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Thread: Dragon, evil in the west, regal in the east

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[quote=TRAVELLERMIKE,236902]As a child in England, I read myths and legends of dragons needing to be slain by brave Princes to protect people from their cruelty.  Dragons were described as living in mountain caves, to be found sleeping upon piles of hoarded gold (presumed stolen from the countryside around during night-time raids breathing fire & destruction).

However, to the west of the UK in Wales, the Red Dragon has long been revered as a national symbol, and is not regarded as evil (at least not as evil as the English!).  Wales holds closest to the ancient Celtic history (the Celts being driven from much of Europe a long long time ago).  Perhaps the poor regard for the Dragon in the European culture is part of the anti-Celtic propaganda of ancient times?

More recently, thanks to some wonderful tv cartoon programmes (Noggin the Nog, for any old enough to remember), the evil reputation of the dragon has been balanced by some images of goodly qualities, but even so it is rather difficult to imagine a creature with such an easy tendency towards incineration becoming a welcome house-guest.any time soon in the west!

Interestingly I think the reverse situation is true of the Eagle and other hawk-like birds, which tend to be adopted as symbols of freedom and integrity in Western countries (for example the American eagle), but are not well respected in China, where they are, I understand, considered evil creatures (please correct me if I am wrong).[/quote]

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