Flaming Pearl
English I— Louise S. McGehee School
2005
(“Dragons”)
Characteristics of the
Pearl and the Dragon
 The flaming pearl
can be seen as a
ball or spiral with
flames.
 Dragons are
constantly being
associated with the
flaming pearl (“Dragons”).
 The dragon:




Horns of a deer
Five claws of a hawk
Neck of a snake
Scales of a fish
(“Dragons”).
(“Myths”)
Purpose of the Flaming
Pearl
 Dragons are the guardians of the pearl
 The dragon is a symbol of “spiritual perfection”
 It is often, because of its power, seen as a symbol of
the Emperor and his people
 Interestingly enough the dragon can also embody a
spiraling day; the same characterization of the
flaming pearl
 The Flaming Pearl represents several different
elements of ancient Chinese myth endeavors
 Luck
 Potentiality (“Dragons”).
(“Myths”)
The Myths/History of the
Flaming Pearl
 There are several
versions of the Flaming
Pearl legend. The
majority include Xiao
Sheng, a young grass
harvester: Sheng’s
grass began to grow
scarce. Xiao Sheng was
then forced to travel
further for a decent
harvest (“Myths”).
 In his travels he found
an area where the grass
was lush and plenty.
Xiao Sheng decided,
however, he didn’t want
to harvest so far for food
(“Myths”).
Myth of the Flaming Pearl
Cont.
 He, instead, dug up the
grass to move to his
home. In digging he
discovered a pearl
underneath the grass.
He put the pearl into a
small jar of rice. The next
day Xiao Sheng checked
the jar of rice to discover
that the rice's amount
multiplied (“Myths”).
(“The Dragon”)
Myth of the Flaming Pearl
Cont.
(“Pearls”)
 The pearl
reproduced anything
it was placed with.
Xiao Sheng, with this
realization, planted
the pearl with some
coins. The money
multiplied, just as the
rice multiplied (“Myths”).
Myth of the Flaming Pearl
Cont.
 Xiao Sheng’s newly found wealth did not go
unnoticed by robbers. Not wanting his pearl to
be stolen, Xiao Sheng swallowed it. After, his
insides burned, he tried to quench his thirst by
drinking from the river, though the river was too
dry. Despite his attempts to cease the burning
it continued. Finally Xiao Sheng transformed
into a dragon. In his transformation Xiao Sheng
restored the river’s water, eliminating drought
(“Myths”).
Deviations From the Myths
 In some myths, Xiao
Sheng was able, as a
dragon, to bend the river.
 Some also say the water
released from the
dragon was the cause of
the river’s curves.
 The less popular myth
names the character Nie
Lang (Chinese).
(“Eastern”)
Modern Connections
 Often, in both contemporary
and ancient Chinese art, the
flaming pearl is shown with
the dragon. In most pieces
the dragon is depicted
chasing the pearl or holding
the pearl in his mouth or
under his chin. The dragon,
primarily known as an
emblem of the Emperor’s
power, is physically stunted
without the pearl (“Dish”).
Dragons Chasing the
Flaming Pearl
(“Dish”)
Modern Connections cont.
 Disney’s Mulan— the
legend of a girl replacing
her father in battle—
shows a statue of “The
Great Stone Dragon.”
 The dragon holds the
flaming pearl under its
chin, an essential and
most common pose of
the dragon (“Mulan”).
(“Mulan”)
Modern Connections Cont.
 Today, even in China, the flaming pearl
has probably lost most of its significance.
 The dragon, more commonly used and
seen in movies and cartoons, is still
recognized with the same strength as in
myth.
 Dragons, even in these movies, still carry
the pearl.
Works Cited
“Chinese Dragons.” Crystalinks.com. 4 January 2005. <http://www.crystalinks.com/china
dragons.html> .
“Dish Showing a Dragon Chasing the Flaming Pearl.” World Cultures. National Museums of
Liverpool. 6 January 2005. http://www.diduknow.info/ world/asia/dragondish.html.
“The Dragon's Pearl.” Fairrosa.com.. 14 October 2002 . 4 January 2005 <http://www.fairrosa.info/dragon/
dragons.pearl.html>.
“DRAGONS ~ WINGED SERPENTS.” Crystalinks.com. 4 January 2005. <http://www.crystalinks.com/dragons.html>
“Eastern: Dragons Pearl.” Shadowscapes.com. 4 January 2005. <http://www.shadowscapes.com/
image/reddragon.shtml> .
“Mulan.” IMBD. 10 January 2005. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120762/>
“Myths and Legends: Past, Present and Future.” Glodershop.com. 4 January 2005. <http://www.glodershop.
com/myths_entry_detail. php?RECORD _KEY(quilts)=ID&ID(quilts)=51>.
“Pearls.” American Museum of Natural History. 10 January 2005. < http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/pearls/.>.
The Serene Dragon. 4 January 2005. <http://www.theserenedragon.net/Tales/china-xiaosheng.html> .
(“Pearls”).