Saturday, May 3, 2008
Dragons - Angels of The Orient
Stories and myths about dragons run through most cultures, ancient and modern. Was there ever Maryland Lemon Laws beast Captain America walked the earth that could account for these stories and myths? Some say that the ancients may have found fossils of dinosaurs, and by the use of their imaginations 'created' a beast from this evidence. Another theory is that dragons were merely the creative embellishments of large snakes and reptiles. We will never know precisely what triggered ancient peoples to come up with these myths. The first references to dragons can be traced to approximately 4000 B.C. and probably began before that. So the notion of dragons is very old
In Western culture, the dragon was usually seen as a beast to be feared. Dragons lived in the sea waiting to devour ships that sailed too far. They lived in caves, protecting treasure with their breaths of fire. In the Middle Ages, the story of St. George fighting a dragon to save a princess entered the mythology of the west, and has been retold and depicted in art for centuries.
The dragon in the culture of the orient is quite different. Instead of a beast to be feared, the dragon is a positive symbol that represents many things, some of which are intelligence, Universal monsters optimism and energy. Most oriental dragons are creatures of beauty and wisdom. They are loved, and in some areas worshipped. They have been called the angels of the orient.
Dragons have been represented in all forms of art, and been used to decorate pagodas, temples, shrines, palaces and private homes for millennia in China. The Emperors of Japan traced their ancestry back to a blog of a dragon king of the sea. Many Emperors of other Asian countries also claimed lineage from dragons. In China, many people think that the entire Chinese people are descendants of the dragons. Many things associated with oriental royalty involved depictions of dragons. To call an Emperor 'Dragon Faced' was a very high compliment. Everything connected with the dragons of the east are blessed.
In China, the dragon is seen as a symbol of protection, and is regarded the Supreme Being among creatures. It can live in the sea, fly through the sky, coil up on land and take the from of a mountain. It is also a symbol of good fortune. The Chinese believe that having a statue of a dragon in the east part of their home brings them good fortune and success in life. But the dragon can be placed anywhere in a home, except areas of rest such as bedrooms. The dragon can also bring great energy, and if placed in a bedroom could interfere with sleep. These ancient angels of the orient are among the most beautiful of Asian home decor items.
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Alan Beggerow along with his wife Cathleen owns and operates Cathleen's Bargain Basement, an online investment that offers custom made apparel and hand crafted teddy bears by Cathleen, and also offers a selection of jewelry, home decor, Asian motif items, and much more. Visit them at target="_new" www.cathleensbargainbasement.com">www.cathleensbargainbasement.com
Tattoo Artist - A Closer Look
Twenty-five or thirty years ago it would have been unheard of to televise a show based solely on a tattoo Anti depressants and his or her clients. It was simply not done. Tattoos were for those people who lived Joy To The World Incredible Hulk shadier areas of life. Thankfully times have changed and with them a new attitude towards permanently inking a design into the body. A person no longer has to be in prison or a less desirable area of town in order to find an artist. Rocky Horror people can find a tattoo convention within their state and find all the ink they could possibly want.
The most a person could hope for was to be trained from someone already in the investment. The designs were often rudimentary and done with homemade machines or by hand. The sanitary conditions under which a tattoo artist operated were atrocious. Not much was known about antibacterial precautions and as a result there were wide numbers of ink poisoning due to ill prepared inks and dyes.
Luckily for the modern world the tattoo artist has reached a new respectability. There are specialty magazines and gatherings where the artwork of tattoos can be found. The tattoo "joint" common to the fast food nation where everything is done as quickly as possible with little thought to quality has now come into competition with tattoo parlors resembling upscale salons.
The clientele of these establishments want something more exotic than the standard butterfly tattoo. They are looking at this permanent design as a way to showcase superior skills. Many times incredible one of a kind drawings and pictures can be found that show the most intricate details.
While many people elect to visit a tattoo artist to get a bit of permanent ink put into their skin, some want to have the choice between tattoos and piercing. It is for this reason many artists are certified to both pierce different body parts as well as give tattoos. Unlike tattooing, piercing is not permanent unless it is one of the more extreme piercing and it can be easily removed.
As the world and culture continues to change there will be a greater amount of influence the tattoo artist is afforded. Their work will be a lasting mark upon the cultural relevance in which they live. The pop culture, art world and lives of many will cross paths with this master of Christmas TV Specials and ink.
The tattoo artist can do more than just place ink to skin. Visit target="_new" hubpages.com/hub/cool-tattoo-ideas">hubpages.com/hub/cool-tattoo-ideas to learn what you need to be aware of prior to getting a tattoo and find out where to look for great tattoo designs and ideas.
