Dragon Mystic

An engraving of Andrew Lang at work. Image via Wikipedia

Here is a story from the Yellow Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. It was written over 100 years ago and is now in the public domain.

What I wonder is where Andrew Lang found this story. It has the flavor of an ancient tale from an Eastern culture. If anyone knows the origin of the tale, please leave a comment with the information. Thanks.

The Dragon and His Grandmother

There was once a great war, and the King had a great many soldiers, but he gave them so little pay that they could not live upon it.  Then three of them took counsel together and determined to desert.

One of them said to the others, ‘If we are caught, we shall be hanged on the gallows; how shall we set about it?’ The other said, ‘Do you see that large cornfield there?  If we were to hide ourselves in that, no one could find us.  The army cannot come into it, and to-morrow it is to march on.’

They crept into the corn, but the army did not march on, but remained encamped close around them.  They sat for two days and two nights in the corn, and grew so hungry that they nearly died; but if they were to venture out, it was certain death.

They said at last, ‘What use was it our deserting?  We must  perish here miserably.’

Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.  It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there. (more…)

Author: Fran Black

While Europe’s shining knights spent their lives slaying dragons, the Chinese sought after and worshiped Eastern dragons as the most benevolent, wise, and generous of all creatures. Indeed, to be called “dragon face” was a great honor, and it was believed that emperors received counsel and aid from dragons in times of need.

A few emperors even proudly claimed to be direct descendants of dragons. Pairings between humans and dragons were thought possible, since dragons were capable of changing their shape and size to assume whatever form they desired.

Unlike the fierce western dragons who hoarded treasure and demanded virtuous young women as sacrifices, the dragons of Chinese legend showed tenderness toward humans, and even acted in their behalf many times, sometimes at great cost.

This is seen in one of the oldest legends about the Four Dragons. According to this legend, China once had no rivers. The people were dependent on the gods to send rain for their crops. (more…)