Dragon turtle

A dragon turtle (Chinese : 龍龜, pinyin : Lóngguī) is a legendary Chinese creature that combines two of the four celestial animals of Chinese mythology: the shell of a turtle with a dragon's body is promoted as a positive ornament in Feng Shui,^[1][2] symbolizing courage, determination, fertility, longevity, power, success, and support. Decorative carvings or statuettes of the creature are traditionally placed facing the window.^[3]

A statue of a dragon turtle in China

Mapmakers sometimes drew dragon turtles along with other fantastical creatures in unexplored areas.^{[citation needed]}

Ancient mythology

When Fuxi wanted to create more divine patterns, He discovered a "square diagram" on the back of a dragon turtle.^[4]

In popular culture

Tabletop games

• Dragon turtles appear in some editions of the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons.

TV

• In the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, a lion turtle, a gigantic creature which greatly resembles the dragon turtle, appears to grant the protagonist Aang spiritual guidance and special powers.
• A dragon turtle appears in the 1983 Dungeons & Dragons cartoon episode, "The Garden of Zinn", its poisonous bite setting up the events of the episode. These creatures have a dragon body and turtle shell, with some types having flippers.

Video games

• Bowser, a primary character in the Super Mario franchise by Nintendo, is based on a dragon turtle.

• The character of Yachie Kicchou, from the 17th mainline video game of the Touhou Project, is an anthropomorphic tortoise dragon.

See also

• Bixi - one of the 9 sons of the Dragon King
• Chinese mythology in popular culture
• Black Tortoise
• Fuxi - the progenitor of the human race in Chinese mythology.