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Vietnamese dragons (Vietnamese: Rồng; chữ Nôm: 蠪; Sino-Vietnamese: Long; chữ Hán: 龍) are symbolic creatures in Vietnamese folklore and mythology. According to an ancient origin myth, the Vietnamese people are descended from a dragon and an Immortal. The dragon was symbolic of bringing rain, essential for agriculture. It represents the emperor, the prosperity and power of the nation. Similar to the Chinese dragon (which has also influenced and appeared in Japan and Korea as fierce but benevolent serpentine dragons alike), the Vietnamese dragon is the symbol of yang, representing the universe, life, existence, and growth.

The creation legend

Lạc Long Quân, king of the dragonkind living near the Đông sea, married a fairy goddess, Âu Cơ who was the daughter of the birdkind emperor Đế Lai, descendant of Thần Nông. Âu Cơ bore 100 eggs, which hatched into 100 sons. The first-born son became the king of Lạc Việt, the first dynasty of Vietnam, and proclaimed himself Emperor Hùng Vương. The First was followed by Hùng Vương The Second, Hùng Vương The Third and so on, through 18 reigns. This is the origin of the Vietnamese proverb: "Con Rồng, cháu Tiên" (Descendants of Dragon and Immortal, lit. "Children of Dragon, Grandchildren of Immortal").

Modern depictions of Ly dynasty-style dragon, ceramic art at Chuong Duong bridge

Historical development of Vietnamese dragon's image

Prehistory

The Vietnamese dragon is the combined image of crocodile, snake, cat, rat and bird. Historically, the Vietnamese people lived near rivers, so they venerated crocodiles as "thuồng luồng" or "Giao Long", the first kind of Vietnamese dragon.

There are some kinds of dragons found on archaeological objects. One group is that of the crocodile-dragons, with the head of a crocodile and the body of a snake. The cat-dragon excavated on a glazed terracotta piece in Bắc Ninh has some features of Đại Việt period dragon: it does not have a crocodile head, its head is shorter and it has a long neck, its wing and backfin are long lines, and its whiskers and fur are found in the Đại Việt dragon image.

Ngô dynasty (938–965)

On the brick from this period found in Cổ Loa, the dragon is short, with a cat-like body and a fish's backfin.

Lý dynasty (1010–1225)

The Lý dynasty is the dynasty which laid the foundation of Vietnamese feudal culture. Buddhism was widespread and Văn Miếu, the nation's first university, was created. The slender, flowing dragon of this period represents the vassal kingdom.

These dragons rounded bodies curve lithely, in a long sinuous shape, tapering gradually to the tail. The body has 12 sections, symbolizing 12 months in the year. On the dragon's back are small, uninterrupted, regular fins. The head, held high, is in proportion with the body, and has a long mane, beard, prominent eyes, crest on nose (pointing forwards), but no horns. The legs are small and thin, and usually 3-toed. The jaw is opened wide, with a long, thin tongue; the dragons always keep a châu (gem/jewel) in their mouths (a symbol of humanity, nobility and knowledge). These dragons are able to change the weather, and are responsible for crops.

Trần dynasty (1225–1400)

The Trần dynasty dragon was similar to that of the Lý dynasty but looked more rugged. The Trần dragon had new details: arms and horns. Its fiery crest became shorter. Its slightly curved body became fat and smaller toward the tail. There are many kinds of tail (straight and pointed tail, spiral tail) as well as many kinds of scale (a regular half-flower scale, slightly curved scale).

The Trần dragon symbolized the martial arts, because the Trần emperors were descended from a mandarin commander. The Trần era was also marked by a series of devastating invasions by the Mongol followed by repeated incursions by Champa.

Lê-Mạc dynasty

Dragon on a porcelain plate during the reign of Lord Trịnh Doanh

In this period, the Vietnamese dragon's image was evolved into typical form of Vietnam's dragons. Differing from those of the previous dynasty, dragons in this age are not only represented in a curved posture among clouds but also in others. These dragons were majestic, with lion-heads. Instead of a fiery crest, they have a large nose. Their bodies only curve in two sections. Their feet have five sharp claws.

One of four dragons in front of Ngu Long Mon of Lý Bát Đế Shrine, Lê dynasty
Dragons on a Mạc dynasty oil lamp base
Dragon on Vietnamese ceramics of the 15th century
Dragons of Kính Thiên Palace, main hall of the Lê dynasty Imperial Palace

Nguyễn dynasty

The dragon form of Nguyễn dynasty is the typical dragon of Vietnamese. The dragon is represented with a spiral tail and a long fiery sword-fin. Its head and eyes are large. It has stag horns, a lion's nose, exposed canine teeth, regular flash scale, curved whiskers. Images of the Dragon of the emperor have 5 claws, was also decorated on the crown-prince's gown in motif of "dragon's face" with 4 claws. Dragons of Nguyễn dynasty represent the powerful southern emperors with glory and honor.

Dragons in literature

Some proverbs and sayings mention dragons but imply something else:

"Rồng gặp mây": "Like dragons greeting clouds" – favorable conditions.

"Đầu rồng, đuôi tôm": "A dragon's head but a shrimp's tail" – something which starts well but ends badly.

"Rồng bay, phượng múa": "The dragon flies and the phoenix dances!" – Used to praise someone's calligraphy who writes Hán-Nôm ideograms well.

"Rồng đến nhà tôm": "The dragon visits the shrimp's house" – A saying used to dictate behavior between a host and their guest: the host must portray themselves like a humble shrimp and their guest like a noble dragon.

"Ăn như rồng cuốn, nói như rồng leo, làm như mèo mửa": "You consume like a coiled dragon, you talk like a climbing dragon, but your work is like cat's vomit" – A criticism of someone who talks the talk, but does not walk the walk.

Vietnamese place-names, and other things, named after dragons

Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Nội), the capital of Vietnam, was known in ancient times as Thăng Long (Chữ Hán: 昇龍 (from Thăng 昇, meaning "to grow, to develop, to rise, to fly, or to ascend" and Long 龍, meaning "dragon")); the capital is still referred to by this name in literature. In 1010, Emperor Lý Thái Tổ moved the capital from Hoa Lư to Đại La, which decision was explained in his Chiếu dời đô (Royal proclamation of moving capital): he saw a Rồng vàng (golden dragon) fly around on the clear blue sky, so he changed the name of Đại La to Thăng Long, meaning "Vietnam's bright and developed future". Furthermore, one of Thăng Long Four Defense Deity (Vietnamese: Thăng Long Tứ Trấn) is Long Đỗ Deity (literally: dragon's navel- where is the center, the place that Earth and Sky meet each other- according to orient's view, the belly has a role which is as important as the heart is in western view). Long Đỗ Deity helped Lý Thái Tổ to build Thăng Long citadel.

Many place-names in Vietnam incorporate the word Long, or Rồng ("dragon" in Vietnamese): Hạ Long Bay (vịnh Hạ Long, lit. "Bay of Descending Dragon"), the section of the Mekong river flowing through Vietnam contains 9 branches and is called Cửu Long ("nine dragons"); Hàm Rồng Bridge (lit."Bridge of Dragon Jaw"), Long Biên Bridge. The city of Da Nang has a dragon-shaped bridge, facing the sea. Other things named after dragons include: Thanh Long (dragonfruit), vòi rồng (waterspout), xương rồng (Cactaceae), long nhãn (dragon eyes: Vietnamese cognate word for longan fruit).