Korean Dragons: 대한용

Korea’s Dragon Traditions and their Yong-wang Monarchs: the ONLY comprehensive work on this topic; there is nothing like it even in the Korean language! There is not even any complete book like this about Chinese dragons, in Chinese.

973 pages — 87,200 words — 2540 color photos.

E-book (PDF) only; it is too big to be printed. Such an epic tome, it is divided into 3 parts:

Volume I: The Dragons of Korea: – Korea’s Traditions of Dragon Images and Beliefs –
Volume II: Buddhist K-Dragons: – Ideologies, Roles and Artworks in Temples –
Volume III: Monarchs of the Dragons: – Korea’s Yong-wang / 용왕 / 龍王 / Dragon-King Traditions –

Table of Contents

Foreword with Acknowledgements, Usage Notes and Dedication

Volume I: The Dragons of Korea – Korea’s Traditions of Dragon Images and Beliefs

Chapter 1. Introduction – Global Dragons

1. The Otherworldly Dragons of Our World
2. Dragon Clouds

Chapter 2. Chinese and East Asian Dragons

1. Chinese Origins
2. Eastern Dragon Iconography
3. Deeper Meaning of Dragons – Symbols of the Hydrological Cycle
4. Indian Nagas to Dragons

Chapter 3. Korean Dragons

1. The importance of the Dragon in Korea
2. Imugi as Proto-Dragons
3. Ancient Images
4. Gwimyeon or Nathwi Faces
5. Girin and other Dragonish Animals
   1) Qilin to Girin and Haetae
   2) Buddhist Usage of Girin Images
   3) Other Dragonish Animals
6. Shamanic and Folk-Village Dragons
7. Dragon Pottery
   1) Goryeo Cheongja Ceramics
   2) Joseon Baekja Ceramics
8. Rain-Bearing Dragon Paintings
9. Dragon Rocks and Mountains
10. River Origins
11. Waterfalls
12. Dragon Floats
13. Dragons on Bridges

Chapter 4. Dragons used in Joseon Neo-Confucian Society

1. Introduction
2. Dragon as a Zodiac Character
3. Dragons on Joseon Roof-beams and Ceilings
4. Joseon Dragon Paintings and Stone-carvings
5. Yong-Ho Motif
6. Fish-to-Dragons Motif
7. Dragon Calligraphy
8. Dragon Metal Castings and Statues
9. Dragon Wood-Carvings
10. Dragons Used by Korean Royalty
    1) Royal Robes
    2) Furniture & Palace Decorations
    3) Royal Objects & Artworks
    4) Royal & Military Flags

Volume II: Buddhist K-Dragons – Ideologies, Roles and Artworks in Temples

Chapter 5. Dragons in Korean Buddhist Temples

1. Biseok Stele Tops
2. Dragons on Roof-beams and Pillars
3. Datjip Canopies Over Altars
4. Dragon Heads on Temple Fronts
5. Dragon Paintings on Hall Walls
6. The Blue-Yellow Duality
7. Nine Dragons Over Baby Buddha
8. Dragon Ship of Wisdom to Paradise
9. Paintings of Gwaneum with Dragons
10. Dragon-Bases of Gwaneum Statues
11. Dragons in Nahan Paintings
12. Dragon-Spirits in Various Icons
13. West Heavenly King Statues
14. West Heavenly King Paintings
15. Dragon Wood-Carvings
16. Dragons on Temple Altars
17. Dragons on Stupas and Pagodas
18. Dragons on the Four Dharma Instruments
    1) Porae Dragon Hooks Atop Bells
    2) Beopgo Dragon Drums
    3) Wooden Dragon-Fish Drums
    4) Cloud Plate Gongs
19. Water Fountain Dragons
20. Dragon Stairways at Temples
21. Other Dragon Stone-Carvings at Temples
22. Dragon Heads on Roof-beams
23. Metalworks in Temples
24. Temple Foundation Stories

Volume III: Monarchs of the Dragons – Korea’s Yong-wang / 용왕 / 龍王 Dragon-King Royal Icons, Shrines & Traditions

Chapter 6. Yong-Wang the Monarch of Korean Dragons

1. Chinese Dragon-Kings
2. The Korean Dragon-King
3. Icon Paintings of Yong-Wang in Folk-Shamanic Shrines
4. Yong-Wang in the Shinjung Taenghwa
5. Icon Paintings of Yong-Wang in Buddhist Temples
6. Yong-Wang in Gwaneum Taenghwa
7. Folk-Shamanic Shrines for Yong-Wang
8. Shrines for Yong-Wang at Buddhist Temples
9. Yong-Wang in Famous Folktales
10. Female Dragon-Queens
11. Yongwang-je Ceremonies
12. Special Temple Shrines for Multiple Yong-Wang

Chapter 7. Influence on Our Spiritual Beliefs and Practices

Source: author’s Facebook page