Editing Dragon (section)

===Korea===
{{Main|Korean dragon}}
[[File:청룡 조선고적도보.jpg|thumb|The Blue Dragon mural depiction at the [[Goguryeo tombs]].]]
The Korean dragon is in many ways similar in appearance to other East Asian dragons such as the [[Chinese dragon|Chinese]] and [[Japanese dragon]]s. It differs from the Chinese dragon in that it developed a longer beard. Very occasionally, a dragon may be depicted as carrying an orb known as the Yeouiju (여의주), the Korean name for the mythical [[Cintamani]], in its claws or its mouth. It was said that whoever could wield the Yeouiju was blessed with the abilities of omnipotence and creation at will, and that only four-toed dragons (who had thumbs with which to hold the orbs) were both wise and powerful enough to wield these orbs, as opposed to the lesser, three-toed dragons. As with China, the number nine is significant and auspicious in Korea, and dragons were said to have 81 (9×9) scales on their backs, representing yang essence. Dragons in Korean mythology are primarily benevolent beings related to water and agriculture, often considered bringers of rain and clouds. Hence, many Korean dragons are said to have resided in rivers, lakes, oceans, or even deep mountain ponds. And human journeys to undersea realms, and especially the undersea palace of the Dragon King (용왕), are common in Korean folklore.<ref>{{cite book| last= Hayward | first = Philip| title= Scaled for Success: The Internationalisation of the Mermaid | year = 2018|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0861967322}}</ref>

In Korean myths, some kings who founded kingdoms were described as descendants of dragons because the dragon was a symbol of the monarch. [[Lady Aryeong]], who was the first queen of [[Silla]], is said to have been born from a [[cockatrice]],<ref>[[Samguk yusa]]</ref> while the grandmother of [[Taejo of Goryeo]], founder of [[Goryeo]], was reportedly the daughter of the dragon king of the West Sea.<ref>The book of the genealogy of [[Taejo of Goryeo]] – ''Pyeonnyeon-Tong-Long'' (편년통록)</ref> And [[Munmu of Silla|King Munmu]] of Silla who, on his deathbed, wished to become a dragon of the East Sea in order to protect the kingdom. Dragon patterns were used exclusively by the royal family. The royal robe was also called the dragon robe (용포). In the [[Joseon dynasty]], the royal insignia, featuring embroidered dragons, were attached to the robe's shoulders, the chest, and back. The King wore five-taloned dragon insignia while the Crown Prince wore four-taloned dragon insignia.<ref>{{cite book| title=우리 옷 만들기 | year = 2004|publisher=Sungshin Women's University Press|isbn=978-8986092639|pages=25–26 }}</ref>

Korean folk mythology states that most dragons were originally [[:ko:이무기|Imugis]] (이무기), or lesser dragons, which were said to resemble gigantic serpents. There are a few different versions of Korean folklore that describe both what imugis are and how they aspire to become full-fledged dragons. Koreans thought that an Imugi could become a true dragon, ''yong'' or ''mireu'', if it caught a Yeouiju which had fallen from heaven. Another explanation states they are hornless creatures resembling dragons who have been cursed and thus were unable to become dragons. By other accounts, an Imugi is a ''proto-dragon'' which must survive one thousand years in order to become a fully-fledged dragon. In either case, they are said to be large, benevolent, [[Pythonidae|python]]-like creatures that live in water or caves, and their sighting is associated with good luck.<ref>{{cite book| last= Seo | first = Yeong Dae| title= 용, 그 신화와 문화 | year = 2002|publisher=Min sokwon|isbn=978-8956380223|page= 85}}</ref>