LONG-WANG

[Chinese] The Chinese Dragon Kings, mythical figures from Taoism. They are ruled by Yuan-shi tian-zong to whom they submit their reports once a year. They have jurisdiction over funerals and rain. If mistakes or omissions occur during funeral ceremonies, which might result in misfortune for the descendants, the dragon kings are implored for help. Also during droughts they are invoked to produce rain. There are various categories of long-wang. There are the celestial dragon kings, the dragon kings of the four oceans (who live in magnificent palaces at the bottom of the sea), and the dragon kings of the five cardinal points.