Kyeryong
Kyeryong may be translated as “rooster-dragon”or “chicken-dragon” depending on the gender of the dragon. They have dragon bodies but their heads resemble that of poultry. (Don’t laugh; once upon a time, chickens and roosters were considered extremely sacred.) Kyeryong feature in various Korean myths and fairy tales. They are associated with Rooster-Dragon Mountain (Kyeryong-san) and the Male and Female Dragon sacred pools, among Korea’s most sacred sites, long beloved by shamans and Buddhist monks. Part of the area is now an extremely popular national park however, the government of South Korea moved its official military headquarters base from Seoul to the southern slopes of Dragon Mountain in the late 1970s, in the process allegedly removing 15,000 shamans and monks and destroying shrines and temples.
ALSO KNOWN AS:
Gyeryong
ORIGIN:
Korea
CLASSIFICATION:
Dragon
SEE ALSO:
- Aryong-Jong
- Kikimora;
- Kybele
- Korean Mythology
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by :Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.
