Tradition: Japanese mythology
Alternative Names: Hyōno-sen-shinryū, Divine Dragon of Mount Hyōno
Category: Dragon
The Myth
The Hyōno-sen-shinryū was a magnificent dragon said to dwell on Mount Hyōno, a sacred mountain whose territory stretched across Tajima, Harima, Mimasaka, and Inaba. It appeared as a creature about seven feet long, resembling a beautiful blue dragon from a painting. It had a single horn and four limbs, while its body was the color of leaves and seemed to shine with a golden light.
One day, a woman and child from Unawa Village went into a valley of the mountain with baskets on their backs. Beneath a bridge they encountered the strange creature and were so terrified that they immediately fled back to the village.
The villagers were experienced hunters and, upon hearing what the pair had seen, armed themselves and returned to the bridge. The creature showed neither fear nor hostility as the crowd approached. Once they examined it more closely, they realized that it was no ordinary monster but a beautiful dragon of extraordinary appearance.
One of the villagers approached the dragon and stroked its single horn. Rather than becoming angry, the creature appeared to enjoy the touch, remaining calm in the presence of the people.
Not long afterward, a golden-white hide measuring roughly eight fathoms was discovered abandoned in a valley farther into the mountains. The villagers believed that it belonged to the mysterious dragon beneath the bridge.
The creature was not regarded as an evil dragon or a venomous serpent. Instead, its appearance was taken as an auspicious sign, a divine creature that revealed itself in a peaceful and prosperous age.
Sources
Takahashi, Toshihiro. “氷野千神竜 [ひょうのせんしんりゅう] (Hyōno-sen-shinryū).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). September 25, 2016. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1061729315.html