Colorful Dragons Chasing The Flaming Pearl

In the center of this lovely ceiling decoration is an image of two Dragons chasing the Flaming Pear done in gold gilt. In Asia, the dragon is revered as a divine mythical creature, a potent symbol of strength, good fortune and transformation—often portrayed chasing after a luminous pearl. There are traces of the importance of the “sacred pearl” of wisdom, or yang energy, in early Taoism, but it is best preserved in Buddhism as the jewel in the lotus, a jewel that grants all wishes. The mystical flaming pearl, a sphere ringed by a fiery blaze, is often viewed as a metaphor for wisdom, enlightenment and spiritual essence. Dragons are depicted in seeming pursuit, reaching out to clutch at the elusive object; swirling through mists and shadows, mouth open and eyes bulging in anticipation of achieving the prize afforded by clutching the pearl, often identified as ball lightning, the sun, the moon or rolling thunder.