Dragon
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Dragons are one of the most popular and admired animals in East Asian art. As part of the zodiac and five directions and elements, it is linked to the natural and cosmological order of the universe. As a powerful, auspicious symbol thought to repel evil, dragons were part of funeral bier called sangyeo. A yellow and blue dragon with intertwined bodies were placed at the top of the bier. This object is the head and half of the body of the yellow dragon with the tail of the blue dragon crossing in front. This dragon, along with other decorative funerary figures called kkokdu (꼭두) were to protect and accompany the deceased on its journey to the burial site and then to a heavenly afterlife.
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