Dragon Art Gallery ENTER

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Welcome to the Dragon Gallery !

All about the Dragon, Phoenix, Tiger
and other Animal Art of Asia.



- Roof Dragon at my home, GokuRakuAn 極楽庵　-

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2012 - the Year of the Dragon - Dragon Year
Das Jahr des Drachen, Jahr des Drachens,
Drachenjahr


Zodiac Animals of Asia, the DRAGON



- - - - - Joys of Japan - - - - -
. Join the Dragon Friends on Facebook .


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The DRAGON has a special place in Asian mythology and art.
Here is a growing collection of articles and artifacts on the subject.

The snake, little brother of the Dragon, will also be dealt with.


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source :　toy-art-gallery


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... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... CONTENTS

... ... ... Articles

Alphabetical List of Dragons, by Kylie McCormick
..... Start from here! With Mythology of World Dragons and more
(external link)


. Amulets and Talismans - Tatsu 辰 Dragon .
clay bells　土鈴, ema votive tablets 絵馬、hariko　張子 papermachee figures

BHUTAN : The Dragon's Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan
February 26 - May 23, 2008

Chinese characters, arranged with DRAGON TAITO たいと

Chinese Dragons by Crystalinks

The Chinese Dragon, by Kate Hunt (Artnet)

Fifth Lucky Dragon, A Fishing Boat Tragedy 第五福竜丸の事件

Gods of the Elements by Gabi Greve

Kagura and the eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi by Gabi Greve

Kurikara, the Sword of Fudo Myo-o 　by Gabi Greve

Nagarjuna, the Dragon Tree 龍樹 Ryuuju Master Translator

. Nature and Dragon Names .

Ryuujin 龍神, 竜神 Ryujin, the Dragon God
all the details by Mark Schumacher

Ryuuoo 竜王 Ryuo, the Dragon Kings
Hachidai ryuu-oo 八大竜王 Eight Great Dragon Kings
Kairyuu oo kyoo 海龍王経　Sutra of the Dragon King of the Sea


Seiryuu 青龍; 青竜 Seiryu, Azure Dragon in the East
seiryoo, blue dragon, green dragon, Qinglong


. Shrines with Dragon Names .

. Temples with Dragon Names .

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. INFO - Latest Dragon information - .


Check "View by subject" on the right side for more details.


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........ For more Pieces of .. DRAGON .. Art: CLICK HERE !!

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... ... ... Other Dragons

Cherry Tree : The Lying-Dragon Cherry Tree. Garyuuzakura 臥龍桜

Palace, Dragon Palace, ryuuguu 竜宮城

Waterfalls, ryuutaki 龍ヶ滝

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... ... ... Other Animals

Dragonfly (tombo, tonbo) a kigo for haiku

Mandarin Ducks, oshidori 鴛鴦、おしどり

Phoenix in Asian Art

Serpent Festival (Nag Panchami) India
... Snake, serpent, viper, cobra (hebi, mamushi, habu) Japan a kigo for haiku

Tiger, the Four Sleepers, Shisui

Tortoise and Snake (Tsurukame) by Gabi Greve

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... ... ... ... ... LINKS

Some links are at the right sidebar of this BLOG.

More links are here.

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Most interesting material disappears soon from the internet. Here is a series of articles and pieces of art, collected for educational purposes. Proper credit is given at the top of each entry.
Please read the . Copyright Policy . of the Daruma Museum.


For the latest additions check the monthly archives
at the end of the right sidebar of this BLOG.

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Latest Articles of the Daruma Museum

Daruma Museum, Main Gallery

World Kigo Database

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SEARCH all my articles





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2012 Year of the Dragon

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2012 - Year of the Dragon


初夢や辰の上に立つ富士の山
hatsu yume ya tatsu no ue ni tatsu Fuji no Yama

first dream -
a dragon at the foot
of Mount Fuji


Katsushika Hokusai　葛飾北斎

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tatsu 辰 Dragon
ryuu,ryoo 龍 /　竜　dragon

The TATSU Dragon is one of the 12 zodiac animals of the Asian lunar calendar.
He is therefore a well-liked animal in folk art and handicraft.

It comes as a papermachee doll, clay doll or clay bell and other materials.

. Tatsu 辰 The Zodiac Dragon

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2012年のだるま　Daruma for 2012
干支だるま《辰》


source :　takasaki-kankoukyoukai.or.jp

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Kurashiki, shrine Ashitaka Jinja 倉敷市笹沖, 足高神社
for the year Heisei 24　平成24年


At the shrine Tsurusaki Jinja 鶴崎神社 they are preparing a huge dragon ema with two dragons, in auspicious white and red, made from origami paper.
They show a "dragon going to heaven" 昇り竜
symbolizing the future for Japan, which must go up after so much damage in 2011.





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Some labyrinths to work through!


Find the differences !
間違い探しの年賀状　「辰（たつ）の餅つき」



迷路の年賀状　「辰（たつ）とだるま」


Look at many more wonderful Dragon games :

source : blog.kotoba.littlestar.jp


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Dragon Bisquits in a Daruma Box
小戸橋製菓おすすめの「お年賀ギフト」



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昇龍開運絵馬



source :　www.murakudo.com


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source :　web-room-krym4.com


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nengajoo　年賀状 New Year Greeting Cards







Click on the images to see more !

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New Year Greetings with Daruma








source :　maneki_neko


. Nenga 年賀状 New Year Greetings with Daruma .

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. Kunitokotachi no Mikoto .

龍神「国常立尊」 Kunitokotachi no Mikoto
『日月神示』でも
「日本列島が国常立尊の肉体」だと示されている通り、日本列島は龍体をしている。

"The Japanese Islands
are the body of the Dragon Kunitokotachi.!



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Zodiac Animals

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12 Zociac animals 干支　 eto, kanshi


Dragon : tatsu　辰　
Dragon and Snake : tatsumi 辰巳

Grace Kelly (1928), Napoleon III (1808), and Deng Xiaoping (1904) were Dragon born.

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2012 is the year of the Water Dragon

mizunoe tatsu, jinshin 　
壬辰 みずのえたつ /　じんしん




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Jikkan Junishi (literally 10 stems and 12 branches)
refers to the Chinese zodiac symbols, also called eto in Japanese. The 10 heavenly stems referred yin-yang principles and the elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

The 12 earthly branches included 12 animals:
rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse,
sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and wild boar.
© http://asnic.utexas.edu/asnic/countries/china/czod.html

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DRAGON:
Full of vitality and enthusiasm, the Dragon is a popular individual even with the reputation of being foolhardy and a "big mouth" at times. You are intelligent, gifted, and a perfectionist but these qualities make you unduly demanding on others. You would be well-suited to be an artist, priest, or politician.

Born in 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036, 2048, 2060.

Read more about the other Zodiac Animals
©　 Chinatoday.com

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In China, instead of asking your age, people may ask you questions like "what do you belong to?" Don't ever think that you are expected to answer like "I belong to the US". You are supposed to belong to one of twelve animals! (Those are mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.) It is not that weird as you have to follow the order of a mouse or a tiger. That is Chinese Zodiac. The Chinese Zodiac is based on a twelve year cycle --- each year being represented by an animal that imparts distinct characteristics to its year.

Many Chinese believe that the year of a person's birth is the primary factor in determining that person's personality traits, physical and mental attributes and degree of success and happiness throughout his lifetime. Actually, in China, this is just an alternative way to say how old you are.

Chinese astrology has a history of more than 3,000 years. Ancient Chinese people invented the 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches for chronological purposes. However, since most people were illiterate, 12 animals were designated to symbolize the 12 Earthly Branches in order to be better remembered. These lucky animals are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig successively.

According to legend, many years ago Buddha summoned all the animals to a meeting in which he would designate the first 12 animals arriving,to be signs of a year respectively. On the night before the departure, cat notified his pal, rat, and they agreed that the one waking up first the next morning must awake the other so they can depart for the meeting together. However, rat broke his promise and arrived for the meeting alone. Then, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig arrived one after the other. When cat woke up and hurried there, the meeting was over. It is said that is the reason why the cat kills rats.

Chinese astrology argues that one's personality profile can be revealed form one's birth time. However, Chinese zodiac is based on the year rather than in the month as in the western system. In China everybody knows which animal sign he or she is born under. Do you want to know which animal you are born under and check out your astrological path according to Chinese Zodiac?

The Chinese Calendar

Chinese New Year is the main holiday of the year for more than one quarter of the world's population. Although the People's Republic of China uses the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes, a special Chinese calendar is used for determining festivals. Various Chinese communities around the world also use this calendar. At right, a large dragon lantern glows at a festival for Chinese New Year at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial. Taipei, Taiwan.

The beginnings of the Chinese calendar can be traced back to the 14th century B.C.E. Legend has it that the Emperor Huangdi invented the calendar in 2637 B.C.E.

The Chinese calendar is based on exact astronomical observations of the longitude of the sun and the phases of the moon. This means that principles of modern science have had an impact on the Chinese calendar.

2000-year-old Almanac Found in Suizhou Hubei Province
- Chongzhen Lishu
- Shoushi Calendar
- Chinese Lunar Calendar
- Tibetan Wuhou Calendar
-- a Unique Ethnic Minority Calendar
- Ten-month Solar Calendar of Yi Ethnic Minority
- Origins of the Solar Calendar
- Chuxiong Solar Calendar Cultural Park -- Symbol of the Yi Civilization

- Calendarian Achivements
- Calendar Making in Ancient China
- Solar Terms
- Chinese Calendar vs. Western Calendar
- Taichu Calendar
- Daming Calendar
- Dayan Calenar

Read a lot more here
©　China Style

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The Lunar Calendar in Japan
By Steve Renshaw and Saori Ihara


KANSHI (or ETO 干支) = Zodiac Calendar
JUUNI SHI (or JUNI SHI 十二支) = 12 Zodiac Animals
By Mark Schumacher


Dragon and its Buddhist Patron, - Fugen Bosatsu -

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Nakayugawa papermachee doll
会津中湯川土人形 - by Aoyagi san 青柳守彦



. Catfish, Dragon and Daruma .



Read a short introduction by Gabi Greve



. Zodiac Animals and Japanese Folk Toys .


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- Dragon Temples

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Temples with the "dragon" in their name

The Dragon in temple names refers to the Chinese dragon bringing clouds.
It also refers to local legends about snakes and dragons in a pond.
Another source is the posthumous Buddhist name of the temple founder, which often contains "Dragon".

There are usually more than one temple with the same Dragon name.




under construction

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To be checked

Anryuuji 安竜寺 Anryu-Ji“Peaceful Dragon Temple”
Banryuuji 蟠竜寺 Banryu-Ji“Coiling Dragon Temple”

Honryuuji 本竜寺 Honryu-Ji“Original Dragon Temple”
Hooryuuji 宝竜寺 Horyu-Ji “Precious Dragon Temple”

Jyooryuuji 浄竜寺 Joryu-Ji“Pure Dragon Temple”

Keiryuuji 慶龍寺 Keiryu-Ji“Celebratory Dragon Temple”
Kooryuuji 興竜寺 Koryu-Ji“Rising Dragon Temple”
Kooryuuji 光竜寺 Koryu-Ji“Light Dragon Temple”
Kooryuuji 高竜寺 Koryu-Ji“Tall Dragon Temple”

Manryuuji 万竜寺 Manryu-Ji“Myriad Dragons Temple”
Ooryuuji 黄竜寺 Oryu-Ji“Yellow Dragon Temple”

Ryuudooji 龍洞寺 Ryudo-Ji "Dragon Cave Temple"
Ryuufkukuji 龍福寺　Ryufuku-Ji "Dragon Luck Temple"

Ryuuganji 龍岩寺 Ryugan-Ji "Dragon Rock Temple"

Ryuugeji 龍華寺 Ryuge-Ji "Dragon Lotus Temple"
- GE can also be the Bodhi tree of Maitreya

Ryuujooji 滝上寺 Ryujo-Ji "Dragon Above Temple"
Ryuujooji 龍城寺 Ryujo-Ji "Dragon Castle Temple"

Ryuujuuji 竜樹寺　Ryuju-Ji "Dragon Tree Temple"
. The translator Nagarjuna was called Ryuju, Dragon Tree

Ryuukooji 龍湖寺 Ryuko-Ji "Dragon Lake Temple"
... Ryuusuiji 龍水寺 Ryusui-Ji "Dragon Water Temple"

Ryuukooji　龍興寺 Ryuko-Ji "Dragon Prospering Temple"

Ryuumonji 竜門寺 Ryumon-Ji "Dragon Gate Temple"
Ryuuonji 竜穏寺 / 龍穏寺 Ryuon-Ji "Dragon Calm Temple" (H)
Ryuusenji 龍泉寺 Ryusen-Ji "Dragon Fountain Temple"

Ryuushooji Ryusho-Ji
龍昌寺
龍翔寺
龍照寺
龍勝寺 Ryusho Nagarjuna Temple

Ryuutaku-ji 龍沢寺 Ryutaku-ji"Dragon Swamp Temple"
Ryuutenji 龍天寺 Ryuten-Ji "Dragon Heaven Temple"
Ryuutooji 龍頭寺 Ryuto-Ji "Dragon Head Temple"
Ryuuunji, Ryoounji 龍雲寺 Ryuun-Ji, Ryoun-Ji "Dragon Cloud Temple"
Ryuuzooji龍蔵寺 Ryuzo-Ji "Dragon Store Temple"

Senryuuji 泉竜寺 Senryu-Ji“Fountain Dragon Temple”
Shinryuuji 信竜寺 Shinryu-Ji “Trusty Dragon Temple”
Shooryuuji 昌竜寺 Shoryu-Ji“Flourishing Dragon Temple”
Sooryuu-ji 蒼龍寺 Soryu-Ji“Blue Dragon Temple”

Tamaryuuji 玉竜寺 Tamaryu-Ji "Pearl Dragon Temple"

Zenryuuji 善竜寺 Zenryu-Ji “Good Dragon Temple”
Zenryuuji 全竜寺 Zenryu-Ji “Whole Dragon Temple”
Zuiryuu-ji 瑞龍寺 Zuiryu-Ji“Auspicious Dragon Temple”


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. Kairyuuooji 海龍王寺 Kairyuo-Ji
"Sea Dragon King Temple" .



. Kinryuuji 金龍寺 Kinryu-ji - Golden Dragon Temple .
Goldener Drachentempel
The Golden Dragon (kinryuu son 金龍尊) is often mentioned in the Suvarna- prabhasa-sutra "Golden Light Sutra" (Goldglanz Sutra).



. Ryooan-ji 龍安寺 /竜安寺 Ryoan-Ji, Royanji
"Dragon Peace Temple" .


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Ryuugaiji 龍蓋寺 Ryugai-Ji "Dragon Lid Temple"
(gai has various symbolic meanings in Buddhism)
better known as Okadera　岡寺 Hill Temple, in Akusa, Nara.

It was founded by Priest Gien (義淵) during the 7th century, and is the 7th temple on the Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage.
The statue of Gien is one of the national treasures of Japan.

During the time of Emperor Tenchi 天智天皇　Gien made an exorcism of a local vicious dragon, banned him in the pond and put a lid on it to keep it safe there.
Drachendeckel-Tempel.


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. Ryuuginji 龍吟寺 Ryugin-Ji -Singing Dragon Temple .
..... Ryoogin An 龍吟庵 Kyoto
ryuugin koshoo 龍吟虎嘯　 Dragon and Tiger lore



. Ryuukooji　龍口寺 Ryuko-Ji - Dragon Mouth Temple .
Fujizawa. Saint Nichiren and
Tatsu no Kuchi 竜の口 the "Mouth of the Dragon"



. Ryuukooji 龍光寺 Ryuko-Ji - Temple of Dragon's Ray .
Ryuukooin 龍光院 Ryuko-In
Ryookooin 龍光院 Ryoko-In
. . . . . and
Ryuutokuji 竜得寺　Ryutoku-Ji "Temple of Great Dragon Quality"




. Ryuuooji 竜王寺 Ryuo-Ji "Dragon King Temple" .

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. Seiryuujii, Shooryuuji 青竜寺 Seiryu-Ji .
Azure Dragon of the East


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Shooryuuji 正龍寺 Shoryu-Ji - Real Dragon Temple

正龍寺 -鹿児島県指宿市山川
正龍寺 -埼玉県：大里郡／寄居町／藤田村
正竜寺愛知県：幡豆郡／吉良町／小山田村

Shooryuuji mura 正竜寺村- 山形県：酒田市
village named Shoryu-Ji


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. Tenryuuji 天龍寺 Tenryu-Ji
"Heavenly Dragon Temple" .
. . . . . Tenryu-In 天龍院


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Unryuuji 雲龍寺 Unryu-Ji "Cloud Dragon Temple"
The dragon in the clouds is a metaphor for the enlightened mind, reaching out and above of the samsara world.

Saṅsāra or Saṃsāra (Sanskrit: संसार), (in Tibetan called "khorwa"), literally meaning "continuous flow",
is the cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth or reincarnation within Hinduism, Buddhism, Bön, Jainism, Sikhism, and other Indian religions.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

Temples of this name
群馬県館林市 Gunma
兵庫県三木市 Hyogo





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. Henro Pilgrim Temples in Shikoku .

12 Temple of the Burning Mountai 焼山寺 Shozan-Ji
21 Temple of the Great Dragon 太龍寺 Tairyu-Ji / Dairyu-Ji
36 Temple of the Green Dragon 青龍寺 Shoryu-Ji
41 Temple of Dragon's Ray 龍光寺 Ryuko-Ji

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. Wakasa Bay 若狭湾 .

Wakasa Pilgrimage to 33 Kannon Temples
若狭の三十三観音
3 Dragon Temples

第０３番　金照山　　Ryuukeiin 龍渓院　Ryukei-In　
Dragon Gorge Hall
福井県三方郡美浜町丹生 47-1

第１１番　大龍山　　永源寺　　Dairyuuzan
福井県小浜市田烏 37-3

第１７番　龍雲山　　神通寺　　Ryuuunzan
福井県小浜市遠敷 56-2

http://www.kimura-product.co.jp/kannon7/wakasa33/wakasa.htm

There are more Ryukei-In in Japan.


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In Tokyo
Kinryuuzan Akakusadera 金竜山浅草寺
Kinryuzan - Golden Dragon Mountain
. Asakusa Kannon　浅草観音 .

Kinryuuzan no oidashi
きんりゅうざん の 追出（おいだ）し
to be driven out because of Kinryuzan
. . . . . and
Kinryuuzan no koi shirazu
きんりゅうざん の 恋（こい）知（し）らず
Kinryuzan does not know about love

When the temple bell rang in the morning, the lovers from the Asakusa pleasure quarters of nearby Yoshiwara had to part and the men had to go home.

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quote
Dragon lore
is traditionally associated with Buddhist temples. Myths about dragons living in ponds and lakes near temples are widespread. De Visser (1913:181-184) lists accounts for Shitennō-ji in Osaka, Gogen Temple in Hakone, Kanagawa, and the shrine on Mount Haku where the Genpei Jōsuiki records that a Zen priest saw a 9-headed dragon transform into the goddess Kannon. In the present day, the Lake Saiko Dragon Shrine at Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi has an annual festival and fireworks show.

Temple names, like Japanese toponyms, frequently involve dragons.
For instance, the Rinzai sect has Tenryū-ji 天龍寺 "Heavenly Dragon Temple", Ryūtaku-ji 龍沢寺 "Dragon Swamp Temple", Ryōan-ji 竜安寺 "Dragon Peace Temple".
According to legend (de Visser 1913:180), when the Hōkō-ji 法興寺 or Asuka-dera 飛鳥寺 Buddhist temple was dedicated at Nara in 596, "a purple cloud descended from the sky and covered the pagoda as well as the Buddha hall; then the cloud became five-coloured and assumed the shape of a dragon or phoenix".

The Kinryū-no-Mai "Golden Dragon Dance" is an annual Japanese dragon dance performed at Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple in Asakusa. The dragon dancers twist and turn within the temple grounds and outside on the streets. According to legend, the Sensō Temple was founded in 628 after two fishermen found a gold statuette of Kannon in the Sumida River, at which time golden dragons purportedly ascended into heaven. The Golden Dragon Dance celebrates the temple founding and allegedly provides good fortune and prosperity.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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. Ryuu Jinja 龍神社 Ryu Jinja "Dragon Shrines"


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There are many more temples in Japan which are related to the Dragon, but do not carry its character in the name.

Mangan-Ji 満願寺 Kyoto - Tatsu no Myooken 辰の妙見
. Myooken Bosatsu 妙見菩薩 Myoken .
and the Star Shrines of Japan
Hokushin Myoken Bosatsu 北辰妙見菩薩
Hokushin Bosatsu 北辰菩薩　Sk: Sudrsti
Hokushin Jinja 北辰神社 -
..... "Northern Dragon Shrine" Pole Star Shrine

- Reference : 北辰神社 in Japan

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Saitatsuji 西辰寺 "West Zodiac Dragon Temple"
Hokkaido

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Thanks to Jan Walls
and all members of "Joys of Japan" !


. Omamori 龍神札 Dragon God Amulets .


. Dragon Shrines .


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- Dragon Shrines

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Ryuu Jinja 龍神社 Ryu Jinja "Dragon Shrine"



in the compound of
Takano Shrine, Takano Jinja 高野神社

Izumo Kaido : In no Shoo

. In no Shoo 院庄


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Shrines with the kanji for dragon in the name





There are various shrines in Japan with this name.

In Chiba 龍神社
千葉県船橋市海神


In Ibaraki 竜神社
猿島町生子 八坂社南方に鎮座

In Kumano
たつじんじゃ【龍神社】Tatsu Jinja
人吉市下田代町

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Ryuujoo jinja 龍城神社 Ryujo Jinja "Dragon Castle"



. Ryuuoo jinja 竜王神社 Ryuo Jinja "Dragon King" .


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In Akita
Sekiryoo Jinja 石龍神社 Stone Dragon Shrine
秋田市寺内神屋敷

In Fukui
福島県 八龍神社

In Fukushima 八龍神社
福島市飯坂町平野

In Iwate 巖龍神社 Ganryuu Jinja
Morioka, Tono

In Nara
Kinryuu jinja 金龍神社 (of Kasuga Taisha)
deity is Kinryuu Ookami 金龍大神


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In Yamagata 劔龍神社 Kenryuu Jinja
劔龍山大権現 Kenryu Daigongen
http://www.genbu.net/data/dewa/kenryu_title.htm

. . . . . and on the way

Tsurugi Jinja 劔神社
in Fukui
http://tsurugi-jinja.jp/


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Shrines for the Dragon God 龍神 - LIST of prefectures


秋田県 Akita
龍神神社 秋田市土崎港中央一丁目
八龍神社 男鹿市船越八郎谷地
八大龍王神社 潟上市天王中羽立
八郎神社 潟上市昭和大久保野村
龍神社 能代市能代町

愛媛県 Ehime
龍神社 今治市高部
龍神社 今治市波止浜１丁目２−１３


福島県 Fukushima
八龍神社 福島市飯坂町平野
八龍神社 伊達市梁川町柳田町尻


岐阜県 Gifu
八大白龍大神 各務原市各務おがせ町
八大龍王 各務原市各務おがせ町


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兵庫県 Hyogo, Akaishi
Seiryuu Jinja 青龍神社 Seiryu Jinja - Green Dragon Shrine
明石市藤江
source : blog.cataract.shop-pro

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茨城県 Ibaraki
青竜大権現 東茨城郡茨城町小幡

岩手県 Iwate
八大龍神社 大船渡市末崎町門之浜
龍神社 紫波郡矢巾町白沢中ノ口


鹿児島県 Kagoshima
Ryuuguu Jinja 龍宮神社 指宿市山川町岡

神奈川県 Kanagawa
Kuzuryuu Jinja 九頭龍神社 Kuzuryu Jinja, Shrine with a nine-headed dragon
足柄下郡箱根町元箱根

長野県 Nagano
青龍神社 北佐久郡御代田町塩野

佐賀県 Saga
八龍社 佐賀市西与賀町厘外
八大龍王社 小城郡芦刈町永田住ノ江
八竜大明神 佐賀郡大和町池上

滋賀県 Shiga
龍宮神社 草津市新浜町

静岡県 Shizuoka
竜宮神社 伊東市静海町

栃木県 Tochigi
八竜神社 小山市荒川
青龍神社 日光市本町
八龍神社 下都賀郡大平町北武井
竜神社 下都賀郡藤岡町大字大前

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東京都 Tokyo
青龍神社 葛飾区高砂

九頭竜神社 西多摩郡檜原村数馬 Kuzuryuu Jinja



source : www.kuzuryujinja.net


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quote
Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima or Itsukushima Island
in Japan's Inland Sea was believed to be the abode of the sea-god Ryūjin's daughter. According to the Gukanshō and The Tale of Heike (Heinrich 1997:74-75), the sea-dragon empowered Emperor Antoku to ascend the throne because his father Taira no Kiyomori offered prayers at Itsukushima and declared it his ancestral shrine. When Antoku drowned himself after being defeated in the 1185 Battle of Dan-no-ura, he lost the imperial Kusanagi sword (which legendarily came from the tail of the Yamata no Orochi (dragon) back into the sea.
In another version, divers found the sword, and it is said to be preserved at Atsuta Shrine. The great earthquake of 1185 was attributed to vengeful Heike spirits, specifically the dragon powers of Antoku.

Ryūjin shinkō ryuujin shinkoo 竜神信仰 "dragon god faith" is a form of Shinto religious belief that worships dragons as water kami. It is connected with agricultural rituals, rain prayers, and the success of fisherman.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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quote
Ryūjin shinkō
Ryūjin ("dragon kami") faith is a form of religious thought and practice associated with dragons, a mythical sacred animal of ancient China. Although Japanese ryūjin worship was influenced by China, the Japanese dragon as an object of faith was a deified snake, a symbol of a water kami (suijin). Besides the term ryūjin, ryūō ("dragon king") and ryūgū ("dragon palace") are also used. The dragon kami is connected with agriculture because of its characteristic as a water kami. Prayers for rain were performed at rivers, swamps, ponds, and deep pools which were regarded as the abodes of the ryūjin. Agricultural rituals, such as prayers for rain and rope pulls, were carried out using a straw rope shaped like a serpent-like dragon. As a water kami, ryūjin is connected with raijin, the kami of thunder, who brings forth rain and lightning. It is thought that the dragon kami ascends to heaven when a tornado occurs.

Further, umi no kami (kami of the sea), thought to reside on the other side of the ocean and to rule over the sea, is connected with water kami belief and is frequently used as a synonym for ryūjin. Fishermen prayed to the dragon kami for an abundant catch and calm seas. They carried out festivals for ryūjin, celebrated as the kami of the sea and the kami of the dragon palace. These festivals are referred to by such names as uramatsuri ("inlet festival"), isomatsuri ("beach festival"), and shiomatsuri ("tide festival").

From the belief that metal nullified the magical powers of a snake, there developed the idea of refraining from actions that would anger the snake. Hence, fishermen believed it was taboo to drop metal in the ocean. This was the background to the idea of the equivalence of the snake kami, the dragon kami, and the sea kami. The motif of interaction between the sea kami and humans often appears in folk tales such as Urashima Tarō and Ryūgū Dōji. The belief that wealth and treasure is brought from the other side of the ocean derives from this source.
source : Iwai Hiroshi, 2006, Kokugakuin

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There are many more shrines in Japan which are related to the Dragon, but do not carry its character in the name.

Here is a list for Kyoto with great photos

Kibune Jinja 貴船神社
Manai Jinja 真名井神社
Heian Jingu 平安神宮
Yasaka Jinja 八坂神社
Shinsen en 神泉苑
Kandakara Jinja 神宝神社
Tatsuo Jinja 瀧尾神社 "Dragon tail shrine"
Kuzuryu Seniarai Benzaiten 九頭龍銭洗弁財天
Hakuryuu Zeniarai Benzaiten 白龍銭洗辨財天
Kuzuryuu Taisha 九頭竜大社 "Dragon with nine heads"
Takenobu Inari Jinja 武信稲荷神社
source : www.merosu.com

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. Myooken Bosatsu 妙見菩薩 Myoken .
and the Star Shrines of Japan
Hokushin Myoken Bosatsu 北辰妙見菩薩
Hokushin Bosatsu 北辰菩薩　Sk: Sudrsti
Hokushin Jinja 北辰神社 -
..... "Northern Dragon Shrine" Pole Star Shrine

- Reference : 北辰神社 in Japan

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. Omamori 龍神札 Dragon God Amulets .



. Dragon Temples .


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- Nature - INFO

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Nature and Dragon Names
Natur und Drachen

There are many phenomenon in nature carrying the name of the dragon.
And natural phenomenon that look like dragon . . .

under construction


. Nature and Dragon Names .

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. Amur River in China 黑龍江 / 黒龍江 / 黒竜江 .
Black Dragon River, Heilongjiang, Kokuryuukoo, Kokuryuko


. Branch, branches like a dragon .


. Ike 池 - Ponds like dragons .
Lakes named "Dragon"



. Kare Sansui 枯山水 Garden with Sand and Stones .
The garden at the temple Tofuku-Ji (Toofukuji 東福寺) was created by the famous master gardener Shigemori Mirei.


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Kuzuryuugawa 九頭竜川 Kuzuryugawa
"Nine-headed dragon"
Kuzuryuu kyoo 九頭竜峡（くずりゅうきょう）gorge
Kuzuryuubashi 九頭竜橋（くずりゅうばし） bridge
Fukui


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. Taki 滝 Waterfalls - Wasserfall .



. Tatsumaki 竜巻き "dragon whirl" .
tornado, whirlwind, twister - Wirbelsturm


. Tatsunokuchi, tatsu no kuchi 辰口　Mount Dragon Mouth .
Enoshima, Kanagawa. related to the Nichiren legends



. Tenryuugawa 天竜川 River Tenryugawa
From Suwa to Hamamatsu


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MORE
. Nature and Dragon Names .

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Ryu-O Dragon King

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Ryuu-oo 竜王 Ryu-O - The Dragon King

Der Drachenkönig


source :　www.butuzou.co.jp

The Dragon King　龍王 (or Dragon God, Ryuujin 竜神)
is a manifestation of the Snake. His realm is the ocean and he can climb to the sky, provoke clouds and rain.


Temples named
Ryuuooji 竜王寺 Ryuo-Ji "Dragon King Temple"

滋賀県蒲生郡竜王町 Shiga

香川県小豆郡小豆島町 Kagawa

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In Buddhism we have the eight
Hachibushuu, Hachi Bushu 八部衆
Eight Legions, Eight Deva Guardians of Buddhism

. Hachibushu 八部衆.

Acht Gruppen göttlicher Wesen
Auch "Himmlische Drachen" (Tenryuu Hachibushuu) oder
"Drachengottheiten" (Ryuushin Hachibushuu) genannt.


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Hachidai ryuu-oo 八大竜王 Ryu-O
Eight Great Dragon Kings
Eight Dragon Kings
Acht grosse Drachenkönige



source :　www.ryu-sho.co.jp

Caraved from hinoki 桧 cedar wood.

Carved at a store called Dragon in Okayama
龍祥
岡山県岡山市南区新保1155-11


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Vishnu sleeping on Ananta

They are deities from India.


〔1〕Nanda 難陀（なんだ）（ナンダ Nanda の音写。「歓喜」の意）
アナンタ（Ananta）
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔2〕Hotsu Nanda 跋（ばつ）難陀（ウパナンダ Upananda「弟ナンダ」）
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔3〕Shagara 沙伽羅（しゃがら）（サーガラ Sgara「海」
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔4〕Washukichi 和修吉（わしゅきち）（バースキ Vsuki「九頭」）
ヴァースキ（Vaski)
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔5〕Tokushaka 徳叉迦（とくしゃか）（タクシャカ Takaka「多舌」）
タクシャカ(Taksaka)
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔6〕Anokudatsu 阿耨達（あのくだつ）（アナバタプタ Anavatapta「無熱悩」）
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔7〕Manashi 摩那斯（まなし）（マナスビン Manasvin「慈心」）
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔8〕Ubara 優鉢羅（うぱら）（ウトゥパラカ Utpalaka「青蓮華（れんげ）
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

source :　100.yahoo.co.jp

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quote
Hachidai Ryuu-ou (Eight Great Dragon Kings)
are mentioned in the Lotus Sutra (Hokekyo 法華経) and they appear sometimes in Japanese artwork.
These eight are dragon kings said to live at the bottom of the sea, apparently in reference to the eight dragon kings, each with many followers, who assembled at Eagle Peak to hear the Lotus Sutra as expounded by the Historical Buddha. According to the Kairyu-o Sutra 海龍王経　(Sutra of the Dragon King of the Sea, Kairyu-o-kyo), dragons are often eaten by giant man-birds called Garudas, their natural enemy.
The Phoenix is another enemy of the dragon. Nanda Ryuuou, who is one member of the Hachidai group, can sometimes represent the whole set, as he does in the Hokke Mandala 法華曼荼羅.
source : - Mark Schumacher -

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quote
eight great dragon kings
[八大竜王] ( hachidai-ryuo )

Also, eight dragon kings.
Eight dragon kings who assembled at the gathering where Shakyamuni preached the Lotus Sutra, as described in the sutra. Kumarajiva's translation of the Lotus Sutra refers to them by their Sanskrit names:
Nanda, Upananda, Sagara, Vasuki, Takshaka,
Anavatapta, Manasvin, and Utpalaka.
According to the "Introduction" (first) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, each attends the gathering accompanied by several hundreds of thousands of followers.
source : www.sgilibrary.org


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quote
Dragon King’s Daughter
(represented on the Gohonzon Diagram by #22,
the Eight Great Dragon Kings)



Of all Shakyamuni’s teachings, only in the Lotus Sutra do women attain enlightenment. Shakyamuni challenges our misconception that time is needed to attain enlightenment. He also challenges us to realize that enlightened life exists not just in old learned men, but in the very young as well. That’s why there is no distinction among believers. The Dragon King’s Daughter is:

- not fully human
- female
- she attained enlightenment in an instant

Enlightenment is a state of life that is even difficult for Buddhas to fully comprehend. Yet, this state of life is available to us at every moment. The Dragon King’s Daughter represents attaining that enlightenment at this moment and then perceiving our life from this state. We use this wisdom available to us to constantly move our lives in a positive and happy direction.
source : www.gakkaionline.net


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Kairyuuooji 　海龍王寺　Temple KaiRyuo-Ji
Nara
奈良県奈良市法華寺
897 Hokkeji Kita-machi Nara City,




quote
Kairyuoji temple,
located to the east of Hokeji temple, was built for prayers for the safety of Japanese envoys during his voyage to China during the Tang Dynasty. The first chief priest of Kairyuoji temple, Genbo, was one of these envoys. He stayed in China for 17 years, together with Kibi no Makibi and Abe no Nakamaro.
During his return journey from China to Japan, his ship was caught in a violent storm, and he chanted the Kairyuo Sea Dragon King Sutra unceasingly.
It is said that the Sutra protected the ship, and since then, prayers for the safety of envoys crossing the sea to Japan have been offered at the temple.
source : www.pref.nara.jp


The tempel is famous for a five-storied pagoda.


small five-storied pagoda 五重小塔


source : genkikidx


Genbō (玄昉, d. 746), also known as Gembō,
was a Japanese scholar-monk and bureaucrat of the Imperial Court at Nara.

In 717-718, he was part of the Japanese mission to Tang China (Kentōshi) along with Kibi no Makibi and Abe no Nakamaro. Genbō stayed in China for 17 years before returning to Japan.
He was a prominent figure associated with the Hossō sect of Buddhism in Japan, appointed abbot (sojo) of Kōfuku-ji by Emperor Shomu.

740 (Tenpyō 12): Gembō made improper advances to the wife of Fujiwara no Hirotsugu, Hirotsugu petitioned for the removal of the priest, but Kibi no Makibi and Genbō conspired successfully to discredit him.
At the time of Genbō's death, it was popularly believed that he was killed by the vengeful spirit of Hirotsugu.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


. Envoys to China 遣唐使 Kentoshi .

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海龍王経
The sutra on the king of the sea dragons is now in the National Museum in Nara.



At the temple Kairyuo-Ji an annual ceremony is held in memory of priest Genbo and the Dragon King Sutra. Prayers are for the safety of the four seas, for those who have to go and come back safely and for those who lost their lives on sea.



Shikai Anon kigan hooyoo 四海安穏祈願法要
source :　aoniyoshi


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Shooryuuji 正龍寺 Temples named Shoryu-Ji

文治４年（1187年）城下に青龍が出現し、龍泉の湖をつくり、住んだそうです。
後に和尚が教化し、「八大竜王」としてこの寺に祀ったそうです。
鹿児島県指宿市 Kagoshima
source : 正龍寺

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There are also Shinto shrines dedicated to the Dragon king.

Ryuuoo jinja 竜王神社　Ryuo Jinja
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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.Ocean Dragon King Sutra: Ratnavati .


. Dragon Temples .


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Nine Dragons Painting Chen Rong

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Nine Dragons 九龍圖卷




Artist: Chen Rong 陳容 (active first half of the 13th century),
Chinese: Southern Song dynasty
Date: dated 1244
Materials: Ink and touches of red on paper
Dimensions: 46.3 x 1096.4 cm (18 14 x 431 58 in.)

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Francis Gardner Curtis Fund 17.1697
Museum scroll information: Nine Dragons 九龍圖卷

Introduction
The painter of this handscroll, Chen Rong 陳容 (late Southern Song dynasty, first half of the 13th century), was a scholar-official from Fujian 福建 province in southeastern coastal China. Very little is known about him: He earned his Jinshi 進士 -degree (the highest degree in the official examination system) in 1235 when he was already middle-aged and subsequently became a low official in his home province Fujian. While he remained on that lower level of the bureaucracy and thus relatively poor, Chen Rong pursued his scholarly ambitions through the production of poetry, calligraphy, and painting. Already during his lifetime he was known for his paintings, especially of dragons and bamboo.

This long handscroll of the Nine Dragons is the best-preserved and most reliably attributed example of Chen Rong's dragon painting and carries two inscriptions by his own hand. According to the first inscription, the scroll can be dated to 1244.

This long handscroll depicts, as indicated by the title, nine dragons, which appear among clouds, waves, wind, and cliffs, executed in monochrome ink on paper with some subtle touches of red color.

The handscroll displays a great variety and creativity in painting technique, a combination of seemingly random and spontaneous application of ink with highly controlled and articulated brush technique. For example, some areas of the painting display the use a piece of cloth to apply ink or ink splashes, whereas rock surfaces or dragons' scales are executed with a more controlled brush. These observable features match with descriptions of Chen Rong's painting practice, which report that he painted spontaneously when drunk and used his cap to smear ink on the painting surface. Chen Rong himself refers to this practice in his inscription as well.

The overall effect of the painting is one of continuous movement and energy throughout the scroll, from which the dragons emerge and into which they disappear.

Dragons have been a motif in Chinese art and visual culture from early times onward carrying a variety of meanings, such as embodying the male Yang principle, controlling rain and weather, or as a symbol of the emperor.

Chen Rong's handscroll can be placed into a Daoist context of depicting dragons as implied in his own inscription and in the colophons added to the scroll by Daoist priests from the 12th to the 14th century. The emphasis is on the power and transformative character of the dragons, while the motifs of rain and thunder appear throughout the painting and the colophons.


Reference:
Wu Tung (ed.), Masterpieces of Chinese Painting from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston : Tang through Yuan Dynasties, Boston: Museum of Fine Arts and Tokyo: Otsuka Kogeisha, 1996, v.1, cat. no. 83, 77-79

Wu Tung (ed.), Tales from the Land of Dragons: 1000 Years of Chinese Painting, Exhibition Catalog, Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1997, cat. no. 92, 197-200

Hsien-chi Tseng, “A Study of the Nine Dragons Scroll,” Archives of the Chinese Art Society of America, v. 11 (1957), 16-39

view the scroll here :
source :　scrolls.uchicago.edu


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. Dragon Paintings .



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