Flying Squid@lemmy.world to InsanePeopleFacebook@lemmy.world · 6 days ago"What else could it be, that Japan has a rich tapestry of folktales featuring all sorts of fantastical creatures?"lemmy.worldimagemessage-square21fedilinkarrow-up1126arrow-down13
arrow-up1123arrow-down1image"What else could it be, that Japan has a rich tapestry of folktales featuring all sorts of fantastical creatures?"lemmy.worldFlying Squid@lemmy.world to InsanePeopleFacebook@lemmy.world · 6 days agomessage-square21fedilink
minus-squareChicoSuave@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up23·6 days agoThe actual answer is because Japan has lots of reptile representation among their demons and yokai. Japan has lizards and enjoys them as a culture to celebrate. The closest the West has is “salamander = fire”.
minus-squareFlying Squid@lemmy.worldOPlinkfedilinkarrow-up7arrow-down1·6 days agoThere’s some others, like sea serpents and the Western concept of dragons as giant flying lizards. A dragon is literally the symbol of Wales (okay, a wyvern if you want to be technical about it, but whatever).
minus-squareJustas🇱🇹linkfedilinkarrow-up3·4 days agoThere’s also a Baltic cult of worshipping wood snakes. And a fairy tale about one being the king of the sea.
minus-squareMutilationWave@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up5·5 days ago (okay, a wyvern if you want to be technical about it, but whatever) Nah that’s a dragon. They hadn’t invented D&D yet.
minus-squareFlying Squid@lemmy.worldOPlinkfedilinkarrow-up4·5 days agoFor what it’s worth, the word goes back to the 17th century. But Wikipedia also calls them a type of dragon, so 🤷. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyvern
The actual answer is because Japan has lots of reptile representation among their demons and yokai.
Japan has lizards and enjoys them as a culture to celebrate. The closest the West has is “salamander = fire”.
There’s some others, like sea serpents and the Western concept of dragons as giant flying lizards. A dragon is literally the symbol of Wales (okay, a wyvern if you want to be technical about it, but whatever).
There’s also a Baltic cult of worshipping wood snakes. And a fairy tale about one being the king of the sea.
Nah that’s a dragon. They hadn’t invented D&D yet.
For what it’s worth, the word goes back to the 17th century. But Wikipedia also calls them a type of dragon, so 🤷.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyvern