The Myth of Dragons

Teeth: Dragon teeth can be shaped into the sharpest arrowheads and swords.

Scales: Scales can be made into armor strong enough to withstand bullets. It can also be made into invisible ink by dissolving it in sulphuric acid and then again in pure water. The ink can only be seen under a full moon.

Blood: Taken in small quantities, dragon blood can contribute to better health. However, if taken periodically or in large doses, it can affect the brain, particularly the parts on languages.

Hide: The hide of a dragon can be made into shields, costumes, and even gliders.

Bones: Dragon bones are extremely strong, lightweight, and are flame resistant.

Dragon Spells

Dragon spells are spells that require dragon parts, involve the manipulation of dragons, or use the same source of magic dragons use.

“The Hong Wei Invisibility Spell: Make a powder from four freshwater pearls, dragon horn, and jade. Blend in grease from a freshly killed seven-day-old koi and rub it over the clothes and body, repeating over and over as a tune:

She zheng wang dong li pa!

This spell is found toward the end of the Dragon Sutra of Hong Wei.

Abramelins’s Taming Spell: Cast three troy ounces of dragon dust, from a silver dish that has been thrice washed in water that has reflected a new moon, over the dragon, crying:

Ivashi yuduin! Enimor taym inspelz! Boyar ugoner gedit!

The Capturing of Maidens and the Role of Religion in the Slaying of Dragons

The interesting thing about the capturing of maidens was that they are always of childbearing age, however they are virgins. This was representative of the Virgin Mary. Dragons (according to Western mythology as influenced by the Church) were representative of the devil. The image of the knight slaying the dragon was pictured as the triumph of the Holy Christian knight over the satanic image. The church showed people that the dragon was an immensely evil being that should be hated and feared. On the other side of the world, however, the Chinese and Japanese dragons were revered. They were thought of as the great bringers of knowledge and wealth.

They were worshipped as the great rainmakers, the omens of a good harvest and a good life. Dragons were the creators of life and the universe. They also had a different appearance. Instead of the two-winged, two-legged, spade-tailed, fire-breathing monstrosity we know as the Western Dragon, Draco Ocidentalis Magnus, we see a wingless four-legged, more snake-like Eastern Dragon, Draco Orrientalis. Although it has no wings as mentioned before, it has an array of magical abilities, which includes magical flight. In fact, there is a story about the creation of the four great rivers of China- the Heilong Jian, the Huang He, the Yangtze, and the Zhu Jiang.

Conclusion

Dragons will forever be a staple in cultures all over the world. They continue to be the premise for countless movies, books, and video games. In a century or so the dragon will most likely still thrive in our imaginations. Maybe even contact with a dragon will be made someday. But for now, the dragon is a piece of a myth that has driven the world. However, one question remains unanswered: How is it that cultures worldwide, with no contact with each other whatsoever, could have created the same creature? Perhaps dragons aren’t so fake after all…