dragon god; dragon king
A deity or divine being in the form of a dragon, often associated with water and weather in Japanese mythology.
The dragon god is worshipped as a deity who controls rain.
naga
In Buddhist contexts, refers to a serpent-like being (naga), often a guardian deity or a being associated with water and treasure.
In Buddhism, dragon gods appear as the Eight Great Dragon Kings.
Common modern spelling using the simplified 竜 character.
Traditional spelling using 龍; often seen in older texts, proper names, or contexts emphasizing tradition.
Compound of 竜 (ryū, 'dragon') and 神 (jin, 'god, deity'). The concept is deeply rooted in East Asian mythology and was later incorporated into Buddhist cosmology.