Let me start with some exciting news. #1 – Yesterday I visited the blog of Shannon Thompson, a talented new-adult writer. She graciously allowed me to reprise my Inner Dragons thread. Check it out here. #2 – I got word of a short story acceptance in an anthology called Dragon’s Hoard, from my publisher, Sky Warrior Books. Yaaayy!
Now here’s a myth from China connecting the origins of night and day to a single mighty creature — a dragon!
The Candle Dragon
Why do seasons change, and why does day give way to night? It’s all due to the powerful Candle Dragon.
In the land of the Chishui River, over the Northwest Sea, is a magical place called Zhangwei Mountain. There dwells a mountain god who has a human face atop the long serpentine body of a dragon. This mountain dragon is 1000 li (about 310.7 miles) in length! It is fiery red, with blazing eyes that pour light over the whole earth. These eyes are not like people’s eyes, but like two olives aligned vertically on his face, and when he closes them they turn to two dark slits.
The Zhangwei dragon is so powerful that when he closes his eyes, night falls over the earth. When he opens them, daylight floods the world. By blinking, he causes the succession of night and day. He has no need to eat, drink or sleep, but keeps watch eternally.
When the mountain god breathes out, it causes strong winds and storms of rain. If he blows harder, winter fills the sky with dark clouds and heavy snow. After he breathes in, summer comes with hot sun to wither the crops and even melt stones!
The long scarlet body of the mountain god shines with divine light. It brightens even the deepest underground caverns. As part of his mission, the dragon guards the Gate of Heaven in the farthest north. A candle he holds in his mouth lights the way for those who are worthy. This is why he is called the Candle Dragon, or Candle Yin.
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