Here's a new Popkorny theory that I don't think has been taken yet (I posted it in the new Graphic Novel thread as well).
With all of this talk of the crane and the snake in the past four GNs, I did a Google search of "snake" and "crane" and came up with these pictures:
Interesting how the yin yang resembles the shape of the symbol (the second pic moreso obviously because of the positioning/shape of the dark and light halves and the line that they make in the middle). Furthermore, in the GN, Haitian says, "He left me with the necklace, the snake and crane to guide me..." implying that this is an alternative representation of the symbol - a blending of a crane and a snake. These two yin yang images clearly represent a combination of the two... hmmm, two sides to the universe? Good vs. Evil? Balance? Etc...
(BTW, if this is not appropriate for this thread, please move it to its own thread -- I considered starting a separate thread, but Popkorn had already started the conversation....)
Interestingly, most of the references I find to "Crane and Snake" lead back to Martial Arts and a particular style and where it evolved from. But, as you know, Chinese Martial Arts originally came from Taoist principles, so a connection can be made to: I Ching.
Something else for all of you to consume. In researching the symbol and its origins, I have uncovered a hidden connection to the Japanese Tiger and Dragon. Brief quote:
Quote:
The tiger and dragon are ancient symbols of yin and yang, forces that combine to make up the universe.
Ancient Chinese Taoist philosophy explains the world in terms of two forces—yin (from the ancient Chinese word for “shady”) and yang (from the word for “bright”). Yang elements include light, fire, rain, and the heavens. Yin elements include darkness, water, wind, and the earth. Male traits are yang, and female traits are yin. Yang qualities are active, while yin qualities are passive. Everything in the universe results from the interaction of yin and yang.
[symbolism of the title]“Tiger”represents the seven emotions (happiness, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, desire) and six sensory pleasures derived from the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind, the five poisons and 5 perceptive emotions. “Dragon”represents the human spirit. “Tiger”represents yin,“Dragon”represents yang. Tiger represents human [desire, longing, aspiration, urge]; Dragon represents human consciousness of a higher (spiritual level.) The dragon is called “hidden dragon” because people can't see it because they cannot see their real mind. This movie gives an account of how to see your real self and how to intuitively comprehend the tao.
The "Crane" is Yin. The "Snake" is Yang.
The "Tiger" is Yin. The "Dragon" is Yang.
BTW, where else have we encountered a dragon? In the stories told to Hiro......
By saying all these things, I am not implying anything -- I am just continuing the conversation that Popkorn started.
Isn't it interesting though, how all of a sudden the symbol we originally thought was just an RNA Helix is starting to take more meaning? I wonder if the "I Ching" hexagrams have something to do with the spikes coming off the symbol....
It could very well be Herc. I'm going to have to go back to some of my old Chinese and Japanese mythology books, and see what I can dig up regarding their legends and myths of The Dragon, The Tiger, The Crane, and The Snake.. I don't think they'll be mutually exclusive, either. See about combinations of Snake and Tiger, Snake and Crane, Snake and Dragon, etc... See how many come about because of combinations of those four elements..
I have seen Chinese jewelry with a dragon and a phoenix, which are there to represent yin and yang coming together to create marital happiness - this design sometimes appears on wedding gifts. I suppose if you squint, the dragon and phoenix can look like a snake and crane.
I have not often heard about yin being evil and yang being good. Yin is dark, soft, round, gentle, intuition, or feelings (heart) and yang is bright, hard, sharp, aggressive, logic, or duty/ethics/I can't find the right word. As well as the things Herc mentioned. You get problems or "evil" when the forces are out of balance. If yang were good, and yin were evil, you wouldn't actually want a balance. Yin and yang represent aspects that can be good when in balance or evil when one is in excess. I'm at the edge of my knowledge here, but I think Taoism and some martial arts encourage people to cultivate yin aspects to improve the balance (with the thinking that most people are already developing their yang aspects).
But we can look at a balance between good and evil as PopKorn suggested, especially since Charles alluded to it in the season finale. On second thought, for the purpose of storytelling, you do want a balance between good and evil. When good triumphs once and for all, you get "happily ever after," and the story ends.
I know a few stories about dragons, snakes, cranes, and tigers, but none that use them together.
Well Payquage, from what I've come to understand, everything in moderation is good. Excess is bad.
Thus, if you're able to balance both, then you'll be in harmony. You can't completely wipe out evil, or your life will be stark, cold, and without any real agressive emotions, which can be healthy.
Conversely, you can't have a life without good, because it takes away morality, justice, and accountability. Chaos and excess abound, and life is filled with overindulgence, and corruption.
Thus, if you balance the two, there's harmony, and contentment. I'm not saying that if we go and rob a bank that we should then go and donate everything we've stolen to a charity to balance that action.. I'm just saying that in order for balance to occur, it has to be a consious choice, and not one that is made automatically.
From what my martial arts sensei used to train us, he'd say to steel your will against most of your aggressive feelings, and make sure that you judiciously monitor your actions. Human nature tends towards excess, and when unchecked, these feelings and forces can give over to total anarchy. When judiciously monitored, they represent control, mastery of self and will, and an enlightened balance of self in body, spirit and mind.
I didn't buy all of the esoteric explanations, but if some folks do, then this explanation might help point out the "balance" ideal that is being suggested..
Who knows? Maybe we'll get a couple extra Myth and Legend stories to add to this discussion in the next season!
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Lightbulb just went off. Of course!!!
