Master Secrets

Friday, September 23, 2011

Dragons in Vietnamese Art

Dragons in Vietnamese Art: The influence of symbolism in Vietnamese art has been in vogue since prehistoric times. One of the most supernatural of all creatures, dragons and fairies, symbolized various instances of Vietnamese art. From the Dong Son civilization to the modern Nyugen Dynasty, the dragon motif has been used in various forms and shapes in sculptures, paintings, palaces, and different religious or architectural structures. The evolution of the dragon symbol portrayed the changing beliefs and culture of the people from time to time.
The Dong Son civilization (400BC to 200AD) saw the reptile version of the dragon, also known as the "Giao Long" dragon. This symbol was found etched on a number of bronze urns and weapon hatches. The following period (Dai La) witnessed Vietnam under Chinese colonization from the first to the tenth century. This period had a profound impact on Vietnamese art. This is clearly evident from the decorative tiles found at Co Loa, where the Dai La dragon shows remarkable resemblance with its Chinese counterpart. Vietnam breathed the air of independence with the dawn of the Ly Dynasty. This period can also be termed the 'golden period' for Vietnamese art as it reached the peak of excellence. Water dragons symbolizing the God of Rain found way into Vietnamese art during this period. Some of the distinguishing features of this dragon in contrast to the Chinese creature were: thin and long body; undulated body contours of a serpent; small head with long whisker and mane and fine legs with small claws. The Chuong Son tower now showcases an extraordinary example of the Ly dragon carved on stone.
The heritage of the Ly Dynasty was transferred to the later Tran Dynasty (13-14th century). The fire-gurgling creature during this period still appeared with a small head and body; an instance of which can be found in the Pho Minh temple. The influence of Chinese culture and heritage rose profoundly in the later Ly Dynasty, with Chinese emperors adopting Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. As a consequence, the dragon symbol came to be associated with the emperor and his authoritative powers. The dragon motif then began to be extensively used in tombs, and religious temples. Dragons of the later Ly Dynasty also owes greatly to the Chinese influence. Large head, gigantic body, thick scales, long sharp claws, thick mane, and a beastly glance summarize the appearance of the Ly dragon. The modern Nyugen Dynasty hails from the "Tu Linh"- the four mythical Chinese creatures namely the phoenix, the dragon, the lion, and the tortoise. These creatures were collectively portrayed in numerous paintings, sculptures, royal palaces, and tombs in Hue. These fiery dragon motifs have attracted the attention of connoisseurs all over the world. Art gallery in Vietnam showcases these mythical creatures in their changing moods. Imbibing the Chinese motif, Vietnamese art have become even more alluring. Suzanne Macguire is an expert writer with keen interest in contemporary art.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Chinese Dragon Kite Flies High

There are cultures which look at kites with different eyes. You may see kites to be just an outdoor toy which you can play with when the weather is nice and you would want to spend time outdoors. However, in some places and in some cultures, kites are more than that. There are some which look as kites to be messengers because of their ability to ride high in the sky. Some say that if you do fly a kite and you attach a letter or your wishes, that letter can be sent to those loved ones of yours which have passed away and are now in the heavens. It is also said that the wishes that you attach with a kite is brought to the gods and deities who are looking over us.

Whichever way you do look at kites, you sure can be more than happy with the Chinese Dragon Kite not because it is a wonderful thing to look at. See, this outdoor toy is going to be more than that because it has been made to be sturdy and to give you hours of fun flying it. You can use this kite to send your thoughts and your wishes to the heavens if that is something you believe in. Or if you do not, then you can still use this kite to have hours of fun outdoors with friends or with family members.

Take out the Chinese Dragon Kite and you will see it flying high and well in the sky. It comes with a really colorful tail which measures 30 feet. With that kind of quality and creativity placed in this toy, you will definitely love flying this one on a clear day. The skies may look dull with just a couple of clouds in it but everything will look different once this colorful and huge kite is working its might high up.

Outdoor fun has never been this exciting and that is something that owners of this Chinese Dragon Kite have attested to. Aside from that, the kite just does not rip or get damaged easily for it is made of real quality materials including ripstop nylon. The frame is also made of fiberglass which as you do know will not break easily. In case you are new to flying kites, you can learn with this one with ease for it has a reel that will allow you to control the whole thing.

Chinese Dragon Kite Flies High

The Chinese Dragon Dance

The Chinese Dragon Dance : One of the highlights of the Chinese New Year celebration is the spectacular Dragon Dance. It’s history goes back to the Han Dynasty (180 – 230 CE) in ancient China. The Chinese have always perceived the dragon as being sacred and possessing power, courage, righteousness, dignity, fertility, wisdom, and auspiciousness.

New Year festivities celebrate the outset of the planting season in China. The dragon represents rain and good fortune, elements crucial for the agricultural crops. This mythical beast takes the physical form of many animals; it has the horns of a stag, the ears of a bull, the eyes of a rabbit, the claws of a tiger, and the scales of a fish distributed along the body of a long serpent. It was believed these combined traits allowed the creature to walk on land, fly through the heavens, and swim through the waters. These powers gives the dragon the authority to rule the clouds and to control the rain.

The Dragon Dance requires the coordinated efforts of a team of dancers who come from martial arts groups. The dragon consists of a head mask and a lengthy body which is held up with poles and transported by the dancers. The lead dancer holding the dragon’s head has an extremely important job. He or she makes the dragon twist, leap, crouch, and dip, as sinuous as a snake.

The dragon mask itself, usually colored red, green, or gold, is gorgeous and very complex in design. Sometimes the head has animation and pyrotechnics that belch smoke. The number of body sections can vary, sometimes using as many as 25 sections divided by hoops of bamboo. The longer the dragon, the more good fortune.

The dragon is difficult to manipulate and requires well-trained dancers in top physical condition. The creature moves in precise patterns to the music provided by drums, cymbals, and a gong. Onlookers throw firecrackers at the dancing dragon’s feet to scare away any evil spirits and also to assure the beast is fully awake from its hibernation.

The color green on the dragon stands for an extraordinary harvest, yellow is for the solemn empire, prosperity is represented by gold or silver, red is excitement, and the dragon’s scales and tail are a shimmering silver symbolizing joy.

At times, at larger celebrations, a spectator might see a Double Dragon Dance where two groups of dancers intertwine their dragons in intricate patterns. A truly rare performance involves nine dragons (Kawlung) because nine is a “perfect” number. However, such performances necessitate the coordinated efforts of several dance troupe.

Hopefully, visitors to Chinatown will have the opportunity to observe the breathtaking, astounding Dragon Dance.

The Chinese Dragon Dance

Dragon Tattoos – Freedom and Fearlessness Showcased

A dragon tattoo is a symbol of power courage strength and strong will. Dragons were valued for their warlike qualities and were often believed to be protectors of valuable treasure. In medieval times it was said that kings used dragons to protect sacred treasures in caves. No one could take the treasure without slaying the dragon first. This included the king also. So dutiful and valiant was the dragon. Both Chinese and Japanese folklore is full of stories of how different creatures were transformed into dragons at the end of their different quests involving journeys of immense perseverance and struggles. It is no wonder that the dragon tattoo is such a popular symbol.

As in all things there is a big difference in the way the people of the east and the west view dragons. In the east the dragon has been viewed as a symbol of benevolent power that protected people, dispensed life giving water and heralded fertility and good fortune. In contrast western cultures viewed the dragon as something to be feared and hated since it destroyed villages to loot and hoard treasure. So a dragon tattoo is used to symbolize a mean stubborn and tough image in the west. In the east however the dragon tattoo is a representation of might power and divine grace because the dragon is seen as a bearer of profound blessings. In fact the Chinese people are fondly referred to as the descendents of the dragon.

In the Far East the dragon represents the four natural elements – earth wind fire and water and also represents the four directions – north south east and west. Just as nature has the capacity to both nurture and destroys so does the dragon. And just as nature encompasses all the four directions so does the power of the dragon. Therefore dragon tattoos are seen as indicative of special strength and abilities.

In Japanese and Chinese cultures the highest gift anyone could receive was to be transformed into a dragon. The power and magical abilities of the dragon could only be received after an incredibly long quest filled with dangers and perils. Certain dragons were supposed to possess large amounts of wisdom and it was said that one could only pass by them if one correctly answered its riddles. The dragon tattoo therefore became a symbol of this much coveted raw power and immense intelligence

The designs on dragon tattoos show the growing influence that eastern cultures have had on the west and vice versa.

Today the dragon tattoo is seen the world over as fashionable and a representation of being free and fearless. The most common form of design in a dragon tattoo is still the eastern and oriental representation. Dragon tattoos are normally drawn in black and highlighted with colorful flames and fire. There is a superstition that the eyes of the dragon must not be colored or it will cause the dragon to come to life! So some traditional eastern people put ink in the eyes of the dragon tattoo after the person dies in order to set the dragon free. Men usually place their dragon tattoos on their back, arms, shoulders and legs while women place their dragon tattoos on shoulder, nape, side, ankle and foot.

Dragon Tattoos – Freedom and Fearlessness Showcased

Chinese Kites – From Battlefield To Art Museums, Chinese Butterfly To Chinese Dragon

Chinese kites have been flying for thousands of years, so it makes sense to present their history by the millennium! China’s literary tradition is vast, and the facts below are based on a number of specific events that have been recorded in ancient Chinese texts.

1000 BC to 0 BC

The military used large wooden kites called muyuan, somewhere between 770 BC and 221 BC. This period actually contained 2 separate periods of Chinese history, the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC – 476 BC) and the subsequent Warring States Period (475-221 BC). Developed as military technology, the first Chinese kites were invented in the province of Shandong.

There is a record of a certain master of joinery named Mu Zi who developed a man-lifting kite over a period of 3 years. It was called the Wooden-Black-Eard-Kite. At least one more kite of this design was made in later years, by other craftsmen.

Further development of the Eard kites occurred during the Chu-Han War of 203-202 BC. Besides spying on enemy positions, kites were sometimes used to deliver urgent messages.

1 AD to 1000 AD

The first century AD saw the rise of the prosperous Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). Around this time Chinese people from many walks of life discovered the simple enjoyment of kite flying. Traditional bamboo and paper, or bamboo and silk styles of kite had their origins way back here.

Even more designs and new ideas, such as the musical kite, emerged in later centuries. There’s a record of a palace worker in the 900s AD who fixed bamboo pipes to a kite to make it ‘sing’ in the wind. Ever since then, the word for kite in Chinese has been fengzheng.

The 900s were known for the introduction of silk-covered kites with beautiful and detailed hand-painted designs. These kites also carried many ornate accessories such as streamers and ribbons. So much went into these kites that it’s likely they were only made and used by the royalty and aristocracy of the time.

1000 AD to 2000 AD

After 1000 AD Chinese kites became more popular in all levels of Chinese society. If you couldn’t afford silk, there was always paper! Kite flying eventually became a seasonal activity. Most flying was done during and after Chinese New Year and through to March or April. For some areas of China, there were better winds for flying kites at these times.

Many Chinese believed that kite flying was good for your health! This was around the time of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Other superstitious ideas were around at this time too. For example, letting go of the kite string might get rid of back luck or illness as the kite drifted away. On the other hand, picking up a kite lost by someone else would bring bad luck!

By the late 1900s, China had a number of significant kite flying festivals where a large variety of kites were on show. Everything from the small Chinese butterfly to extremely large Chinese dragon kites. Notable kite makers would show off their creations, just like at other kite festivals around the world.

Since 2000 AD

Some Chinese kite makers are getting more adventurous these days. In a similar way to the Western kite scene, new innovative designs, ‘art kites’ and novelty designs are appearing.

Yearly kite festivals are still popular, for example the World Kite Festival at Weifang, in Shandong Province. Shandong? Yes, that’s where the very first kites that historians know about were constructed and flown.

To see Chinese kites purely as art, you can see a great collection at the International Kite Museum, also in WeiFang. You can walk down the halls and visually take in much of the history of Chinese kites.

Tim Parish and his family are rediscovering the joys of kite flying. They log their kiting fun on their My-Best-Kite.com website, and also research the kiting world. This site will introduce you to many kinds of kites and kite flying activities, including Chinese kites of course!

Chinese Kites – From Battlefield To Art Museums, Chinese Butterfly To Chinese Dragon

Dragon – the Ultimate Good Fortune Feng Shui Symbol

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.

The Dragon is said to create the precious cosmic Chi or known as the ‘Sheng Chi’ which brings good fortunes into our homes and workplaces, making it an all-rounder bringer of good luck. The Dragons are a powerful cure and enhancer for business luck, brings foresight and wisdom for the elderly, brings honor to the family, protects the wearer and paves the way for more accolades in coming years...read on...

Dragon – the Ultimate Good Fortune Feng Shui Symbol

Monday, August 29, 2011

The Wrath of Dragons in Vietnamese Art

The influence of symbolism in Vietnamese art has been in vogue since prehistoric times. One of the most supernatural of all creatures, dragons and fairies, symbolized various instances of Vietnamese art. From the Dong Son civilization to the modern Nyugen Dynasty, the dragon motif has been used in various forms and shapes in sculptures, paintings, palaces, and different religious or architectural structures.


The evolution of the dragon symbol portrayed the changing beliefs and culture of the people from time to time.

The Dong Son civilization (400BC to 200AD) saw the reptile version of the dragon, also known as the "Giao Long" dragon. This symbol was found etched on a number of bronze urns and weapon hatches. The following period (Dai La) witnessed Vietnam under Chinese colonization from the first to the tenth century. This period had a profound impact on Vietnamese art. This is clearly evident from the decorative tiles found at Co Loa, where the Dai La dragon shows remarkable resemblance with its Chinese counterpart.

Vietnam breathed the air of independence with the dawn of the Ly Dynasty.


This period can also be termed the 'golden period' for Vietnamese art as it reached the peak of excellence. Water dragons symbolizing the God of Rain found way into Vietnamese art during this period. Some of the distinguishing features of this dragon in contrast to the Chinese creature were: thin and long body; undulated body contours of a serpent; small head with long whisker and mane and fine legs with small claws. The Chuong Son tower now showcases an extraordinary example of the Ly dragon carved on stone.

The heritage of the Ly Dynasty was transferred to the later Tran Dynasty (13-14th century). The fire-gurgling creature during this period still appeared with a small head and body; an instance of which can be found in the Pho Minh temple.

The influence of Chinese culture and heritage rose profoundly in the later Ly Dynasty, with Chinese emperors adopting Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. As a consequence, the dragon symbol came to be associated with the emperor and his authoritative powers. The dragon motif then began to be extensively used in tombs, and religious temples. Dragons of the later Ly Dynasty also owes greatly to the Chinese influence. Large head, gigantic body, thick scales, long sharp claws, thick mane, and a beastly glance summarize the appearance of the Ly dragon.

The modern Nyugen Dynasty hails from the "Tu Linh"- the four mythical Chinese creatures namely the phoenix, the dragon, the lion, and the tortoise. These creatures were collectively portrayed in numerous paintings, sculptures, royal palaces, and tombs in Hue.

These fiery dragon motifs have attracted the attention of connoisseurs all over the world. Art gallery in Vietnam showcases these mythical creatures in their changing moods. Imbibing the Chinese motif, Vietnamese art have become even more alluring.

Suzanne Macguire is an expert writer with keen interest in contemporary art.