![]() 500–100 B.C.E.), and earlier, and has been used on countless decorative, ceremonial, luxury, and imperial objects throughout time. Dragon years are considered energetic and promising, thus one could say with a fair amount of certainty that the year is likely to be one of great upheaval, monumental change, and a spike in China's national birth rate!ĭragon iconography has had symbolic importance dating to the times of Confucius and Lao-Tze (ca. The dragon is the only one of twelve animals in the Chinese horoscope that is mythical, and those who are superstitious will expect 2012, the Year of the Dragon (4709 according to the Chinese Lunar calendar), to be in keeping with its characteristics of power, ambition, generosity, and fertility. This is a good thing, too, because according to Chinese astrology, cosmology, and divination, the dragon is upon us. The dragon looks fearsome, scaled and sinuous with four legs, its mouth agape and its claws always deployed, but it is actually considered a protective symbol, associated with positive traits such as wisdom, strength, and longevity. Since ancient times, the Chinese in particular have regarded dragons as auspicious figures, representative of primal symbols such as water and clouds (referencing heaven) and fertility. Long before dragons "frolicked in the autumn mist" or terrorized the young wizards of Hogwarts, the mythical creatures were the subject of legend across millennia, throughout numerous cultures and continents. Double-Tiered Mirror with Two Interlaced Dragons and Four Serpents (dating to 450–221 B.C.E.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |