Chinese Mythology · God / Legendary Figure
龙王 · Lóngwáng
The rain-bringing dragon-god of the seas — farmers' friend, heroes' foe.
龙王
From an undersea Crystal Palace, the Dragon King commands water and weather, a shape-shifting dragon-god who can take human form. There are four of him, one per sea and direction — Ao Guang of the East Sea the most prominent — and as rain-bringers they were petitioned by farmers whenever drought struck.
He clashes with heroes in the great novels: Sun Wukong bullies Ao Guang into giving up the golden staff, and Nezha kills his son Ao Bing — triggering his wrath.
"Dragon King" usually means the collective institution of four; when a single one is meant, it is normally Ao Guang of the East Sea.
Found in temples near water and in Dragon Boat and rain-praying customs, and a recurring authority-figure antagonist in the Nezha and Monkey King films.
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