Ryūgū-jō

Katase-Enoshima Station

In Japanese folklore, Ryūgū-jō (竜宮城, 龍宮城, Ryūgū-jō, lit. Dragon palace castle) is the undersea palace of Ryūjin, the dragon god of the sea. Depending on the version of the legend, it is built from red and white coral, or from solid crystal. The inhabitants of the palace were Ryūjin's families and servants, who were denizens of the sea. In some legends, on each of the four sides of the palace it is a different season, and one day in the palace is equal to a century outside its boundaries. The most famous legend about the palace concerns Urashima Tarō's visit to Ryūgū-jō for three days.^[1]

Urashima and Otohime in the Autumn side of the undersea palace, watching deer. Japanese watercolour from late 16th or early 17th century

The Winter side of the palace, with a light snow on the garden

Katase-Enoshima Station in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, is designed to evoke the feeling of Ryūgū-jō.

See also

• The Sea King and Vasilisa the Wise
• Eglė the Queen of Serpents

References

Japanese mythology Mythic texts Kojiki Nihon Shoki Fudoki Kujiki Kogo Shūi Hotsuma Tsutae Nihon Ryōiki Konjaku Monogatarishū Shintōshū Japanese creation myth Kotoamatsukami Kamiyo (Kamiyonanayo) Kuniumi Kamiumi Izanami Izanagi Kagutsuchi Watatsumi Shinigami Takamagahara mythology Amaterasu Susanoo Tsukuyomi Ame-no-Uzume Izumo mythology Yamata no Orochi Hare of Inaba Ōkuninushi Hyūga mythology Tenson kōrin Ninigi Konohanasakuya-hime Hoderi Hoori Toyotama-hime Ugayafukiaezu Human age Emperor Jimmu Tagishimimi Kesshi Hachidai Mythical locations Ryūgū-jō Takama-ga-hara Amano-Iwato Yomi Ashihara no Nakatsukuni Major Buddhist figures Amida Nyorai Daruma Five Dhyani Buddhas Seven Lucky Gods Benzaiten Bishamonten Daikokuten Ebisu Fukurokuju Hotei Jurōjin Kisshōten Shinto deities Japanese deities Sacred objects Japanese religions

Japanese folklore Folktales Bunbuku Chagama Hanasaka Jiisan Issun-bōshi Kachi-kachi Yama Kintarō Momotarō Nezumi no Sumō Saru Kani Gassen Shita-kiri Suzume Taketori Monogatari Tamamo-no-Mae Tawara Tōda Urashima Tarō Yamata no Orochi Yotsuya Kaidan Text collections Konjaku Monogatarishū Otogizōshi Legendary creatures Akaname Bakeneko Daidarabotchi Dragon Futakuchi-onna Gashadokuro Goryō Inugami Gyoubu Kappa Kasha Kirin Kitsune Mujina Nue Obake Onryō Oni Rokurokubi Satori Shachihoko Shōjō Shuten-dōji Tanuki Tengu Tenome Tsukumogami Tsuchigumo Tsuchinoko Umi Zatō Ushi-oni Uwan Yama-uba Yuki-onna Yūrei Zashiki-warashi Mythology in popular culture Legendary creatures