Dragon

Japanese dragons are powerful spirit guardians and gods. They are often related to bodies of water and can be good or evil. As with most mythical beings, their ways are unknowable by humans. Similar to their Western counterparts, they tend to hoard treasure.  

Description

Anatomy

Dragons have long, snake-like, scaled bodies with up to four limbs (which often only have three toes). Some have multiple heads. They may have features such as claws, beards, flowing whiskers, horns, and antlers. Colors include:

Black - evil (Art reference: Susanoo killing a black dragon)

White - holy (Art reference: Buddah riding on the back of one)

Blue and Green - heavens and sky (Art reference: Dragon on a gate)

Gold - prosperity

Abilities

This species has some of the most powerful yokai. They possess vast ki wells, beyond that of many of the gods. Some control the waters—waves, tide, rain, and flooding. Some have the power to give immortality, but the new immortal must follow a specific direction, such as not looking in a particular gift box.    Most choose to disguise themselves as humans, to avoid detection. Though when they do, they tend to be hermits. Some take on more than one showing up as multiple species or genders.    Some dragons have palaces and hold court. Proof exists of noble dragons intermingling with humans as far back as the start of the Japanese Imperial line, which traces back to Ryuujin, the sea god.    

Population

Conservation Status

All yokai have been decreasing in population over the last several centuries. But dragons seem to be the rarest of the surviving spirit beings.    Shion the Nonogawa River kami was reported to have to expand his domain to cover several of the local rivers, waterfalls, and lakes—according to a book of records found at a small shrine to Inari in the early 1900s.  

Trivia

Dragons’ association with water is so strong you find the kanji 竜, in such words as:

滝 (taki) - waterfall

竜の落とし子 (tatsunootoshigo) - sea horse, where the kanji literally say dragon’s offspring. 

Also, dragons are popular water fountain statues at temples and shrines.

As motifs, they are popular Yakuza Tattoos for their wisdom, strength, and bravery symbolism.