蛟こう竜りょう

also: こうりゅう

こ

う

りょ

う

Meanings

noun

mizuchi; mythical water dragon

Japanese mythology

A legendary Japanese water deity or dragon-like beast, often depicted with four legs, horns, and poisonous breath. Appears in classical mythology and folklore.

Kanji

蛟dragon
竜dragon, imperial
龍dragon, imperial

Related words

蛟みずち
みずち is the native Japanese reading for the same mythological creature, often used in older texts. 蛟竜 (こうりょう) is the Sino-Japanese compound, more common in literary and metaphorical contexts.

Written forms

蛟竜Usage17%
- こうりょう
  Standard kanji spelling for the mythological creature and the metaphorical sense.
- こうりゅう
  Alternate reading こうりゅう; less common but attested.
蛟龍Usage83%
- こうりょう
  Variant using 龍 (traditional dragon character); same reading and meaning.
- こうりゅう
  Variant with 龍 and alternate reading こうりゅう; rare.
こうりゅう

Etymology

Sino-Japanese compound from 蛟 (mythical water dragon) and 竜/龍 (dragon). The exact origin of the mythological creature is uncertain, but it appears in early Japanese texts such as the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, likely influenced by Chinese dragon lore.