NORTHEAST ASIAN HISTORY FOUNDATION 01/2024
the Cover
The dragon is the only imaginary animal among the twelve zodiac animals. According to legend, the dragon had a camel’s head, deer’s horn, rabbit’s eyes, cow’s ears, snake’s neck, frog’s belly, carp’s scales, hawk’s claws, and tiger’s feet. 2024 is the year of Gapjin, the ‘Year of the Blue Dragon.’ The reason next year in particular is called the ‘Year of the Blue Dragon’ is because Gap(甲) is the heavenly stem that symbolizes ‘blue.’
While Western dragons have the image of evil dragons, Eastern dragons are revered as good beings with powerful force to protect the world. Among the Goguryeo tomb murals, the painting of the four gods depicts a blue dragon guarding the east. In addition, because the blue dragon presides over trees and spring among the five elements, it was revered as a god who presides over the birth of all life.
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