posted on December 25, 2005 01:22:13 PM new
My son is getting seriously interested in collectibles, especially asian. He has asked this question so many times to so many different people and no one seems to have an answer. So I thought I'd try to help him out and ask here. You will make his Christmas that much brighter if you have the answer. His question is:Why is a dragon's head always facing the right? He sees this in plates, swords, pictures etc. Anyone have a clue? Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated.
posted on December 25, 2005 02:02:59 PM new
I would say it is the artist,not the dragon,who prefers to depict a dragon poised to the right or left to show off its features!
I have seen plenty of dragons,whether celtic or persian or japanese or chinese NOT facing to the right.
/ lets all stop whining !! /
The first thing that came to mind when I read your post was that most of the Chinese dragons I see are facing left which symbolically would be West.
However, in metaphysical terms, Left is the Past which would be an appropriate depiction for a mythical creature that was probably very much real thousands of years ago.
posted on December 25, 2005 05:05:09 PM new"However, in metaphysical terms, Left is the Past..."
Well...
OTOH...
LEFT is also symbolic of EVIL!
When DANTE descended into HELL, he walked on the LEFT side of the stairs; came UP on the RIGHT
And, Ralphie notes that the LATIN for LEFT = "sinistre" (sp) = SINISTER
Remember those of the left-handed persuasion who attended parochial school & were FORCED to SWITCH to the RIGHT???
Just another example of the COMSPIRACY of the RIGHT...
"We look forward to hearing your vision, so we can more better do our job. That's what I'm telling you." —George W. Bush, Gulfport, Miss., Sept. 20, 2005
posted on December 25, 2005 05:38:26 PM new
but Dante is not a dragon!
how does it see what is ahead if it keeps turning to the side??
Have you ever seen a rhino or an elephant looking to the side??what for??
/ lets all stop whining !! /
Tomwii, Dragons were not considered evil until John had his dream in Revelations. Before that, they were considered to be protectors of treasures and virgins. Go figure!
As for Dante's decent into hell, the left path takes us into the past where most of our own personal hell is founded. It is not until we make changes in our present that we begin to ascend the staircase from hell into heaven.
posted on December 25, 2005 07:46:02 PM new
Chinese emperors are sons of dragon and descended from Heaven,
In fact there is a special term to denote end of his reign,he does not die,he just return to heaven.
Only the emperor is allowed to wear the dragon robe.
In celtic mythology,dragons are gatekeepers of Heaven.
posted on December 26, 2005 08:40:28 AM new
I'm off work today so the little (not so little at 13 years old) is still asleep. He has a red lacquer plate (garage sale item I was going to sell. He swooped on it), paintings, figures and more with the heads always pointing to the right.
WOW! such interesting stuff! Thanks everyone. I'll tell him about it. LtRay, thanks for the link. Let's see if this satisfies his curiosity.
