Today we welcome a guest post by Hee Kim with a short article on Korean Dragons:
Dragons in Korean mythology are mostly seen as “benevolent beings” related to water and agriculture, often considered ones who bring on the rain and clouds. Also many Korean dragons are said to have resided in rivers, lakes, oceans, or even deep ponds within mountains. One particular Korean legend tells of the great King Munmu, who on his last wish to become a “Dragon of the East Sea in order to protect Korea”. The Dragon itself been used in Korean mythology and art alot.
The Imugis or lesser dragon in Korean mythology which looked like giant “serpents”. There are a few different varieties of stories how the imugis become a grown dragon. I like to mention also that the Korean dragon also has a longer beard than the Chinese dragon in contrast. The Imugi is a “proto dragon” must survive a thousand years to become a ‘fully fledged dragon” The four-clawed Korean Yong (Draco orientalis koreensis), though less friendly than the Chinese Lung, remains a fascinating creature which prefers to dwell in the volcanic mountain springs of Korea. Contrary to previous opinion, they have four toes on each foot.
Also. the Korean Yong (Draco orientalis koreensis) is 8 to 10 feet high and up to 50 feet in length and has 4 toes on each foot and which is much less sociable than the Chinese Lung. They are narrower and longer than the Chinese Lung(Chinese dragon) but with a similar body shape. They look yellowish to gold with a “white mane and whiskers”. The dragons have bigger scales than other “species and fewer spines”. The dragon’s feelers are used to find “prey underwater”. The dragons’ call sounds like a yodel and then simmers down to low sounding call….. They hunt on mostly on little mammals, they favor being musk deer. The dragons tighten their bodies around their victims thus suffocating it before devouring it. To catch prey, they “hypnotize them” by implementing the dragons call and back and forth hypnotic dance. Also, I would like to add the Yong stays in the mountains where there are volcanic pools in the winter. Lastly,I would like to add another famous species of Korean dragon is the Kye-ryong, that is a compound animal: a mixture of “dragon” and “chicken”. They can be found by pools of water.
Beyond the PenUmbra 