In the Land of Dragons: Painted Dragons

South Korea is dragon country.  Dragons in South Korean lore are not the flying, fire-breathing, princess-eating, gold-loving types.  In fact, the notion of dragons in South Korea is nearly opposite of the European idea of dragons.  South Korean dragons bring good luck.  Instead of lighting castles on fire, Korean dragons are meant to deter fire.  Most of the dragons in South Korea don't even have wings.  They are slithery serpeants with legs and feet.

This is Part One of In the Land of Dragons: Painted Dragons.  Dragons are painted as protective spirits on eaves, beams, and ceilings of important structures.  These photos were taken during my visits to various temples, shrines and palaces in South Korea.


Smoke breathing dragon face in the beams of Chungnyeolsa Shrine

  

Painted dragon incorporated into the royal furniture at Suwon Palace.



Suwon Palace



A ceiling at one of the gates at Suwon Fortress



Dragon-faced window panels at Suwon Fortress



Faded dragon-faced wall panels at Suwon Fortress





Eaves outside main entrance at Tangeumdae Buddhist Temple



Ceiling of small forest temple outside of Chungju



Outside of the main door of a Buddhist Temple near Chungnyeolsa Shrine.




The back of the same dragon at the main door of the Buddhist Temple near Chungnyeolsa Shrine



A beam inside the Buddhist Temple near Chungnyeolsa Shrine



Part Two of this article will feature Stone Dragons.