THE mystery of a 1,000-year-old mummified “dragon” stashed among the treasures of the Japanese royal family has finally been solved.
The remains of the “rainbow dragon” are said to have been discovered by a legendary samurai warrior in 1429.
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Yoshinori Ashikaga uncovered the mystical beast during a visit to Nara’s Todaiji temple.
The samurai is said to have cut a piece from the Ranjatai – a rare and treasured piece of agarwood.
Then he “saw something in the shape of a small dragon” dried by the sun, a monk recalled.
The dragon’s remains have been stashed among the Japanese Royal family’s treasures at the Shosoin Treasure House in Nara, Japan ever since.
Now, a new study has solved the mystery of the creature’s true nature – using X-ray technology and radiocarbon dating.
Close comparison with known species found that the “dragon” was in fact a Japanese marten – a weasel-like mammal.
The authors wrote: “The two premolars are clearly visible, and this characteristic indicates that it is a species of the Martes genus.”
The creature was likely a full-grown female marten, measuring 40cm in length.
Radiocarbon testing suggests that the remains date back to the mid-11th to the mid-12th century – a time when the treasure house faced multiple repairs.
It is thought that the animal may have entered the building during repairs, got trapped, and died – becoming mummified.
Or it may have been brought in deliberately – since the specimen is missing its forelegs and they have never been located.
The “dragon” remains have been shrouded in mystery for almost 600 years.
Legend has it that after the mystical creature was added to the treasure house it would rain every time it was opened.
And it seems this is still the case with researchers from Tokyo having to reschedule one of their visits due to heavy rains.
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Conservationist Mami Tsuru of the Shosoin Treasure House confirmed she believed the “dragon” to be the same one found by Yoshinori Ashikaga.
She said: “The age determination has significantly increased the possibility that the mummy is the sun-dried dragon-looking object recorded in the document from the Muromachi Period”.
She added: “We believe this is a good example of how Shosoin has protected not only beautiful items, but also all the items inside the repository.”
Other “dragons” in the collection were also analysed and were found to be parts of a Kobe mole, crow, and pigeon.
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