Tradition: Japanese mythology
Alternative Names: Byōryū, Sick Dragon, Disease Dragon
Category: Dragon
The Myth
The Byōryū is a dragon that has fallen ill. Its rain is said to have a foul smell, and unlike ordinary rain, it does not revive crops.
During the Jin dynasty, a prolonged drought struck Wei County. The people prayed to a dragon living inside a cave and asked it to bring rain. Rain soon began to fall, but the hermit Sun Deng recognized it as the rain of a sick dragon and warned that it would not restore the crops. When the people smelled the rainwater, they found that it was indeed foul-smelling.
The dragon living in the cave had a growth on its back. It took the form of an old man and approached Sun Deng, asking him to cure its illness. Sun Deng treated the dragon, and in gratitude the creature later brought rain once more. Before departing, it also dug a well and filled it with water.
Another tale tells of Ma Shihuang, a skilled veterinarian who lived during the time of the Yellow Emperor. A sick dragon came to him from the waves and asked to be treated. Ma Shihuang cured it with acupuncture and a decoction of licorice. Thereafter, whenever the dragon fell ill, it would emerge from the waves and return to Ma Shihuang for treatment. One morning, after being treated once again, the dragon carried Ma Shihuang away upon its back and disappeared.
Sources
Takahashi, Toshihiro. “病竜 [びょうりゅう] (Byōryū).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). October 21, 2024. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1082963220.html