Top 12 Ball Lightning Folklore From All Around World

2. The Dragon's Pearl of Chinese Mythology

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As the "Dragon's Pearl," a brilliant sphere thought to be a potent treasure connected with dragons, creatures of tremendous wisdom and heavenly power, ball lightning seems more favorably in Chinese mythology. Legend has it that from their dazzling pearls—found in their teeth or claws—dragons discover great strength and intellect. Said to have amazing powers, the Dragon's Pearl is supposed to help its bearer control the temperature, call rain during a drought, or calm tumultuous waves. Some stories have the pearl as the distilled essence of the universe—all the knowledge and force of creation combined. Dragons are commonly shown chasing or playing with these brilliant spheres in ancient Chinese art and literature, hence signifying the pursuit for knowledge and illumination. Folklore holds that periodically dragons lose their pearls, which then fall to earth like ball lightning. Those who are lucky enough to see or own a Dragon's Pearl are supposed to have long lives, divine insight, and good fortune. But the traditions also warn against the perils of avarice anyone who attempts to steal or use the Dragon's Pearl of horrible consequences, including divine wrath or metamorphosis into monster beings, against. The great reverence for natural events and the trust in the connectivity of the terrestrial and celestial domains help Chinese society to explain the legendary appeal.