In Chinese mythology, Ao Guang is the Dragon King who rules the Eastern Sea and appears in the classic novel Investiture of the Gods.
Ao Guang, also written Ao Kuang in some transliteration systems, is one of the Four Dragon Kings. He is traditionally associated with the East and the Eastern Sea, while the other Dragon Kings govern the south, west, and north. As a sea deity, he is connected with rain, storms, marine life, and the control of water.
The character appears prominently in Investiture of the Gods, a Chinese mythological novel traditionally attributed to Xu Zhonglin and generally associated with the Ming dynasty. Ao Guang also appears in other popular stories, including the legend of Nezha, where conflict with the Dragon King becomes a major episode.
The names of the Dragon Kings vary across texts and translations. Ao Qin, Ao Run, and Ao Shun are traditionally assigned to the other three directions, so they are related figures rather than alternative names for Ao Guang.