At the entrance facing the main Daeungjeon Hall of the Buddhist temple stands the guardian gods, called "the Four Devas (四天王)." Among the four, the guardian god protecting the south stands, holding none other than a dragon in his hand. # 7 Buddhism and the Dragon: Even in Buddhism, the Dragon held a sacred meaning. The story in "Samgukyusa (三國遺事, the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms)" shows that the Dragon not only controlled the water but also played the role of a guardian god to protect the country. King Munmu of the Silla dynasty who unified the Three Kingdoms left behind a will that, after his death, he would become a dragon to protect the country and Buddhism. # 6 The intuitive and patriotic Dragon: The Dragon had long been considered the guardian god of the Korean kingdoms since it made prophecies on the country’s future.
The sacred meaning and motif of the Dragon were ubiquitous and mainstream, especially through white and blue-green celadon works. Wishing for the ultimate "Doctrine of the Mean (中庸)," noble scholars had their stationery goods engraved with dragon patterns. The elaborately crafted motif of a dragon per se added a mysterious mood. Praying for a dream of the dragon or to nurture a courageous spirit, people added the image of a dragon. From the belief that the Dragon brings happiness to everyday life, the image of a dragon was engraved onto poles and wardrobes. # 5 The meaning of the Dragon reflected to commodity goods: The people's faith in the Dragon can be found in various commodity goods used over many generations. It was only natural for the ancient people to connect their reverence and respect for the Dragon with its mythical power with the symbol of their king. All things associated with the king were associated with the Dragon. This was the reason the Dragon was used as the emblem representing the royal court based on the animal's sacred authority and power. # 4 The Dragon as the symbol of a king: To the ancient people, the Dragon was the creature with the highest authority due to its power to control water and fly in the sky. Fishing villagers living along the sea held ceremonial rituals to wish for big haul and safe voyage. To overcome a drought, a rain-calling ceremony is performed for the Dragon God. # 3 The Dragon, the god born in water: The Dragon lives in water, protects the water, and controls rain. The highest goal of the Dragon is to rise to heaven. Yongduam (龍頭岩) Rock on Jeju Island comes with a legend of a soaring dragon hardening and becoming a rock. Among the twelve zodiac animals, the Dragon appears as one of the four patron saints (四神) in the Goguryeo dynasty, along with White Tiger (白虎), Red Phoenix (朱雀), and Black Tortoise (玄武). In Korean culture, the Dragon symbolized courage, extraordinariness, and hope.
Since ancient times, the Dragon has unchangingly been an auspicious creature, and dreaming about a dragon was considered the best dream. Dragon Month corresponds to the third month of the lunar calendar. The Dragon guards the hours from 7 o'clock to 9 o'clock in the morning. # 2 Opening: The Dragon is the fifth animal of the twelve zodiac animals.
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