Top 12 Ball Lightning Folklore from Around the World: #7 Will Send Chills Down Your Spine

2. The Dragon's Pearl of Chinese Mythology

Ball lightning appears more favorably in Chinese mythology as the "Dragon's Pearl," a luminous sphere said to be a potent relic connected with dragons, creatures of immense wisdom and celestial strength in Chinese culture. Legend has it that dragons use their brilliant pearls—found in their jaws or claws—as sources of great power and knowledge. Said to contain amazing powers, the Dragon's Pearl is supposed to enable its bearer to control the weather, call rain during a drought, or calm turbulent waves. According to some stories, the pearl is 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 search of wisdom and enlightenment. Folklore holds that occasionally dragons might loose their pearls, which then descend to earth like ball lightning. Those who are fortunate enough to see or own a Dragon's Pearl are supposed to have divine insight, good prosperity, and long lifetime. But the legends also caution against the perils of greed, warning anyone who try to pilfers or utilize the Dragon's Pearl of horrific results including divine punishment or metamorphosis into horrible beings. The great regard for natural events and the conviction in the connectivity of the terrestrial and celestial domains in Chinese civilization help to explain the legendary popularity.