| He Long | |
|---|---|
 A fisherboy dived into the water and brought up a pearl from beneath the chin of a black dragon. | |
|
Other Names |
Ao Ming, The Black Dragon, Xuanlong, Dark Dragon, or Mysterious Dragon |
|
First Appearance |
Chinese Mythology |
|
Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
He Long or the Black Dragon, also called "Dark Dragon" or "Mysterious Dragon", is the Dragon God of the north and the essence of winter.
Unlike many East Asian dragons, the Black Dragon is depicted as a spiteful and evil entity. Weak to light, it lurks within areas of darkness. The god is often tied to the night or the sea floor. Depending on the source, it views the White Dragon as its nemesis.
Within the Five Elements philosophy, it is a holy deity who represents the north and is analogous to the Black Tortoise. Taoism has it act as the Black Dragon God for the Northern Sea, Ao Ming. He dwells in the oceans and the darkest depths of rivers.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of He Long from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.