Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Nicely carved Madurese hilt with Chinese Motif

lordraphael · 3rd September 2005, 12:42 AM

I was surprised at the dragon on the hilt.
It doesn't look Chinese to me.
I'm surprised that it really closely resembles a dragon from European lore, with its reptilian head and bat-like wings.
While European dragons probably got their bat-like wings from later medieval devils, who in turn owe them to Chinese genies and demons (early European devils had feathered wings), I've never seen a Chinese dragon with wings (though they do fly).

Raffaele

3rd September 2005, 12:42 AM	#4
lordraphael Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Italy Posts: 7	not a very Chinese dragon! I was surprised at the dragon on the hilt. It doesn't look Chinese to me. I'm surprised that it really closely resembles a dragon from European lore, with its reptilian head and bat-like wings. While European dragons probably got their bat-like wings from later medieval devils, who in turn owe them to Chinese genies and demons (early European devils had feathered wings), I've never seen a Chinese dragon with wings (though they do fly). Raffaele