Ryujins

Ryujin, also written Ryūjin, is the dragon god of the sea in Japanese and broader East Asian folklore. As a sea deity, Ryūjin governs tides, waves, and weather and has long been revered by fishermen and sailors. He is commonly depicted as a dragon or as a dragon-headed man and is said to reside in Ryūgū-jō, the Dragon Palace beneath the ocean, where he commands a retinue of sea spirits and treasures.

In mythology, Ryūjin appears in various legends that emphasize maritime power and protection. The well-known tale of Urashima Tarō centers on a visit to Ryūgū-jō, where the dragon king grants gifts and knowledge before the hero returns to the surface world. In other stories, Ryūjin provides sailors with protective charms and, at times, artifacts that symbolize control over the sea, such as magical jewels or instruments used to calm storms.

In modern usage, the name Ryujin is used in literature, media, and popular culture, sometimes as a character name or as an organizational or editorial designation. It is also a personal or stage name in some contexts; most notably, Shin Ryujin is a South Korean singer and rapper and a member of the girl group ITZY. The plural form Ryujins may refer to multiple deities or to several people or characters bearing the name in various works.

Etymology and writing: The term is written in Japanese as 龍神 or 竜神, with 龍/竜 meaning dragon and 神 meaning god. While Ryujin denotes a specific mythic figure, similar dragon deities appear across East Asian folklore, making Ryujin a distinctive Japanese incarnation of a broader motif.