It appears to be based on sea serpents or ryu, traditional Japanese dragons or Chinese dragons who bring good luck. It also appears to look like a snake, its tail even resembling that of a rattlesnake. The wings on its head resemble those on the sandals and hat of the Greek god Hermes, and its long, snakelike body may be a reference to the snakes on his scepter.
Dragonair may also be based on the imugi, a proto-dragon that resembles a snake and lives in water or caves, much like Dragonair. After an imugi lives a thousand years, a jewel (called a Yeouiju) will fall from the sky. If the imugi catches it, it will become a true dragon. The jewel on Dragonair’s neck might also be a reference to the Japanese folktale, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, in which the princess Kaguya-hime challenges her suitors to bring her back some items, including a colored jewel from a dragon’s neck.
Dragonair may be a combination of dragon and air (referring to its ability to change the weather or to its air of grace and majesty) or debonair (referring to its graceful appearance and flying). It could also refer to a “lair”, the traditional home of a dragon.
Hakuryū could be taken to mean 白竜 (white dragon). Hakuryu was also the name of the dragon-like companion of Zhu Bajie/Cho Hakkai from the legend of the Journey to the West in Buddhist lore.
No: 148
English Name: Dragonair
Japanese Name: Hakuryu
Generation: 1
Type: Dragon
Species: Dragon Pokémon
Abilities: Shed Skin, Marvel Scale (hidden ability)
Evolution: Dratini > Dragonair > Dragonite
Dragonair is a long, serpentine Pokémon with sky blue scales and a white underside. Its violet eyes are dark and glossy. It has a smooth, rounded snout and a small, white horn on its forehead. Its head is flanked by two small, stylized wings, which are white and curve into a swirl at the base. Three blue, crystal orbs, one on its neck and two on its tail, adorn its body.
Dragonair emits a gentle aura that gives it a mystical appearance. As seen in the anime, it can make its wings grow larger in order to fly, but otherwise moves through the air unaided. Dragonair hosts a large amount of energy within its body, which it can discharge through the crystal orbs on its neck and tail. This causes its body to brighten and give off a different aura that changes the weather in its vicinity. Dragonair is a rare Pokémon that inhabits seas and lakes.
POKEDEX ENTRIES
Pokemon Red: A mystical Pokémon that exudes a gentle aura. Has the ability to change climate conditions.
Pokemon Blue: A mystical Pokémon that exudes a gentle aura. Has the ability to change climate conditions.
Pokemon Yellow: According to a witness, its body was surrounded by a strange aura that gave it a mystical look.
Pokemon Stadium: Lives in large bodies of water like the sea and lakes. It is said to have the power to change the weather and fly.
Pokemon Gold: They say that if it emits an aura from its whole body, the weather will begin to change instantly.
Pokemon Silver: Its crystalline orbs appear to give this Pokémon the power to freely control the weather.
Pokemon Crystal: It is called the divine Pokémon. When its entire body brightens slightly, the weather changes.
Pokemon Stadium 2: They say that if it emits an aura from its whole body, the weather will begin to change instantly.
Pokemon Ruby: Dragonair stores an enormous amount of energy inside its body. It is said to alter weather conditions in its vicinity by discharging energy from the crystals on its neck and tail.
Pokemon Sapphire: Dragonair stores an enormous amount of energy inside its body. It is said to alter weather conditions in its vicinity by discharging energy from the crystals on its neck and tail.
Pokemon Emerald: A Dragonair stores an enormous amount of energy inside its body. It is said to alter the weather around it by loosing energy from the crystals on its neck and tail.
Pokemon FireRed: It is said to live in seas and lakes. Even though it has no wings, it has been seen flying occasionally.
Pokemon LeafGreen: A mystical Pokémon that exudes a gentle aura. It is said to have the ability to change the weather.
Pokemon Diamond: If its body takes on an aura, the weather changes instantly. It is said to live in seas and lakes.
Pokemon Pearl: If its body takes on an aura, the weather changes instantly. It is said to live in seas and lakes.
Pokemon Platinum: If its body takes on an aura, the weather changes instantly. It is said to live in seas and lakes.
Pokemon HeartGold: They say that if it emits an aura from its whole body, the weather will begin to change instantly.
Pokemon SoulSilver: Its crystalline orbs appear to give this Pokémon the power to freely control the weather.
Pokemon Black: If its body takes on an aura, the weather changes instantly. It is said to live in seas and lakes.
Pokemon White: If its body takes on an aura, the weather changes instantly. It is said to live in seas and lakes.
Pokemon Black 2: If its body takes on an aura, the weather changes instantly. It is said to live in seas and lakes.
pokemon White 2: If its body takes on an aura, the weather changes instantly. It is said to live in seas and lakes.
Pokemon X: Its crystalline orbs appear to give this Pokémon the power to freely control the weather.
Pokemon Y: A mystical Pokémon that exudes a gentle aura. It is said to have the ability to change the weather.
Pokemon Omega Ruby: Dragonair stores an enormous amount of energy inside its body. It is said to alter weather conditions in its vicinity by discharging energy from its crystals on its neck and tail.
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire: Dragonair stores an enormous amount of energy inside its body. It is said to alter weather conditions in its vicinity by discharging energy from its crystals on its neck and tail.
Pokemon SUN: It has long been thought that its crystalline orbs are imbued with the power to control the weather.
Pokemon MOON: From time immemorial, it has been venerated by agricultural peoples as an entity able to control the weather.
