The Korea Times
Dragons in Korean folklore are different from their cousins in European tradition. Here, they are often associated with mercy, sympathy, empathy and love. The mythical creature is explored in a new book by David A. Mason, a recently retired professor of tourism with expertise in the religious characteristics of Korean mountains. He will introduce the book, "K-Dragons: DaeHanYong — Korea’s Dragon Traditions and their Yong-wang Monarchs," at an upcoming lecture for Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea. Mason will give a lecture based on a chapter from the book, focusing on the mythical Dragon King. He will focus on the Dragon King's appearance in Korean Buddhist artwork, often paired with the Bodhisattva of Compassion, who is sometimes depicted riding the dragon. An online introduction to the lecture says Mason will "explain the complex relationship at work here, in a way that deepens our understanding of how Korean Buddhist iconography developed as an integration of Shamanic/Daoist folk-deities into it, and will attempt to enhance our spiritual inspiration that can be derived from viewin
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