A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

The dragon of Juan Sadut’s tale is the mountain-dwelling possessor of a burning stone in Nicolas Zafra’s Ilocano account from San Fernando, La Union. Its breath alone is described as lethally poisonous, and poisonous serpents guard its cave. Each morning it plays with the stone, tossing it into the air and catching it in its mouth. Obtaining the stone is one of three tasks a king sets Juan before allowing him to marry the princess.

Juan has already received a gold signet ring from the king of snakes, a different character who helps him without a stated prior service. The ring advises him to show it to the cave’s guardians, to whom it is sacred. They become obedient and fetch the stone for him. The narrative supplies no fight with the dragon and does not say that it dies. Juan proceeds to answer the king’s final question with the ring’s advice and eventually inherits the kingdom. The stone is fiery; the dragon’s own breath is poisonous, not explicitly a jet of flame. No wings, number of limbs or human transformation is stated.

Deadly poisonous breathCave guarded by serpentsTosses and catches a burning stoneGuards obey a sacred signet ring
01

Origins & earliest records

Philippines; Nicolas Zafra, an Ilocano from San Fernando, La Union

02

Records & interpretation

Complete tale and shared comparative notes read in the retained 1921-edition transcription.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Filipino Popular Tales

    Dean S. Fansler, collector and editor; narrated by Nicolas Zafra · 1921

    Tale 25, Juan Sadut, pp. 223–226; full notes p. 226; American Folk-Lore Society

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

Complete main tale and all comparative notes read

Dean S. Fansler, Filipino Popular Tales (American Folk-Lore Society, 1921)

Part I, Hero Tales and Drolls. Tale 25, pp. 223–226; notes pp. 226–227; dragon chiefly pp. 224–225

Cache fansler-25.txt/master fansler1921.html. Dragon distinct from ring-giving king of snakes; burning stone separate from poisonous breath. No dragon death or struggle supplied after guards retrieve stone.

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References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Historical collected folktaleFansler, tale 25, Juan SadutResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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