Dragon Mystic

Image by chiaralily via Flickr

When we think of dragons, most of us imagine them as huge creatures that breathe fire. That is the image and concept that most people have of dragons.

There is a great deal of symbolism in the fire dragon, especially in Chinese culture. Calling someone a fire dragon means they move quickly from being calm and easy-going to furious and outraged. It means people tend to walk on egg shells around them because their moods are so unpredictable.

In Chinese history, the fire dragon is a very serious force to be reckoned with. That is represented by the people that fall into the behaviors of fire dragons. It is said in traditional Chinese culture that they are their own worst enemy.

Of all the dragons in Chinese literature, the fire dragon is the most dangerous. Fire dragons are dangerous not only to other people and the surroundings but to themselves as well. They tend toward self destruction.

In history and myths, it is the ability of a dragon to breath fire that makes it so mysterious and also so powerful. Breathing fire allows the dragon to ward off enemies and to protect itself.

Many people dream of being powerful enough to be able to cause their enemies to run for cover. That is why they may find they look up to the dragon and closely identify with it.

There is no evidence to suggest that fire dragons, or any dragons for that matter, actually existed. They are believed to be an image that developed from beliefs about or memories of snakes, dinosaurs, and even other smaller reptiles.

Yet this concept of the fire dragon has been passed down for centuries in cultures around the world. It is more prevalent in some cultures, of course, than  in others.

There is no shortage of books, artwork, and stories about fire dragons. Some of them portray fire dragons as mythical creatures that were very wise. Yet the dragons succumbed to the fears of the villagers. They also fell victim to various hunters who wanted to be recognized for destroying them.

In other stories, though, the fire dragon is portrayed as something evil and to be feared. There is definitely a mystery that still surrounds dragons, even today.

Image via Wikipedia

The Chinese dragon is a very common symbol in Chinese culture. It is often shown as a very long animal that is very similar to the form of a snake. Yet it has four legs, and feet with claws. It may be depicted with a very small flame be shooting from the mouth.

In the Chinese culture, the dragon is a very powerful symbol of strength. It is a common part of their celebrations, and the dragon is also one of the animals that their years are named after.

The Chinese do not believe that dragons once roamed the Earth, though. Instead dragons are a symbol of the mystical part of life that often cannot be explained.

In many of the early writings the Chinese dragon is believed to be the bearer of the water and the rain. This is why many of the traditional celebrations honor the dragon for what it has offered to the land.

There is material to suggest that the Chinese dragon was the official symbol of early Emperors. It is believed that this was done to remind people of the power that this person held. It also resulted in many of the people making art of dragons in order to honor their respect for the Emperor.

If you take a close look at many forms of early art work and architecture in China, you will see many detailed works of dragons. Many of them have been well preserved over the years as well. They want to be able to continue showing their respect to this type of creature.

For those Chinese people that get tattoo work done, the dragon is the most common. Males often want the dragon on their body as a symbol of strength and honor.

It is common for families of the same origin to have a particular dragon tattoo on them. This is a way to continue showing their pride in their heritage.

The dragon is still an important part of the Chinese culture. It is disrespectful to destroy anything with a dragon image on it.

They also have plenty of advertisements that include dragons. Of course, they only show them in the very best views. They do not allow disrespect of dragons to be shown in movies or films either.

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