| | Dragons come in all shapes, sizes, styles, colors, and personalities. Many believe that these legendary creatures were once very, very real while others maintain that dragons are but a myth or merely the product of the imagination of centuries of clever storytellers. Webster’s dictionary defines the dragon as “a fabulous animal usually represented as a monstrous winged and scaly serpent or saurian (lizard) with a crested head and enormous claws.” But an individual’s perception of the dragon often depends on either their ethnic background or geographic location. Dragons whose origins arose from the Eastern portion of the world, particularly China, are not the wicked beasts of animated features or the devilish figures of early Christianity. They were bright, kind creatures, thought to bring wealth and good fortune to the inhabitants of that country. Their power and heroism are exhibited in their ability to control the wind, rain, and seas and guard the precious gems of the Earth. Dragons have always been a sign of nobility and divinity. Picture the colorful, noble dragon leading the many Chinese New Year parades held throughout the world. Representing long life and prosperity, dragons are an integral part of this and many other Chinese celebrations. But far from the joyous Chinese festivals are the scary dragons of the Western world. Who hasn’t cringed at the sight of these fire-breathing creatures as they fill the screen during a Saturday matinee? Who hasn’t rooted for the demise of the hideous dragon beast, often thought to be the embodiment of the Devil himself? We find a dragon in the classic “Beowulf”, in the many works of J.R.R. Tolkein, and, most recently, in books like J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series. Disney incorporates the dastardly dragon into his fairy tale films while other movies like DragonHeart, Shrek, and The Neverending Story make an attempt to humanize the otherwise un-human creatures. Thanks to mass media, the Western dragon has become the dragon of our imagination. Rarely does a child dream of the bright red Chinese dragon but rather the fierce, scare-your-pants-off creature that roamed the streets of the world before Christianity came along and contributed to its extinction. So what’s the fascination with dragons? Why do we clamor for folklore about the fierce, winged creatures with sharp claws, horns, and forked tongue? Why do we decorate our walls and coffee tables with artwork depicting theses fascinating beings? What makes little boys (and girls) want to play with dragon figurines, fighting fiercely to their deaths to save the princess in distress? Or why has the decades-old game of Dungeons and Dragons and others like it stayed with us into the 21st century? Perhaps it’s an opportunity to escape into a mystical fantasy like no other. Maybe it’s just the mystery surrounding this powerful creature, a creature like no other ever known to man. Whatever the reason, ancient dragon tales will live on through the years, new ones will arise, and the dragon-lover will always find yet another way to satisfy his yearning to learn more about the world of dragons. It’s our hope that this website will be your one-stop shop for all things dragon, from enticing art for your home décor, to the latest in figurines for the hard-core collector, to dragon games, toys, and plush for that little dragon-lover in your life and perhaps even a little information about those great creatures of days-gone-by. Take a moment to browse our pages. Looking for something you don’t see? Please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll do everything in our mystical power to find it for you. |
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Multicolor Metal Dragons - $ 29.95
Retail Price: 39.95
You Save: $10.00 | | |
