also: そうりゅう
noun
blue dragon
General term for a blue dragon in mythology and folklore; often synonymous with 青竜.
See also: 青竜
東の空に蒼竜が現れるという伝説がある。
There is a legend that a blue dragon appears in the eastern sky.
noun
Azure Dragon (god of the eastern heavens)
Specifically refers to the Azure Dragon, one of the Four Symbols in Chinese mythology, ruling the eastern heavens.
See also: 青竜
蒼竜は四神の一つで、東を守護する。
The Azure Dragon is one of the Four Symbols and guards the east.
noun
seven mansions of the eastern heavens
In Chinese astronomy, the seven constellations that make up the Azure Dragon of the east.
See also: 二十八宿
二十八宿のうち、東方七宿を蒼竜と呼ぶ。
Among the 28 mansions, the seven eastern ones are called the Azure Dragon.
noun
large horse with a bluish-leaden coat
Rare term for a horse with a dark bluish-gray coat; not commonly used in modern Japanese.
古い文献に、蒼竜という名の馬が登場する。
In old documents, a horse named Sōryū appears.
noun
shape of an old pine tree
Obscure term for the twisted, dragon-like shape of an ancient pine tree; rarely encountered.
庭園の老松は、まるで蒼竜のような姿をしている。
The old pine in the garden has a shape just like a blue dragon.
Variant kanji spelling using 龍 instead of 竜; both are used.
Variant spelling with alternate reading そうりゅう.
青竜 is the more common term for the Azure Dragon, especially in modern contexts; 蒼竜 is a variant with a slightly more literary or archaic feel.
From Chinese 蒼龍 (cānglóng), meaning 'blue dragon'. The kanji 蒼 means 'blue' or 'green' and 竜/龍 means 'dragon'. The reading そうりょう is the go-on reading, while そうりゅう is a variant.