The Dragon Temple (Taoist Temple)
Saturday, February 17th, 2007
The Chinese dragon evolved to become a mythical animal. By the Han Dynasty, the dragon’s appearance is described as having a body of a snake; the scales and tail of a fish; the antlers of a deer; the face of a qilin (a deer-like mythical creature with fire all over its body, said to have be a stylised depiction of a giraffe); and two pairs of talons of eagles; and the eyes of a tiger-lion. It has a flaming pearl under its chin. Chinese dragons are occasionally depicted with bat-like wings growing out of the front limbs, but most do not have wings.
This description accords with the artistic depictions of the dragon down to the present day. By this time, the dragon has also acquired a wide range of super-natural powers. It is said to be able to disguise itself as a silkworm, or be so large that it covers the sky. It can fly among the clouds or hide in water (Guanzi). It can form clouds, can turn into water or fire, can become invisible or glow in the dark (Shuowen Jiezi).
The towering, multi-tiered, multi-hued attraction accessible by three separate winding routes. Attractions here consist of huge, colorful dragon, a replica of the Great Wall of China, spacious balconies offering scenic views, souvenir shops, mini library with instructional materials, and dozens of escalating steps.
Taken in Taoist Temple, Beverly Hills, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
