Dragon Lore |
The
first recorded Dragon Myth dates back to 2000 BC. The
Babylonian mother goddess, Tiamat, was killed by one of
her own progeny - Marduk. Recent discoveries unearthed in
Henan Province, China have proven that dragon symbols
appeared on Chinese utensils dating back to 6000 BC.
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Yet Chinese dragons have a destructive side, too. They are also thought to deliver the devastating storms that regularly batter China's shores. Why would the life-giving dragon release such deadly tempests? What affront could humans have committed to merit this punishment? According to Chinese folklore mortal behavior, in fact, has nothing to do with it. Dragons and Royalty Peasants tell stories of dragon kings. These noble animals live in aquatic palaces on the ocean floor. In the spring, the dragons ascend to the heavens. In the autumn, they return to their undersea homes. These seasonal passages are said to stir up China's destructive storms. Far from the tempests of everyday life stands China's Forbidden City, the emperor's exclusive palace. It is adorned with dragons. How was this idol of the peasantry welcomed into the royal household? Thousands of years ago a lowly soldier of fortune named Yu Pang rose to the pinnacle of Chinese society. He was poised to become Emperor, the Son of Heaven. But Yu Pang had a problem. His common origins did not bode well in tradition-bound China. The founder of a great dynasty needed a great lineage, so Yu Pang invented one. He claimed to have descend from dragons. Curiously, the emperor's dragon was always depicted with five claws. This creature became so wedded to the imperial identity that before long every feature of the Chinese court was described in terms of dragons. The emperor was called "the true dragon," he sat on "the dragon throne" and wrapped himself in "dragon robes." So jealously did the royal household guard its five-clawed dragon that anyone who displayed the symbol without approval was punished by death. For the Chinese people, the dragon has become such a part of their culture that it is associated with every part of their lives. Today's dragon boat racers may not think of their races/festivals as clashes between heavenly dragons, but the excitement, intensity and spectacle prevail. Dragon Boat Racing attracts thousands of fans and participants in countries that Qu Yuan and the ancient Chinese and never imagined. The Dragon lives on . . . |
What is a Dragon Boat
| History of Dragon Boats
| Dragon Lore |
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