Feeling bored? No, instead, engage your imagination!
Among the Chinese zodiac signs, only the Dragon is a mythical creature. While the other zodiac signs represent real animals, it's intriguing why only the Dragon is a mythical creature. There isn't a clear reason for this. There are theories that suggest, "Originally, there was no connection between the characters of the Chinese zodiac and animals, but later, they were linked to animals that shared the same pronunciation as the characters, and as a result, the Dragon ended up being included." Another theory is that "The character for Dragon also had a meaning related to alligators, so originally it might have referred to alligators instead of dragons." In the East and the West, dragons are depicted quite differently, but personally, I feel that alligators are like a compromise that combines the characteristics of both..
Now, for the photo in this post, in line with the New Year and the Year of the Dragon, I chose my calligraphy "龍" which means "Dragon." Since many of Chinese characters were originally pictograms, it's not surprising that the character's shape resembles a dragon. But when you actually write it, you start with the head on the left and then draw the long, scaled body of the dragon. It almost feels like you are drawing a picture of a dragon with its strength and momentum as it soars through the sky!
Even if it's just one character, it can become part of a grand story depending on your imagination. I believe that's where the beauty of calligraphy lies.
So, when you look at some calligraphy next time, take a moment to pause and imagine the story behind it. You might discover an unexpected world unfolding before you!
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