Imoogi Mythology
Korean
dragons are legendary creatures in Korean Mythology and folklore, the
appearance of the dragon reflects its influences from its counterpart, the Chinese
dragon.
Korean folk
mythology states that most dragons were originally Imoogis, or lesser dragons,
which were said to resemble gigantic serpents, there are a few different
versions of Korean folklore that describe what imugis are and how they aspire
to become full-fledged dragons.
Koreans
thought that an Imugi could become a true dragon, or yong or mireu, if it
caught a Yeouiju which had fallen from heaven.
Yeouiju is
the Korean name of the mythical Cintamani.
Dragons in
Korean mythology are primarily benevolent beings related to water and
agriculture, often considered bringers of rain and clouds, where as most dragon
in European mythology are linked to the elements of fire and destruction.
The Korean
dragon is in many ways very similar in appearance to dragons of Chinese,
Vietnamese and Japanese mythology, it differs from the Chinese dragon in that
it developed a longer beard.
By other
accounts, and Imugi is a proto-dragon which must survive one thousand years in
order to become a fully fledged dragon, in either case they are said to be
large, benevolent, python-like creatures that live in water or caves, and their
sighting is associated with good luck.
The symbol
of the dragon has been used extensively, both in Korean mythology and ancient
Korean art,
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