SIGNALS BENEVOLENCE
[PHOTO - Scuba divers perform a dragon dance at the Manila
Ocean Park to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. The Lunar New Year begins
tomorrow and marks the start of the Year of the Dragon, according to the Chinese
zodiac. EDD GUMBAN]
MANILA, JANUARY
24, 2012 (STAR) By Doreen G. Yu
- Of the 12 animals that responded to Lord Buddha's call to appear before him,
the dragon is the only mythical creature, and the only one that can fly. So why
was the dragon not the first but the fifth to arrive at Lord Buddha's court,
after the rat, ox, tiger and rabbit, but ahead of the snake, horse, sheep,
monkey, rooster, dog and pig?
One legend has it that as the dragon was flying above the earth, it saw some
villages suffering from drought and crops would not grow. The dragon made a
detour to help the villages by blowing on the clouds and causing rain to fall on
the dry villages.
Such is the benevolence of the dragon, a symbol of positive force and power
in Chinese mythology.
The dragon is traditionally the symbol of the Chinese emperor, representing
supreme spiritual power. The dragon also symbolizes celestial and terrestrial
power, as well as wisdom and strength.
Chinese emperors were said to consult the dragon on matters of state, but the
dragon did not take kindly to its advice being ignored. When the emperor does
not heed its counsel, the dragon would cause storms by breathing on the clouds,
or cause a drought by beating its tail to empty the lakes and rivers.
Not all dragons are created equal. The Chinese imperial dragon is depicted
with five claws, while the common dragon has only four. (The Japanese dragon
only has three claws.)
Chinese mythological hierarchy lists four, some even have nine kinds of
dragons. The most important is, of course, the heavenly dragon (tian long), the
celestial guardian that protects the heavens. The spiritual dragon (shen long)
is in charge of the wind, clouds and rain, and is thus very important to the
agricultural sector, a vital consideration in ancient and even modern China.
The earth dragon (di long) lives in palaces in the depths of the rivers and
lakes, while the treasure dragon (fucang long) lives in caves deep in the earth
and is in charge of all precious jewels and minerals.
The dragon is believed to bring good fortune, prosperity and bounty, thus the
entrance of the Year of the Dragon tomorrow is being met with great excitement
and anticipation.
Today, the eve of the new year, will be abuzz with festivity, with parades,
dragon and lion dances and fireworks displays to bring the Year of the Rabbit to
a close and usher in the much anticipated Year of the Dragon.
Ongpin street in the heart of Manila's Chinatown will be closed to vehicles
as the stretch of road will be turned into a public fair ground, with tents
showcasing various traditional crafts like paper cutting, calligraphy, fan
painting, acupuncture, feng shui (geomancy) consultations and fortune telling.
Raucous dragon and lion dances will fill the streets.
In the homes of the Chinese Filipinos or Tsinoys throughout the
country as it will be throughout the world among overseas Chinese communities,
there will generally be much festivity and feasting, as families gather around
the table (in ancient China, it still being winter, families gathered around the
hearth) to share a sumptuous meal. Fowl – duck or chicken – is served whole, as
is fish, the latter particularly significant, since fish (yu) is a homonym for
bounty, as in the Chinese saying nian nian you yu, meaning bounty year after
year. Noodles – the longer the better – symbolize longevity, and sweet sticky
rice cakes – the ubiquitous tikoy – promote family togetherness (sticking
together) and harmonious relations (sweetness).
The Year of the Dragon is believed to bring the Four Blessings of the East -
wealth, virtue, harmony and longevity. The year is expected to be dynamic and
vibrant, with opportunities abounding. Under the influence of the element of
Water, this will be a yang year, flowing rather than stagnant. But it will not
necessarily mean positive developments all around, as all that energy may just
as easily lead to major crashes for those who do not augur well with the
elements.
Those born in the Year of the Dragon are said to be imbued with its
characteristics: vibrant, dynamic, bountiful, specially gifted. Dragons are said
to be blessed with the positive energies of the sky and the earth this year.
Thus there is a mad rush among couples to have a dragon baby; they have until
Feb. 9, 2013 to do so in the hope that their precious bundle of joy may turn out
to be the 21st century's Placido Domingo, Sigmund Freud, Martin Luther King,
Christian Dior or John Lennon.
The Water Dragon is said to be friendly, easy going, intelligent,
quick-witted and eager to grab opportunities that come along.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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