Research source

The most charming Japanese dragon-fly is called Tenshi-tombō, "the Emperor's dragon-fly." There is a larger…

Date of account: Traditional material presented in a work published 1913
Source: Myths & Legends of Japan
Reference: Myths & Legends of Japan · selected passage 135
Rights: public_domain
Language: English retelling of Japanese traditions
Translation: F. Hadland Davis
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

The most charming Japanese dragon-fly is called Tenshi-tombō, "the Emperor's dragon-fly." There is a larger variety particularly sought after by children, and of this species there are many more females than males

Published source text

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Source passage

Source text · mention only

The most charming Japanese dragon-fly is called _Tenshi-tombō_, "the Emperor's dragon-fly." There is a larger variety particularly sought after by children, and of this species there are many more females than males. Boys tie a female to a tree, and sing: "Thou, the male, King of Korea, dost thou not feel shame to flee away from the Queen of the East?" This quaint song is an allusion to the legendary conquest of Korea, to which we shall refer later on, and it succeeds in attracting the male dragon-fly. It is also believed that if a certain ideograph is traced in the air it has the power to paralyse the dragon-fly one wishes to catch.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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