Posts Tagged ‘Dragons’

Do the Dragon Dance at the Feast of the Drunken Dragon in Macau

Thursday, November 12th, 2009
The head of dragon dance costume

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. (more…)

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Dragon – the Ultimate Good Fortune Feng Shui Symbol

Friday, October 30th, 2009
Photo of a brass dragon charm jewelry finding

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. (more…)

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