Dragon Character

Its Chinese dictionary gloss is “dragon”; another old dictionary links it to 靈.

The Shuowen Jiezi, an early Chinese character dictionary, defines 龗 as “dragon.” It explains 龗 through 龍, which supplies the meaning, and 霝, which supplies the sound.

The Yu pian also records 龗 as another writing for 靈, whose glosses include “spirit” and “good.” That is a separate dictionary use, so the surrounding word or source helps settle which sense is intended.

Why is 龗 used in Japanese deity names?

In Japanese deity names, 龗 is tied to water and rain.

闇龗 is read Kura-okami (Japanese: くらおかみ) and is associated with valley rain; 高龗 is Taka-okami (たかおかみ), linked to rain on mountain heights. In Japanese, kura means “valley” and taka means “high.”

The Nihon Shoki, a Japanese chronicle completed in 720, names 闇龗 in a story about Kagutsuchi, a fire deity. These are specific Japanese religious uses; they do not replace the dragon gloss in Chinese dictionaries.

What does 龗 mean when sent alone?

Read a standalone 龗 from context; the glyph alone leaves its sense open.

In a message, the character by itself does not tell you whether the sender means “dragon,” the 靈-linked dictionary sense, or a Japanese deity name. Use nearby wording or the source to choose.

A wooden Japanese sculpture titled 龗 (Takaogami; たかおがみ) was catalogued in 1911. It is one documented religious title in public art.