Asian, "Yong"

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi Folks:

Very interesting theme this week. I chose the Yong (Peacock) because Gina photographed a few on her trip to Kenya, Africa with her sister Lee a few years ago.

Jinghong city is the capital city of Xishuangbanna Dai Minority Autonomous State, and the origin of its name is well known to many people. The story goes: once upon a time, the Chief of the Dai folks chased a golden deer; in one morning, he lost the golden deer in the forests of the present Jinghong. The Chief found that the land in this part was quite flat and fertile, so the took his tribesmen there. "Jing" means "city", and "Hong" means "Dawn"; therefore, the name Jinghong means "the city of dawn". However, the ancient name of Jingyong is less known to people today; "yong" means peacocks, i.e. "the city of peacocks". There is also a story about this. At the time when the ancestors of the Dai people migrated to Jinghong, there were a lot of peacocks in the place; the Chief told his tribesmen that peacocks were auspicious birds; no one was allowed to kill peacocks; more, all his tribesmen must love and protect peacocks. Therefore, peacocks became more and more, and the name of the place also became "Jingyong". The people in the neighboring Laos, Burma and Thailand are not familiar with the name Jinghong, but if you mention Jingyong to them, most of them know the name and place. In history, there were also records about peacocks in this part in the Chinese documents; for example, in a book named "Records of the Uncivilized Tribes", it recorded that "peacocks have their nets on the trees in people's yards"; and the "green feathers" used by royal families of all dynasties in China are actually peacock feathers contributed by the headmen of Xishuangbanan. However, nowadays, we can seldom see any peacock in the rain forests, and it has become a key protection animal of the national level because of abused hunting and killing.

Much more info on Yingyong and Chinese customs here

CC's welcome

Gina & I have the symbol (Love) on our wedding photos in Hawaii :)

Uncle Gus & Gina

BTW: The painting was created with Corel PSP, CS4, Corel painting 4, MS Digital Image 9 & Imageskill background remover

[Paul Lagasi]

Gina good job, like this alot, I might like to see the image a little brighter...TFS

[denise ippolito]

Gus, This is quite a story, thankyou for sharing it. I love the base image and the treatment. I think Paul's idea to lighten the image may be good. I love the colors and the writing. I do wish the bird seemed more grounded. I may have gone w/ a simple black frame. Nicely done.

[Gus Hallgren]

A quick change without my computer glasses

Uncle Gus

[denise ippolito]

It looks good Gus. But after seeing both I will vote for the OP. :);)

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Love the BG Gus, it looks like a lush tapestry. Wouldn't mind seeing the feet/legs sharper, but this looks rather opulent and regal to me. Either version works for me, just might evict the black above the feathers.

[Dan Brown]

I really like the repost Gus! This has a Hawaiian Asian look IMO!

[Indranil Sircar]

Very nice composition. Wonderful colors of the peacock. I like the original with the frame.

[Patti Edens]

Gus,

Thanks for the great story! I love the photo and treatment.

[Mark Fuge]

Nice image and application Gus.

I like the colors and the BG. The text block is also very interesting.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Gus, I really like the repost. It's very lush, and I love the background. I had a beautiful male peacock who
wandered onto my property and stayed for months - I could have looked at him for hours - they're such
beautiful and interesting creatures:)

[Cindy Mead]

wonderful vibrant colors and I really like the almost fabric-like textures of the background, which does look very oriental. I might try to place the peacock lower, so it doesn't seem to be floating in space, but this is beautiful as is too. Enjoyed your included history of the symbolism of peacocks as well- for me it adds more meaning to the image knowing how their culture reveres them.