The Dragon and His Grandmother, Part 1
An engraving of Andrew Lang at work. Image via Wikipedia
Here is a story from the Yellow Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. It was written over 100 years ago and is now in the public domain.
What I wonder is where Andrew Lang found this story. It has the flavor of an ancient tale from an Eastern culture. If anyone knows the origin of the tale, please leave a comment with the information. Thanks.
The Dragon and His Grandmother
There was once a great war, and the King had a great many soldiers, but he gave them so little pay that they could not live upon it. Then three of them took counsel together and determined to desert.
One of them said to the others, ‘If we are caught, we shall be hanged on the gallows; how shall we set about it?’ The other said, ‘Do you see that large cornfield there? If we were to hide ourselves in that, no one could find us. The army cannot come into it, and to-morrow it is to march on.’
They crept into the corn, but the army did not march on, but remained encamped close around them. They sat for two days and two nights in the corn, and grew so hungry that they nearly died; but if they were to venture out, it was certain death.
They said at last, ‘What use was it our deserting? We must perish here miserably.’
Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air. It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there. See the rest of this entry…
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Tags: Yellow Fairy Book, dragon and his grandmother, Andrew Lang, fiery dragonTopics: Fictional Dragons, Fire Dragons | No Comments »
Dragons in the East
Author: Fran Black
While Europe’s shining knights spent their lives slaying dragons, the Chinese sought after and worshiped Eastern dragons as the most benevolent, wise, and generous of all creatures. Indeed, to be called “dragon face” was a great honor, and it was believed that emperors received counsel and aid from dragons in times of need.
A few emperors even proudly claimed to be direct descendants of dragons. Pairings between humans and dragons were thought possible, since dragons were capable of changing their shape and size to assume whatever form they desired.
Unlike the fierce western dragons who hoarded treasure and demanded virtuous young women as sacrifices, the dragons of Chinese legend showed tenderness toward humans, and even acted in their behalf many times, sometimes at great cost.
This is seen in one of the oldest legends about the Four Dragons. According to this legend, China once had no rivers. The people were dependent on the gods to send rain for their crops. See the rest of this entry…
Topics: Asian Dragons, Dragon History, Water Dragons | No Comments »
The Wrath of Dragons in Vietnamese Art
Image by ramon82 via Flickr
Author: Suzanne
The influence of symbolism in Vietnamese art has been in vogue since prehistoric times. One of the most supernatural of all creatures, dragons and fairies, symbolized various instances of Vietnamese art.
From the Dong Son civilization to the modern Nyugen Dynasty, the dragon motif has been used in various forms and shapes in sculptures, paintings, palaces, and different religious or architectural structures. The evolution of the dragon symbol portrayed the changing beliefs and culture of the people from time to time.
The Dong Son civilization (400BC to 200AD) saw the reptile version of the dragon, also known as the “Giao Long” dragon. This symbol was found etched on a number of bronze urns and weapon hatches.
The following period (Dai La) witnessed Vietnam under Chinese colonization from the first to the tenth century. This period had a profound impact on Vietnamese art. This is clearly evident from the decorative tiles found at Co Loa, where the Dai La dragon shows remarkable resemblance with its Chinese counterpart.
Vietnam breathed the air of independence with the dawn of the Ly Dynasty. This period can also be termed the ‘golden period’ for Vietnamese art as it reached the peak of excellence. Water dragons symbolizing the God of Rain found way into Vietnamese art during this period.
Some of the distinguishing features of this dragon in contrast to the Chinese creature were: thin and long body; undulated body contours of a serpent; small head with long whisker and mane and fine legs with small claws. The Chuong Son tower now showcases an extraordinary example of the Ly dragon carved on stone. See the rest of this entry…
Topics: Asian Dragons, Dragon Art, Dragon History | No Comments »
Dragons: Media Magic!
Cover of Reign of Fire
Author: John Hill
They fill the air with fire,
They soar above the tallest tower,
They glisten with emerald-scaled attire
They inspire awe and terror whenever they glower…Dragons!!
Dragons are more than just creatures of myth; they are beings of legend. They are even considered gods in some cultures. Dragons of ancient times garner fear and respect but dragons of modern times entertain and inspire the imagination.
Take a look at some of the more popular dragons of modern times:
Dragons in Movies
Dragonheart: Based on the concept that dragons were being hunted to extinction, this movie has heart. Literally. During this time, one lonely dragon was sought out to save the life of the king’s son. This noble dragon gave this young prince a piece of his dragon heart.
The problem was, with a dragon’s heart beating in his chest, he couldn’t die. This prince turns into one of the worst villains the world had ever known. He is eventually brought down when the dragon sacrifices himself to allow his dragon heart to die.
Dragons, in this film, are seen as noble, valiant creatures with true compassion.
Reign of Fire: This is one of those movies that does a splendid job of picturing dragons as vicious and hungry creatures. Twenty years after his mother inadvertently awakens a fire-breathing dragon, Fire Chief Quinn must do all he can to save the remaining human population from total eradication by the dragons. See the rest of this entry…
Topics: Asian Dragons, Dragon Art, European Dragons, Fictional Dragons | No Comments »
Do the Dragon Dance at the Feast of the Drunken Dragon in Macau
Image via Wikipedia
Author: Naveen Marasinghe
The Feast of the Drunken Dragon has an interesting history. Legend has it that during the Qing Dynasty, villagers of mainland China were attacked with a plague. They called upon the Buddha to protect them, by parading a large statue of the Buddha through village streets. During the procession, a python (believed to have been sent from heaven) blocked their way. A drunken monk is then said to have cut the python into three pieces, and dancing in glee, threw the pieces into the river.
The river water turned red from the python’s blood and then the python is said to have re-emerged from the river and flown in to the skies. This was assumed as a sacred omen, since the python was believed to be a sacred dragon sent from heaven. After this the villagers discovered that the weeds growing in the river had accrued certain medicinal values that could cure plague.
Since then, the Feast of the Drunken Dragon is celebrated in the Chinese cities of Macau, Zhuhai and Zongshan where people dance the ‘drunken dragon dance’, in processions, while drinking and spitting out Chinese rice wine. See the rest of this entry…
Topics: Asian Dragons, Dragon History, Water Dragons | No Comments »
Do You Know Your Dragons?
Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Author: John Hill
Descriptions of dragons run the gamut from diabolical and vile to gentle and mild. However, no matter how cunning and cruel or naïve and good, one thing has remained unchanged throughout the long history of dragons – they are always depicted as majestic creatures and a force to reckon with.
Legend has it that while all dragons have a choice as to whether they want to be good or evil, there are some general predispositions based on type. Modern fantasy has grouped dragons into two main categories – the good, kindly and courageous metallic dragons and their evil counterparts, the chromatic dragons.
Hearts Of Gold – Metallic Dragons
There are 5 different kinds of metallic dragons: gold, silver, bronze, brass and copper, each of which is distinctly different in physical appearance as well as in nature.
- Gold Dragons: With large twin horns that are metallic and smooth gold dragons are resolute in their allegiance to quash evil and often embark on self-appointed missions to promote good.
- Silver Dragons: Extremely sensitive in nature, silver dragons are committed to protecting the innocent and helping the meek. They have strong chins, pointed tongues and beaklike noses. See the rest of this entry…
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Dragon – the Ultimate Good Fortune Feng Shui Symbol
Image via Wikipedia
Author: Jenny Lin
The mighty and magnificent Dragon of mythical folklore never ceases to enchant or stir the imagination. The Dragon is one of the four celestial animals and is important and powerful symbols in Feng Shui.
The Dragon represents the ultimate ‘Yang’ symbol, male vigor, courage and bravery. It is magnanimous and full of vitality and strength. Affiliated with the cardinal direction “East” based on Landscape Feng Shui, the Dragon becomes a very powerful and potent symbol when placed in this sector, although it can be placed in any other directions.
In Chinese culture and in Feng Shui, the dragon is the most auspicious and magnificent, mightiest and most sacred of all creatures and to be treated with great respect. Through generations, the dragon has been the ultimate symbol of power, abundance, good luck and honor. In ancient times, the Emperors of China regarded themselves as the Dragons and the symbol of Dragons can only be used by the them and no one else. See the rest of this entry…
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Creating a Fire Breathing Dragon With Photoshop
Author: John M. Lund
When I was young I constantly doodled. I doodled a lot of things…but mainly I doodled dragons. Fast forward a number of years…well…a whole lot of years…and my twin brother is showing me pictures of his pet iguana…pretty cool looking creature…. Then it occurs to me…what a perfect dragon the iguana would make…and now I had the ultimate doodle tool…Photoshop!
With PhotoSshop pictures of an iguana become a photograph of a fire breathing dragon!
Photoshop is an incredibly powerful tool of alchemy…given the right raw materials any new photographic reality can be created. Without those raw materials Photoshop can be an exercise in frustration and a road to mediocrity.
To make sure that I have the raw materials to create my photographic visions it helps to begin with a sketch. Once I have the sketch I can systematically photograph those raw materials, comparing them with the sketch, until I know I have the parts to complete my stock image. See the rest of this entry…
Topics: Dragon Art | No Comments »
Dragon Art
Dragons have taken on many forms in our world, so it is only right that they have also become a very common subject for art. There are so many different designs today featuring dragons that this is where most of us get our images of them.
These common images have been passed down for centuries and that is why some people believe that dragons may have once roamed the Earth. Yet there is no real evidence to show that this indeed happened.
Paintings are the most common types of dragon art. You can often tell the type of culture and the time frame when it was done too. For those cultures such as the Chinese that have a strong bond with the dragon, this type of art work is even more common. In addition to drawings they also make masks and kites that feature amazing artistic abilities.
Sculptures of dragons are also found around the world. Some of them are very large to help symbolize the size and power that the images of dragons often give. They can be found at museums and art galleries. Some people display them in their homes as well. They are also symbolic in front of restaurants and other types of businesses operated by the Chinese.
On a smaller scale in size but still very common is dragon art in the form of tattoos. While men generally are the recipients of such art work, some women have been known to feature them as well. If you decide to get a dragon tattoo you want to make sure it is done by someone well qualified. You donít want to regret getting it later on because you donít like how it looks.
Dragon jewelry is always popular as well—and much easier to change than a dragon tattoo. Rings, pendants, earrings, and pins portray both Chinese and European winged dragons in silver or gold, often with precious stones for eyes.
Dragon images adorn dinnerware, glassware, linens, and other household items, too. People around the world are in love with dragons.
If you are interested in capturing the ability to draw dragons, you can take some lessons. Not everyone has the natural ability to do this. There are classes you can take as well as online videos that will show you the basics.
There is a great deal of room to explore your personal creativity in dragon art. It can be a great deal of fun, though, so make sure you find an avenue of art that you really enjoy for it.
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The First Dragon
Ansu Bird. Often called the "first dragon," it is actually more of a bird. Image via Wikipedia
Author: James Crowe
Have you ever been curious about the first Dragon in history? Where it was from, did it have a name? I know I was. I also realized that I would have to settle on the first Dragon in recorded history. Since time travel still eludes me.
That is when I decided to do a little surfing, well, a lot of surfing and a lot of reading, as it turned out. Yes, I even hit the hard copy.
At first I was instantly gratified, as I’m sure many have been before me. A lot of web sites that I went to all told me the same… my quest was over…it was Anzu of Babylon, a.k.a Zu, c.1st Millennium B.C. From “Ninurta vs. Anzu” or “The Myth of Anzu”.
I read the descriptions, and with the exception of a few minor variations, it was this: Body and head of a lion, wings of an eagle (I didn’t realize they had eagles in Babylon), razor sharp talons, the beak of a bird with teeth, and an armor-plated breast. It to me was a bit of a let down. I don’t know about you, but to me Anzu sounds more like a griffin than a dragon. See the rest of this entry…
Topics: Dragon History, Fictional Dragons, MIddle Eastern Dragons | No Comments »
