Chinese those born of the Dragon by Donna Morgan

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Those born in the year of the Chinese Dragon are powerful and lucky. This intelligent, giving person is also one of the most tenacious you will ever meet. They know what they want and how to get it. They have a natural charm and charisma that they use to influence those around them. They are often the center of attention.

Dragons can have a pretty big ego, yet they are also good at motivating others. They want to lead. They are good at accumulating wealth. They are opportunistic and always looking for a way to consolidate their power. Full of vitality, they truly love life and live it to its fullest. Wherever they go, their faithful followers are never far behind. They may be eccentric and demanding.

The Chinese Dragon has the potential to achieve great things as long as they don't get too far ahead of themselves. Whether their deeds are bad or good, they are always noticed. Don't bother trying to win an argument with a Dragon you will always lose. They are very loyal to friends and family, however. They don't keep secrets very well, and they love to say "I told you so." They need to learn to plan before they leap. They need a purpose in their life or a cause to fight for. Without these things to aim for, they never get beyond dreaming of what might be. They can be stubborn and irritable. They don't like to follow orders, they prefer to give them.

Chinese Dragons are hard working and healthy. They may get stressed and develop headaches due to too much risky behavior. They benefit from an active lifestyle to work both their minds and bodies.

Dragons don't like to be under anyone else in authority. They may be good at inventing, analyzing, law, engineering, sales or other stimulating position. Whatever they decide to do, they can excel.

Individuals born in the year of the Chinese Dragon are lucky in love. They strive to keep their independence, and they have tempers their partners need to deal with. Once they find the right person, they mate for life. They may be difficult to live with at times and may be rather tactless to the point of hurting their partner.

Dragons are most compatible with Monkeys and Rats. They are least compatible with Oxen and Goats.

Different years are assigned different elements, which can affect each sign. The five elements are metal, water, wood, fire and earth.

Metal Dragons (1940, 2000, 2060) are strong and determined. They don't hesitate to fight for what they believe in. They enjoy being around those who challenge what they believe. They are natural born leaders who attract followers like moths to a flame.

Water Dragons (1952, 2012, 2072) are more calming. They have the ability to see things from others' points of view. They don't need to always be the one who is right.

Wood Dragons (1904, 1964, 2084) are willing to listen to the opinions of others than themselves. They are artistic and creative. They get along very well with other people, though they will always take a leadership role.

Fire Dragons (1916, 1976, 2096) are volatile. Their emotions can rise in an instant. They are rather fond of putting themselves on a pedestal, and may be prone to making bad decisions due to their impulsive recklessness.

Earth Dragons (1928, 1988, 2108) are grounded. They make decent decisions and act rationally. They are able to control their behavior.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Chinese Dragon Meaning   Donna Morgan

The people of China have a long held belief that they are descendents of the dragon, a tradition that is firmly embedded in their culture and one that is encountered across all aspects of Chinese society and in the minds of its people. Whereas in western cultures the dragon is usually regarded as a symbol of malevolence, in China it is held in high esteem for its dignity and power for good.

From primitive times people have regarded the dragon as an auspicious creature with the power to bless and influence their lives. As tribes fought for domination and came to be united under a common banner the dragon was adopted as a national icon. Such was the mysterious creature's power it was regarded as the god of rain, thunder, the rainbow, and the stars. In a society that was founded upon agriculture and animal husbandry totally reliant upon its natural environment and in particular the climate, the dragon was worshipped as the source of all that was beneficial to communal well being. This concept has been sustained for thousands of years as more and more deification was bestowed upon the dragon ranging from being a bringer of joy to prophecy and miracles. With the establishment of a feudal society, emperors compared themselves to the dragon thereby making it the exclusive symbol of imperial majesty. Anyone who subsequently used the dragon as a symbol either intentionally or erroneously could be regarded as offending their ruler and condemned to death.

A dragon-shaped lantern The image of the dragon has undergone a series of changes over the centuries becoming more and more mighty and beautiful. The original illustration on primitive bronze ware portrays it as ferocious and mysterious; in the Han Dynasty (206BC - 220), it became magnificent and unrestrained; while during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), it was personalized as gentle, tamed and graceful. From the Song Dynasty onwards (960 - 1279), the design became delicate and flowery.

There are several different kinds of dragon according to color, which may be yellow, blue, black, white or red. Of these the most highly revered was the yellow one and so each emperor wore a gown decorated with a yellow dragon pattern.

Although there are differences in appearance, the basics are similar. This is because it is a combination of the features of animals with which people were familiar. A dragon has a protruding forehead indicating wisdom and antlers signifying longevity. Its ox's ears denote success in the imperial examination; it has tiger's eyes as a sign of power; eagle's claws showing bravery; while a fish's tail implies flexibility and the horse's teeth are a mark of diligence and so on.

Dragon Dance The most vibrant and spectacular way of expressing fondness for the dragon is the dragon dance. This has evolved from what was a ritual rain dance into a popular entertainment performed during the period from Spring Festival until the Lantern Festival . The second day of the second lunar month is the Han people's special time - 'Dragon Heads-raising Day'. People could not tonsure their hair from the start of the lunar New Year until then. The activities for celebration are still for a good rain. Other big festivals related to the dragon include the Dragon Boat Festival and those of ethnic groups like Zhuang, Yao, Hani, and so on.

Nine Sons of the Dragon - Culture Mirror

 

It was said that the dragon had nine sons, each of whom was endowed with a unique supernatural power. These appear in many aspects of art as well as forming part of daily life.

The eldest son appeared as a tortoise, a creature capable of bearing very heavy stone steles. Tortoise statues were erected in ancient temples and courtyards, as people believed that to touch them could bring good luck.

The second son was like a tiger, powerful especially in the courts of justice and its likeness was engraved on the doors of jails to add stateliness.

The third son was just like a lizard but one without a tail. It was thought to forage in dangerous places with the ability to swallow fire. The roofs of palaces were adorned with such dragons as a protection against fire.

Dragon figures on eaves of ancient building The fourth son, resembling a spiral shell bears a likeness to a closed mouth and would be carved or painted on doors as its closed form symbolized safety.

The fifth son had a great love of music and it is depicted as a yellow dragon upon musical instruments such as the Hu Qin of the Han People, Yue Qin of the Yi ethnic group, and tri-chord qin of the Bai ethnic group.

The sixth son was similar to but smaller than its father. It feared cetaceous creatures such as dolphins or whales and upon seeing a cetacean, it would shout loudly in fear. Thus it became a tradition for people put its likeness on clocks with a carved wooden cetacean as the bell-striker in order to increase the sonority of the toll.

The seventh son appeared like a wolf and people who were greedy would be called 'Tao Tie' which was the name of this son.

The eighth son was like a lion with a propensity to sit and enjoy the aroma of joss sticks. This was introduced into the imagery of Chinese Buddhism and would be depicted on Buddha thrones and incense burners.

The ninth son bore a likeness to a jackal with its taste for killing, thus it often appeared on sword scabbards. Another tradition says that 'Pixiu', a fierce but auspicious beast, was the ninth son. It had a dragon's head, horse's body, kylin's feet, a long beard and wings but no anus, which was its most distinctive feature and symbolized the bringing and accumulation wealth. In the art of Feng Shui, it also functioned to exorcise undesirable influences. For this reason hosts would have a statue of 'Pixiu' on certain furniture; it was believed that Pixiu made of jade were the most effective for such purposes.

Other Auspicious Animals - Phoenix, Tortoise, and Kylin

 

A bronze kylin The dragon, phoenix, tortoise, and kylin are the four most revered animals of ancient China. Of these only the tortoise is real, the others being entirely fictitious; each was a symbol of good fortune and this is why people paid them so much respect.

The phoenix is splendid and regarded as the king of birds. Usually it paired with the dragon and in wedding celebrations it is a wish for a harmonious marriage for the new couple. Once the dragon became a totem of the emperor, the phoenix was accorded a similar significance to empresses. For generations, people have named food, musical instruments, and even girls with the Chinese character 'Feng' (phoenix), in the expectation that they are as splendid as the phoenix.

Tortoise The tortoise is one of the animals that has endured longest on earth and as such is a symbol of longevity and wealth because it is thought that the tortoise evolved while collecting the nimbus of nature. Consequently it is favorable to present a statue of a tortoise to the senior or breed tortoises in a place that can bring enrichment according to the theory of 'Feng Shui'.

The kylin has a compound appearance with dragon's head, antlers, horse's hoofs, an oxtail, wolf's forehead and a colorful scute. It is lively, intelligent, and gentle, but valorous to ward off devils. It is the custom in some regions for people to believe that the kylin will give them a son. So a common theme in paper-cut works and paintings is for this mythical beast to be shown carrying a plump baby.