The Curious History of Chang Lung

SOME FOLKS SAY that dragons are fire-breathing calamities. But the Oriental dragon is most often a benevolent guardian usually associated with waters and rain.

During the reign of the fourth T'ang emperor, Chung Tsung, around the year 684 AD, there lived an honorable man named Chang Lung. He was beloved by his wife and two sons, and highly respected by all the townspeople who knew him. Although he was a judge in the local court, Chang Lung enjoyed spending time in the temple. As time went on, the man spent more and more time at the temple after work, often staying all night.

One morning, Chang Lung's family was shocked to see him come home dripping wet. As astonishing as his wet appearance was, his tale was even more amazing. As his surprised family questioned him, Chang Lung explained that he had begun metamorphosing into a dragon. In his dragon form, he had become the guardian and protector of his village. But now he was being challenged by another dragon and needed his sons to help him defeat his foe.

The two sons agreed to fight alongside their father and returned with him the following evening to the temple, armed with bows and arrows. Their father tied a red ribbon to himself so they could recognize him in his dragon form. In front of their incredulous eyes, Chang Lung turned into his dragon form and was immediately confronted by another dragon. Seeing the red ribbon that marked their honored father, the sons shot their arrows into the rival dragon and killed it.

From that time, Chang Lung remained at the temple as protector of the village. The temple was enlarged in 894 AD and again in 1091 AD by a grateful community in honor of their guardian benefactor.

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