Flaming Pearl

1
Flaming Pearl

• English I Louise S. McGehee School 2005

(Dragons)
2
Characteristics of the Pearl and the Dragon

• The flaming pearl can be seen as a ball or spiral
  with flames.
• Dragons are constantly being associated with the
  flaming pearl (Dragons).

• The dragon
• Horns of a deer
• Five claws of a hawk
• Neck of a snake
• Scales of a fish (Dragons).

(Myths)
3
Purpose of the Flaming Pearl

• Dragons are the guardians of the pearl
• The dragon is a symbol of spiritual perfection
• It is often, because of its power, seen as a
  symbol of the Emperor and his people
• Interestingly enough the dragon can also embody a
  spiraling day the same characterization of the
  flaming pearl
• The Flaming Pearl represents several different
  elements of ancient Chinese myth endeavors
• Luck
• Potentiality (Dragons).

(Myths)
4
The Myths/History of the Flaming Pearl

• There are several versions of the Flaming Pearl
  legend. The majority include Xiao Sheng, a young
  grass harvester Shengs grass began to grow
  scarce. Xiao Sheng was then forced to travel
  further for a decent harvest (Myths).

• In his travels he found an area where the grass
  was lush and plenty. Xiao Sheng decided,
  however, he didnt want to harvest so far for
  food (Myths).

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Myth of the Flaming Pearl Cont.

• He, instead, dug up the grass to move to his
  home. In digging he discovered a pearl underneath
  the grass. He put the pearl into a small jar of
  rice. The next day Xiao Sheng checked the jar of
  rice to discover that the rice's amount
  multiplied (Myths).

(The Dragon)
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Myth of the Flaming Pearl Cont.

• The pearl reproduced anything it was placed with.
  Xiao Sheng, with this realization, planted the
  pearl with some coins. The money multiplied,
  just as the rice multiplied (Myths).

(Pearls)
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Myth of the Flaming Pearl Cont.

• Xiao Shengs newly found wealth did not go
  unnoticed by robbers. Not wanting his pearl to be
  stolen, Xiao Sheng swallowed it. After, his
  insides burned, he tried to quench his thirst by
  drinking from the river, though the river was too
  dry. Despite his attempts to cease the burning it
  continued. Finally Xiao Sheng transformed into a
  dragon. In his transformation Xiao Sheng restored
  the rivers water, eliminating drought (Myths).
  

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Deviations From the Myths

• In some myths, Xiao Sheng was able, as a dragon,
  to bend the river.
• Some also say the water released from the dragon
  was the cause of the rivers curves.
• The less popular myth names the character Nie
  Lang (Chinese).

(Eastern)
9
Modern Connections
Dragons Chasing the Flaming Pearl

• Often, in both contemporary and ancient Chinese
  art, the flaming pearl is shown with the dragon.
  In most pieces the dragon is depicted chasing the
  pearl or holding the pearl in his mouth or under
  his chin. The dragon, primarily known as an
  emblem of the Emperors power, is physically
  stunted without the pearl (Dish).

(Dish)
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Modern Connections cont.

• Disneys Mulan the legend of a girl replacing
  her father in battle shows a statue of The
  Great Stone Dragon.
• The dragon holds the flaming pearl under its
  chin, an essential and most common pose of the
  dragon (Mulan).

(Mulan)
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Modern Connections Cont.

• Today, even in China, the flaming pearl has
  probably lost most of its significance.
• The dragon, more commonly used and seen in movies
  and cartoons, is still recognized with the same
  strength as in myth.
• Dragons, even in these movies, still carry the
  pearl.

12
Works Cited

• Chinese Dragons. Crystalinks.com. 4 January
  2005. lthttp//www.crystalinks.com/china
• dragons.htmlgt .
• Dish Showing a Dragon Chasing the Flaming
  Pearl.  World Cultures.  National Museums of
• Liverpool.  6 January 2005.  http//www.diduknow.
  info/ world/asia/dragondish.html.
• The Dragon's Pearl. Fairrosa.com.. 14 October
  2002 . 4 January 2005 lthttp//www.fairrosa.info/dr
  agon/
• dragons.pearl.htmlgt.
• DRAGONS WINGED SERPENTS. Crystalinks.com. 4
  January 2005. lthttp//www.crystalinks.com/dragons.
  htmlgt
• Eastern Dragons Pearl. Shadowscapes.com. 4
  January 2005. lthttp//www.shadowscapes.com/
• image/reddragon.shtmlgt .
• Mulan. IMBD. 10 January 2005.
  lthttp//www.imdb.com/title/tt0120762/gt

(Pearls).