Mount Fuji, standing at 3,776 meters, is the tallest mountain in Japan and is considered one of the country’s most iconic symbols. For the Japanese, Mount Fuji holds significant spiritual meaning and has inspired countless generations of artists.
The beauty of Mount Fuji lies not only in the mountain itself but also in the natural phenomena associated with it.
Recently, the most striking image is the “fire dragon” phenomenon atop Mount Fuji, captured early in the morning on November 29. At the summit of Mount Fuji, a wavy orange light was observed, resembling a dragon of fire.
“Fire Dragon” soaring over Mount Fuji. (Photo: True North).
Many netizens were captivated by this image, commenting that “the dragon has emerged from the mountain and is soaring high,” referring to the legendary dragon that is said to dwell in this mountain. According to ancient legends, dragons symbolize happiness and luck and are considered deities residing at Mount Fuji. Therefore, in many historical artworks, Japanese artists often depicted dragons alongside Mount Fuji, as noted by the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
While many believe that the image of the “fire dragon” atop Mount Fuji today carries spiritual significance, scientifically, it is simply orange clouds at sunrise that fortuitously formed a wavy shape resembling a dragon.
In ancient artworks about Mount Fuji, dragons are often depicted. (Photo: Hokusai/Roning Gallery).
So, why are there orange clouds? During sunrise (and sunset), the Sun is closer to the horizon, and its light must travel a longer distance to reach the observer’s eyes. Due to the Rayleigh scattering phenomenon, most shorter wavelengths of light (like blue and green) are scattered multiple times, leaving only the longer wavelengths (red, orange, and yellow) to reach the observer’s eyes.
Additionally, due to various meteorological factors around the high mountain, Mount Fuji often experiences more unusual cloud formations compared to other locations. There have been numerous occasions when people captured images of “flying saucer clouds” (lens clouds) or other rare cloud types atop this impressive mountain.
An image of Mount Fuji with a unique cloud resembling a hat. (Photo: Raymond R Carr).
