It's a wet one out there!
Many Beijingers may have called in sick today upon receiving the warning about torrential rain. You may have also noticed a few memes featuring four strange figures that have been widely shared across social media today. In fact, it's no coincidence that these creatures, known as 四大龙王 sìdàlóngwáng showed up just in time for the rainiest day of the year, because they are the ones in charge of precipitation in traditional Chinese belief – that's right, they literally make it rain. What's more, they've even managed to regain fame in modern China through features on a TV series and in the classic animated rendition of Journey to the West.The Dragon Kings discuss their game plan for the flooding of Beijing
As you may already know, dragon worship dates back thousands of years in Chinese culture, with this four-dragon-administration having been set up around the East Jin Dynasty (266-420), and became an integral part in the lives of fishermen living along coastal areas. Here in Beijing, they're celebrated at 挂价峪龙王庙 Guàjiàyù Lóngwángmiào, the only Dragon King Temple in the capital.Guàjiàyù Lóngwángmiào, perhaps the safest place to be when the apocalypse flood hits
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To better understand these fantastical beasts, we've given a very brief introduction to each one below.
东海龙王 Dōnghǎi Lóngwáng East Ocean Dragon King
Name: 敖广 áo guǎng
Color: Cyan
Element: Water
Ability: Controls rainfall, thunder, flood, and tide
As governmental officers, they surely must have passed the nucleic acid test
南海龙王 Nánhǎi Lóngwáng South Ocean Dragon King
Name: 敖钦 áo qīn
Color: Red
Element: Fire
Ability: Control fire and lightning
西海龙王 Xīhǎi Lóngwáng West Ocean Dragon King
Name: 敖闰 áo rùn
Color: Black
Element: Wind
Ability: Control the wind, the convection current, and weather
Believe it or not, that horse is the son of the West Ocean Dragon King
北海龙王 Běihǎi Lóngwáng North Ocean Dragon King
Name: 敖顺 áo shùn
Color: White
Element: Snow
Ability: Control snow, hail, frost, and other ice-related nature.
Images: Weibo, Wechat, 360, Sina
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