dedicated to each spirit. The Azure Dragon is represented at Kiyomizu Temple in eastern Kyoto; a statue of the dragon stands before the temple entrance and is said to drink from the waterfall within the complex at night. A yearly ceremony honors the dragon of the east.
Quick Facts
- P
- Qīnglóng
- J
- Ceng / 1 / lung / 4
- Y
- Chēnglùhng
- Poj
- Chheⁿ-lêng or Chhiⁿ-lêng
- Revhep
- Seiryū
- Kunrei
- Seiryuu
- Rr
- Cheongryong
- L
- Blue Dragon
- Qn
- Thanh Long
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Azure Dragon is one of the Dragon Gods representing the mounts or chthonic forces of the Five Regions' Highest Deities. It is also one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations, which are the astral representations of the Wufang Shangdi. The dragon represents the east and the spring season, and is sometimes referred to as the Blue-Green Dragon, Green Dragon, or Blue Dragon. Its cardinal direction's epithet is 'Blue Dragon of the East'.
As with the other three Symbols, there are seven astrological 'Mansions' (positions of the Moon) within the Azure Dragon. In the Romance of the Tales of the Tang, the Azure Dragon's Star is reincarnated as General Shan Xiongxin, who serves Wang Shichong. After death, his soul is said to possess heroes of the Tang dynasty and Goguryeo, such as Xue Rengui and Yŏn Kaesomun.
The Azure Dragon appears as a door god at Taoist temples. It was represented on the tomb of Wang Hui (stone coffin, east side) at Xikang in Lushan. A rubbing of this was collected by David Crockett Graham and is in the Field Museum of Natural History. The dragon featured on the Chinese national flag in 1862–1912, and on the Twelve Symbols national emblem from 1913 to 1928.
Reader's Guide
The Azure Dragon holds significance as one of the four guardian spirits of cities in Japan, believed to protect the city of Kyoto on the east. In Kyoto, temples are dedicated to each guardian spirit, and the Azure Dragon is represented in the Kiyomizu Temple in eastern Kyoto. Before the entrance of the temple there is a statue of the dragon, said to drink from the waterfall within the temple complex at nighttime, and a ceremony is held each year to worship the dragon of the east. In 1983, the Kitora Tomb was found in the village of Asuka, with all four guardians painted on the walls in the corresponding directions and a system of constellations painted on the ceiling, providing one of the few ancient records of the four guardians.
In Korea, murals of the Goguryeo tombs found at Uhyon-ni in South Pyongan province feature the Azure Dragon and the other mythological creatures of the four symbols. The Azure Dragon is associated with the East Sea Dragon King Ao Guang, who is the Dragon King Sagara in Buddhist literature. Its legacy extends to media, feng shui, and other cultures, where it is frequently referred to as the Green Dragon and the Avalon Dragon.
Did You Know?
- The Azure Dragon is also known as Seiryū in Japanese, Cheongryong in Korean, and Thanh Long in Vietnamese.
- The Kitora Tomb in Asuka, Japan, contains one of the few ancient records of the four guardians, including the Azure Dragon.
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