Thursday, May 17, 2012

The Chinese Dragon


Chinese dragon is a mythical creature in Chinese mythology and folklore, with mythic counterparts among Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese,Bhutanese, Western and Turkic dragons. In Chinese art, dragons are typically portrayed as long, scaled, serpentine creatures with four legs. In yin and yang terminology, a dragon is yang and complements a yin fenghuang ("Chinese phoenix").

In contrast to European dragons, which are considered evil, Chinese dragons traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, hurricane, and floods. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck. With this, the Emperor of China usually used the dragon as a symbol of his imperial power.
In Chinese daily language, excellent and outstanding people are compared to the dragon while incapable people with no achievements are compared with other, disesteemed creatures, such as the worm. A number of Chinese proverbs and idioms feature references to the dragon, for example: "Hoping one's son will become a dragon" (望子成龍, i.e. be as a dragon).

The Inheritance Cycle


The Inheritance Cycle is a tetralogy of epic fantasy novels written by American author Christopher Paolini. Set in the fictional world of Alagaësia, the novels focus on the adventures of a teenage boy named Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, as they struggle to overthrow an evil king named Galbatorix. The series was originally intended to be a trilogy (named the "Inheritance Trilogy") until Paolini announced, on October 30, 2007, while working on the third novel, that he believed the story was too complex to conclude in just three.

The first book in the series, Eragon, was self-published by Paolini's family in 2002 and re-published in 2003 by Knopf; it was followed by Eldest in 2005. Both were New York Times bestsellers. The third book in the series, Brisingr, was published on September 20, 2008, and the fourth and final book, Inheritance, was released on November 8, 2011. The series has sold 33.5 million copies worldwide.

In June 2011, Paolini wrote the last few words in the series after more than ten years of work.

In 2006, a feature film was released that is based on the first book in the cycle, Eragon, starring Ed Speleers, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich and Djimon Hounsou.

Check out the official website here:

Buy the tetralogy pack from amazon:

Dragons in Cinema!

The dragon is a big deal for the Chinese. Although (allegedly) non-existent, this creature is greatly revered as the ultimate embodiment of strength, power and good luck. The Emperors of ancient China even adopted it as their official symbol. While the dragon has commonly been depicted as evil and destructive in European folklore, the Chinese consider it to be a benevolent force.

So in conjunction with the Year of the Dragon, Electroshadow presents a selection of good-hearted dragons from the celluloid world. Unfortunately, this means excluding one of my all-time favourites, the dreaded Vermithrax Pejorative from the 1981 live-action Disney fantasy “Dragonslayer”. That beast is a total badass, but he’s also a bad guy. Plus, those that aren’t central to the plot or aren’t definable characters in their own right don’t make it onto the list. Therefore, no representatives from “Reign Of Fire”, “Shrek” or “Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire”. Now, here we go with Cinema’s most famous fire-breathing flying serpents…

TOOTHLESS IN “HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON”


I was a bit biased against this film before I’d watched it. The trailers made it out to be another run-of-the-mill Dreamworks animation, and that was not a good thing. The studio had been playing second fiddle to Pixar for the longest time, and for good reason. Dreamworks cartoons were uninspired, predictable and just not very good in general. “How To Train Your Dragon” turned out to be not just the exception to the norm, but a very good film in its own right as well. A large part of its appeal lies in its depiction of dragons, based on the series of children’s books by Cressida Cowell. As it turns out, these monstrous creatures hunted by Viking tribes as a rite of passage aren’t so monstrous after all. Our hero, a gawky young boy named Hiccup, befriends one, and names him Toothless. Usually, when kiddie stories try to get all cute with otherwise fearsome characters, the results can be a little cloying. The great thing about Toothless is that while he is cute, he behaves like a real wild animal, with streaks of unpredictability and a distinct mind of his own. Co-director Dean DeBlois revealed that he broke away from the book and based elements of the dragon’s personality on a domesticated mountain lion owned by his uncle. Toothless is fiercely loyal to Hiccup, and it is a bond that feels earned rather than assigned to him. Which makes him all the more lovable. Consider me a believer in Dreamworks projects now, at least with this franchise. I can’t wait to see more of Toothless (and the other dragons) in the sequel, due in 2014.

DRACO IN “DRAGONHEART”


How can you not love a dragon that sounds exactly like James Bond and Professor Henry Jones, Sr.? That’s what happens when you hire Sean Connery as the voice of your central character. “Dragonheart” is about the passing of old ways, both on and offscreen. The story is about the last dragon of its kind teaming up with an old, obsolete knight (Dennis Quaid) to eke out an existence conning villagers. Behind the scenes, Draco was at first created using antiquated puppetry methods by the Jim Henson Studio, the guys that brought us the Muppets and “Dark Crystal”. When the budget began to overrun, producers sought a new director to take charge. In came Rob Cohen, who proposed a then-revolutionary idea of doing the dragon in full CGI. The results were pretty spectacular for the time, earning an Oscar nomination for visual effects. That’s only part of the reason why the film works. It was Connery who really lent an immensely weighty, yet playful presence to the film, making us care about Draco and his poignant descent into the twilight years of a once proud and majestic breed.

ELLIOT IN “PETE’S DRAGON”


When I was a wee toddler, I already had a thing for dragons. That’s mostly due to this Walt Disney production, a combination of live-action and traditional hand-drawn animation. I missed “Pete’s Dragon” on its theatrical release, but I remember driving my parents nuts demanding to watch it on the VCR over and over and over again. They must’ve really hated this flick. Time has not been kind, as it’s now more a curio than a classic. The animation is crude even by 1977 standards, no doubt due to Disney’s “make-it-for-cheap” policy during that period, which saw the studio going through one of its lowest points both artistically and financially. Yet Elliot still holds a special place in my heart. It’s not just nostalgia either. There’s just something inherently huggable about him, what with his gentle, goofy demeanor and happy stoner looks. Charlie Callas’ voicework also brought an easygoing charm to the role. The character is probably the only thing that has survived the decades as a watchable aspect of the movie. Who knows, if I ever have kids, they might one day drive me (half) nuts demanding to watch the adventures of Pete and his not-so imaginary friend, over and over and over again.

FALKOR IN “THE NEVERENDING STORY”


For a dragon that has its roots in Germany, Falkor sure has a lot of Chinese attributes. For one, he is known as a luckdragon. This breed is renowned for their uncanny good fortune in everything that they do. A handy trait to have if you ever bring one to the Genting Resorts World casino. Then there is Falkor’s look, which slightly resembles the traditional Chinese depiction of lions (see the lion dance designs). In the original German book he’s based on (by Michael Ende), the character was drawn like the classical Chinese dragon, and subsequently evolved in the American novelisation to look like a lion. The film version, directed by Wolfgang Peterson, saw a redesign to give him more canine features. Essentially making him a giant flying puppy. With fiery breath. All that adds up to make Falkor a dragon every child would want as a pet. Although the effects look terribly dated by today’s standards, back in 1984 “The Neverending Story” was the most expensive movie ever made outside of the US. It does showcase a fair bit of imaginative visuals, and Falkor is the one taking us on a literal flight of fancy. Now close your eyes, hum that theme song by Limahl, and tell me you don’t feel like you’ve been transported back to a more innocent, magical time.

MUSHU IN “MULAN”


Okay, here’s a proper Chinese dragon. Only it speaks American. And sounds like a black dude. Disney’s “Mulan” may be about the legendary fable of a peasant girl in China who disguised herself as a male soldier to protect her ailing father. But its sensibilities are every inch Western, right down to the whole female empowerment spiel the studio loves to shove down people’s throats. And this version of Hua Mulan comes with the standard Disney sassy sidekick, played by comedian Eddie Murphy. To be honest, the film is too formulaic for my liking. The saving grace is Mushu the mini dragon. Actually, he’s supposed to be an ancestral guardian spirit, demoted to the rank of gong-banger and incense burner. Mushu has inadequacy issues, which Murphy makes full use of to pretty amusing effect. He’s really the best part of the show, as the title character is a bit of a bore. Every time things start getting a little too ponderous, Mushu shows up and lightens the mood. Who knew dragons could be funny?

Play Dragon Games! Download Wallpapers! Have Fun! :D


The following website provides fun addictive games related to dragons. Have fun! :)
http://www.arcaderush.net/dragon-games

Download cool dragon wallpapers from here:
http://www.dragonwallpapers.in/

The Etheral Question Answered - What about Dragons?



Did dragons ever exist on the Earth? If not, then why are there so many stories about them throughout ancient literature, even down to daily logs of huntsmen on hunting trips, etc. And why are there identical descriptions of them in different cultures around the world despite the fact they were so physically remote? And if they did exist, why do we deny them? What is it about them that makes it so impossible to believe they ever could have lived in the long history of the Earth? Let’s start there.

The Case Against Dragons
Exactly why is it we think dragons never actually existed in real life?
Well, to begin with, there are no skeletal remains of dragons that have been discovered. When you consider that we have the fossils and bones of many, many different types of dinosaurs from millions of years ago, it seems unlikely that an animal such as this would not have left behind some physical evidence somewhere and that it would have been found by now.

Next, breathing fire is universally claimed by the stories about dragons from all over. This seems impossible to us since there are no other animals that share this trait, and since it seems biologically impossible. It seems much more likely that this is some fabrication intended to frighten or impress people, rather than a true account of a bodily function of an actual live animal. The principle of Occam’s razor suggests the simplest answer is more likely the truth, and it is much simpler to think that people just invented this aspect for storytelling purposes. It adds drama and danger and risk, and therefore attributes glamour and virtue and heroism to those who conquer it.

Finally, flight itself seems awkward and unlikely for an animal of the size claimed for dragons of classical times. Aerodynamically speaking, in order for any object to fly, there must be sufficient lift to compensate for the weight of the object. Lift is generally created by two factors: 1) the size of the wings, and 2) the shape of the leading edge of the wings. And this only covers gliding through the air. It does not cover the needs for taking off from the ground in the first place. That presents a whole other set of problems. For that, you must be able to either flap the wings vigorously, or else achieve enough speed on the ground that the airflow under and over the wing’s surface will provide sufficient lift.
Small planes must achieve speeds over 100 miles per hour to lift off, and they are considerably lighter than a dragon would be. According to ancient accounts, the largest dragons were reportedly large enough to completely wrap themselves around a full-grown elephant. It seems unlikely that a 40 or 50 foot or longer lizard with wings stretched out, could run over 100 miles per hour to achieve the lift required for take-off. Can you imagine an elephant running that fast? The bulk and weight is far too much.
And an animal the size of a classical dragon would require wings so large that it couldn’t flap them. Imagine a flying lizard with a 80 foot wingspan! The musculature and skeletal structure required to support and maintain (let alone try to actually FLAP) wings of that size, would be impossible. The muscles would be so big and so heavy that they add too much weight, which in return would require yet bigger wings, which means MORE muscle and bone, which adds MORE weight, etc. Therefore, the muscles required to solve the problem, actually serve to exacerbate the problem further.

So there you have it. The main reasons we in the west generally don’t believe in dragons, is that:
1) There are none now, and there is no physical evidence remaining of any in the past
2) It seems impossible for an animal to breathe fire
3) Animals of the size claimed would simply be too big to fly

The prosecution rests. Well that’s it, then. Guilty as charged. Stamp the page, close the book. Bailiff, read the next case please. …..

Wait. Not so fast there, judge. The defense speaks...

What’s Wrong With That Picture?
If they were just an invented bit of fantasy, then why do they turn up in different cultures all over the ancient world, and with the same features and attributes? Why do all the pictures, paintings, carvings, embroideries, and descriptions match even though those cultures did not communicate at the time? And over such an extended period of time, from thousands of years ago, continuing right up until just a few hundred years ago. They have been cited and described in detail by people from New Zealand all the way to the Inuit (Eskimos) of northern Canada.

And why are these references not restricted to just stories? If they are merely fantasy, why do they not appear only in fantasy stories? Why do they appear in the logs and accounts of municipal townships dealing with a local problem, and in the logs of huntsmen. And they are noted in the accomplishments of fighters, strong men, and warriors of old, when their credentials were read at competitions. (as in: “Wang Cho has killed 1 lion, 4 bears, 1 tiger, 2 dragons, 8 wild boars, …”). Why are dragons included in the list of years on the Chinese calendar along with other normal animals? (The year of the Horse, year of the snake, year of the dragon, etc.). Why are there so many accounts in the literature of ancient times that merely state the facts of dealing with dragons as a matter of record?
And, by inverse logic, if the custom of ancient cultures is to include fantasy creatures in normal everyday documents, then why not other fantasy creatures such as flying horses, mermaids, satyrs, and leprechauns, etc. Why only dragons?

Also, dragons are even described in the Bible. That is, there are 34 references to “dragon” spread across 10 books in the King James version of the Bible. They were in the Ancient Hebrew Masoretic text, which is the original source document for the Old Testament of the Bible. The original Hebrew word for dragon is “tannin”, and that is seen in many places including the book of Job, one of the oldest books of the bible. The word was translated into "Behemoth" and "Leviathan", and then later, those words were again translated into elephant, hippo and alligator.

Marco Polo noted in his records of his trips to China that the royal family kept dragons for ceremonies.

How Could It Be Possible?

Years ago I read an article in a science magazine written by a researcher who was looking into the municipal records of a small village in ancient China, and he noted how there was casual mention of dragons quite often. He cited one case where an outlying village had been bothered by a bear, and so the leader of the main town determined that he would take out some hunters on a two week excursion to kill the bear and help that village. On the way out, about two miles down the road from the town, they were attacked by a dragon, who they then killed by a spear, and arrows. Since they were on their way out for a 2 week trip, they did not wish to carry the carcass all along the way with them, so they left it there and thought they would pick it up and carry it back to town on their way back. But by the time they came that way again, 2 weeks later, the dragon’s body had deteriorated too much already, so they resolved to leave it there. It became such a marker on the road that people used it to tell how far they were from town. Over the course of the next few months, it quickly dissolved until finally, within 2 years, the bones themselves had dissolved away to nothing so that it was barely a stain on the ground anymore. No skeleton remained.


How is that possible? And is that a clue?
The researcher decided to involve a couple other scientists from other disciplines. Biologists looked at the stories, and did some research and analysis and determined that indeed, there are certain metabolic processes that could create acids that would dissolve the tissues like that even after death. Further, these acids would be produced along with certain gases. Specifically hydrogen and other gases that are lighter than air. This got them thinking.

Discovery Documentary - Dragons - A Fantasy Made Real

There are different opinions on the answer to this question. Some people believe they once existed, but most feel they are works of fantasy. Discovery Channel made a documentary style movie called Dragon's World: A.antasy Made Real. This movie actually caused confusion in some people who thought this was a real documentary presented by Discovery with actual facts. However, this docudrama was made for entertainment purposes only. The scientists were played by actors. It was advertised as an "alternate history".

There has never been a confirmed case of a dragon remains being found. There have been claims, but they have been found as incorrect or fabricated thus far. There are still other ancient reptilian skeletons that have yet to be identified. Many dragon lovers still hold out hopes that these could be them.

Some people feel that the fact that dragons are known in the history of almost every area of the world in much more than a coincidence. There are Asian versions of dragons, which are wise and benevolent creatures. According to some European folklore, dragons were eating maidens and then being slayed by knights in retribution. There were American Indian tribes who had stories of fire breathing reptiles burning fields and flying away with buffalo. Dragons are depicted in ancient art from all over the world. Many of these societies had no contact with each other.

There are some that say there have been many fantastical creatures in this world. Some of these people believe that dragons, unicorns, and other creatures are highly intelligent and sensitive beings who are in hiding from humans and may come back some day. There are others that say there is no definite proof because they do not, and never have, existed.

Dragons have filled stories from the times of King Arthur and Saint George to modern times. They are in popular culture. Some best sellers of our time, Eragon and Harry Potter, are full of dragons.

How To Train Your Dragon - A Great Movie on Dragons

How to Train Your Dragon is a 2010 3D computer-animated fantasy film by DreamWorks Animation loosely based on the English 2003 book of the same name. The film was directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, the duo who directed Disney's Lilo & Stitch. It stars the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
The story takes place in a mythical Viking world where a young Viking teenager named Hiccup aspires to follow his tribe's tradition of becoming a dragon slayer. After finally capturing his first dragon, and with his chance at finally gaining the tribe's acceptance, he finds that he no longer has the desire to kill it and instead befriends it.