Happy Chinese New Year! How to Tame the Mythical Dragon: Unleashing Power for Good; Can AI Make Us All Dragons?

Welcome to #FixTheWorld of #GiveUp newsletter no. 47

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您好，我是王伟灿,

我跟大家拜年啦! 祝你们:

龍年初一開好運，生龍活虎迎新春；平安富貴龍來到，福運昌龍一整年！

Hope you are all having a great start to year of the wood dragon.

With a heavy heart, I've come to realize that we must do so much more, especially when even prosperous nations like Sweden are grappling with the rise of far-right parties and significant gun violence. It's crucial that we acknowledge the need to embrace diverse techniques and best practices from various cultures and countries.

While Sweden's commendable efforts in welcoming immigrants deserve praise, it's akin to the beautiful poetic song "Papaoutai" by Stromae – bringing life into the world and being a responsible parent are distinct challenges.

In this blog post, I'll delve into how the mythical dragon might offer insight into addressing this pressing issue.

Can we apply lessons from the myth of the dragon for personal, business, and professional development to help fix the world!?

TLDR:

• The dragon is a mythological creature that symbolizes power, wisdom, and good fortune in Chinese culture.

• As we celebrate Chinese New Year and the Year of the Wood Dragon, we can apply the virtues and symbolism of the dragon myth to improve ourselves and the world.

• Becoming a polymath and expert generalist like Leonardo da Vinci allows us to blend talents and disciplines to find creative solutions.

• Adopting the best values across cultures like filial piety, self-sacrifice, and community from China can inspire our own development.

• Media and storytelling play a key role in transmitting cultural values across generations.

• By embracing the dragon's wisdom and becoming modern polymaths, we can build a better, more unified world.

Key Bullet Points:

• The dragon myth represents auspiciousness, power, wisdom, and blessings in Chinese culture. It combines the best traits of different animals.

• Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dragon are times for celebrating family, tradition, and cultural values like filial piety.

• We can apply the dragon's wisdom by becoming polymaths, expert generalists, and multi-disciplinary thinkers like Leonardo da Vinci.

• Blending talents, perspectives, and cultures is key to innovation. The dragon shows the power of bringing different elements together.

• Cultural values like community, hard work, and self-sacrifice in Chinese media reflect important virtues for society.

• Singapore's model of fostering national identity and alignment shows the power of shared goals and values.

• To build a better world, we must learn from other cultures while staying rooted in our own. The dragon combines both mythical and real elements.

• By taking the best from everywhere, we can exceed expectations and achieve surprisingly simple solutions to global problems.

• The arrival of AI allows us to free ourselves from hyper-specialization. We can all aspire to be dragons and pursue self-development.

The Mythical Dragon: Wisdom for Personal, Business, and World Development

Introduction

As Chinese New Year arrives and we enter the Year of the Wood Dragon, it is an auspicious time to reflect on the mythological symbolism of the dragon and how its attributes can help us on our path of self-improvement. In Chinese culture, the dragon represents power, strength, goodness, and blessings. As a mythical creature that does not exist in the real world, it serves as an aspirational archetype - combining the greatest qualities of many real animals into one.

Its ability to fly represents freedom and transcendence; the pearl it holds symbolizes wisdom and blessings. As we seek new beginnings with the arrival of the New Year, the dragon's mythical wisdom can guide us - by embracing its values of community, virtue, polymathic knowledge, and cultural blending, we can transform ourselves and uplift the world.

Just as the dragon flies freely between earth and heaven, we too can expand our horizons. By exploring the meaning of dragons in Chinese traditions, analyzing cultural values portrayed in Chinese media, and reflecting on models like Singapore's fostering of national identity - we can chart a course for personal, business, and global development that helps write the next heroic chapter in humanity's story. The dragon's mythic power comes not from domination, but from synthesizing diverse elements into a cohesive and virtuous whole. May we do the same.

The Symbolism of Dragons in Chinese Culture

The dragon holds a unique place in Chinese culture as the highest ranking of mythological creatures. As one of the 12 zodiac animals, it is the only one that does not exist in reality.

And yet it encapsulates the most auspicious and powerful attributes of real animals - the head of an elephant, eyes of a rabbit, neck of a snake, scales of a carp, claws of an eagle, paws of a tiger, and ears of an ox. Combining the strengths of these animals into one, the dragon represents the pinnacle of good fortune and wisdom in Chinese legend. Its ability to fly connects it to the heavens, while its origins in water connect it to the seas. Thus, it mediates between earth and sky, representing the Chinese people's ancestors - the dragons that brought civilization and agriculture. As a mythical creature, the dragon symbolizes the Chinese cultural values of blessing, strength, and prosperity.

The dragon dance performed at Chinese New Year represents this idea - the sinuous twisting and turning of the dragon form represents the creature's freedom of movement and power. The epic stories of dragon kings ruling the four seas convey the dignity and nobility of dragons, while tales of dragons granting blessings to heroes and sages show their benevolence.

Architecturally, imperial palaces incorporated dragons as a symbol of just rule and the emperor's mandate from heaven. As descendents of the dragon, Chinese people saw their culture as centered on its virtues - strength, wisdom, community, and moral uprightness.

The dragon's fluid hybridity also represents adaptability, as it incorporated the best qualities of many real animals. Its mythical creative essence thus inspired Chinese thinkers for millennia across philosophy, art, governance, and personal cultivation.

So during Chinese New Year festivities, the dragon dance, costumes, and symbolism all aim to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits. Performing the rituals right also show respect for one's ancestors and origins.

History of Dragon

Since Chinese people trace their origin back to the dragons, displaying dragon symbols and invoking its power conveys pride in their cultural heritage.

Especially on the 3rd day of the New Year, incense is offered to the ancestors, further honoring the dragon founders of the Chinese civilisation. This year, the dragon's blessings thus sustain not just individual fortune, but communal heritage. This links cultural values, media rituals, and personal growth together every chinese new year.

The Year of the Dragon only comes around every 12 years rather than annually. So this mythic year invites even more joyful celebrations and reflections on the dragon's role. It also highlights the long cyclical nature of time and how the gifts of dragons past can uplift civilisation today (especially if you are superstitious).

Whether in the form of the wood dragon, water dragon, or any other variations, dragons rule the imaginations of Chinese people globally during this time. Parades, festivals, family reunions, food and customs all reflect the happiness of honoring their mythical and cultural ancestors. By understanding the symbolism of dragons, we can appreciate the layers of meaning in Chinese New Year.

Cultural Storytelling in Chinese Media and Values

In our modern world, family bonds and cultural identity face rising challenges from globalization and social media. That's why the mass return of Chinese people to their hometowns and villages during New Year holds value - it reconnects them to heritage and traditions.

The media consumed during this time, from movies to songs to TV shows, further inspires model behavior rooted in Chinese philosophical thought. While often caricatured as simplistic propaganda in the West, these narratives bring people together through common values, history, and aspirations. By analyzing some representative Chinese media and their underlying cultural themes, we can appreciate how storytelling shapes society.

A popular Chinese TV series called "The Blood of Youth" (free to watch on Viki or on YouTube) depicts young people striving for their dreams amid war in the world of Wuxia. I love their end credit song which is as poetic as Joni Mitchells or Stromae:

Despite the hardships of abandonment, court assassinations, violence between classes in court, fight between martial art head of families, the characters believe noble sacrifice and community can lead society forward. The show martial art theme (武侠) also invokes the Chinese's idea of Selfless Hero (行俠仗義 which is higher level than samurai code and leave chivalry in the dust) and roots as a force of progressivism against regressive dynastic elements.

While some may critique most of China's TV show's idealism, at its core are virtues of self-sacrifice, courage in the face of injustice, fight to become the best martial artists, defending the weak over the strong, and wisdom over brute force. Combine them with the fundamental Confucian values resonate even today in a cynical age of individualism and materialism.

Many of China's most viewed TV shows through out the year and during the New Year celebrations likewise emphasise family, community, and moral lessons for society.

For example, during this year's CCTV New Years Gala, vignettes will praise the hard work of delivery workers, doctors, and everyday citizens during the year. full almost 5hours show below (which also included great artist like Lang Lang and even French Opera):

Others highlight China's space/Chips achievements as a source of national pride and unity. Skits also depict the importance of family reunion after seperating a long time due to work and rural revitalization. Underlying all are calls for moderate prosperity, hard work, respect for all groups, and openness to the future over rigidity. While easy to dismiss as formulaic, these shows reach hundreds of millions, seeding cultural values.

We must analyse media and myths like these on their own terms, not just through a western lens. The dragon symbolizes the Chinese people's origin story, their cosmology, and their hopes.

While not always perfect in execution or repetition, the yearly rituals of New Year ground society in ancient ideals and philosophical wisdom. Eating Bitterness 食苦(chinese version of Stoicism), moral courage, community reciprocity, and respect for elders, culture and nature's cycles - these reflect values that all societies need.

Mythical archetypes like the dragon distill timeless attributes in ways that speak to emotion and the collective unconscious over pure reason. Therefore, dismissing folk media as crude propaganda overlooks nuance while claiming superiority of Western high culture.

Rather, we should see the virtues and flaws in all societies' stories, from Hollywood's individualist narrative to China's communal messaging. Blending the best values across cultures allows progress and bridges international understanding.

There is no right or wrong answers, let's mix it up, and find one that 'works' and bring harmony and less crime and ideally no innocent deaths!?

Learning from Singapore's National Identity Model

Singapore provides an interesting case study in fostering alignment across a diverse populace through national identity and shared goals. While flawed in some aspects like restrictions on mundane things like banning chewing gum & durian in public places. It is probably one of the last country that still administer judicial caning.

Singapore does offer lessons in bringing people together constructively. Their government encourages a singular national identity that transcends racial and immigrant backgrounds. Some methods are controversial, like mandating military service for all male citizens regardless of background. But they do cultivate a sense of ownership in the country and its future. Likewise, annual National Day events and rituals build nationalist sentiment by celebrating Singaporean culture and achievements. (although its not by design, their accent also build trusts, very much much cantonese for hong kongers before the riots, now we don't know whom to trust)

While easy to critique such policies as heavy-handed, Singapore shows the power of unified identity and nationalism when harnessed properly. A delicate balance must be struck between preserving plurality and forging a collective identity. But done right, this can uplift by emphasizing ethics, participation and equity. Citizens feel their role in the national project, motivating altruism over division. This requires nuance and guarding against demagoguery - but Singapore offers a model.

Their multiracial harmony did not happen by accident but through deliberate policies encouraging integration (forced housing in some cases), language learning, inter-faith tolerance and meritocracy. Perhaps most boldly, Singapore's government actively shapes cultural values through media, education and symbolism.

They believe in molding society deliberately based on both local Asian roots and pragmatism. This allows transmitting constructive values and norms across generations. While easy to critique as social engineering, shaping culture is inevitable - we must thoughtfully sculpt the values we elevate and condemn. Overall, Singapore shows the power of aligning people behind constructive goals for development.

Constructing World Community by Blending Cultures

In our age of global crises like pandemics, inequality, discrimination and environmental degradation, forging new solidarity across humanity is urgent. We face collective challenges needing collective action. Neither insular nationalism nor atomistic individualism will resolve systemic issues.

Just as Singapore cultivated national identity, we must now cultivate global community, blurring lines of race, geography and creed.

This requires openness, service and pluralism. The dragon again inspires by blending the best attributes of different creatures into one mythical whole.

Similarly, cultural blending harmonizes humanity's mosaic into a coherent symphony. Exchange of ideas, customs, food, music, stories and more enriches all societies. While anchored in their own traditions, groups must adapt with openness to avoid stagnation. Curiosity about other ways of life expands mindsets, dissolves prejudice and improves collective wisdom. Travel, education, art and genuine human bonds nurture this creative cross-pollination.

Leaders must champion diversity within unity, showing how multiculturalism strengthens communities.

This empowers citizens to become ambassadors of their heritage while welcoming others'. Those who display openness and service to all people should be lifted as models.

Media (from broadcast to cable to social) too must honour the common dreams, needs and virtues of humanity across backgrounds.

There is deep joy and wisdom gained from both sharing our own cultures and experiencing those of others. Blending the hues of humanity together raises consciousness to see our common essence beneath surface variations. This honors the inherent dignity in all people.

A Way Forward: Polymaths using AI for Human Development

If we weave such values into the fabric of societies, a better world awaits. The arrival of artificial intelligence can further empower this process. If guided properly, AI can liberate people from repetitive work and allow more time for creativity.

By reducing costs of education and vocal assistants, AI democratizes learning - making us all potential polymaths. Renaissance individuals like Leonardo DaVinci showed the potency of blending arts, humanities and sciences fluidly. With AI reducing barriers, we can all pursue multi-disciplinary knowledge to spark breakthrough innovations. Combining perspectives reveals deeper truths and inspires humanistic visions.

Already, public figure like psychologist Gabor Maté model such polymathy by synthesising politics, trauma and addictions. Integrative Scientist like Andrew McPherson is a researcher, composer, engineer and instrument designer that unleash creativity across boundaries.

With AI, such self-actualisation can spread to benefit all humanity, not just elites.

We each can become dragons combining different strengths. Schools (even MBAs) too must shift from siloed testing to project-based learning that bridges subjects holistically.

Conclusion

The dragon's mythical power arose from blending talents from across creatures into one harmonious whole. As we embark on the Year of the Dragon during Chinese New Year, we too can harness this integrative wisdom for human advancement.

Let dragons inspire polymath self-cultivation.

May cultural exchange breed openness and community. May our stories and media champion virtues much needed in the world.

And may new technologies expand human potential rather than constrain it through polarization and division.

The dragon's hybridity shows we are greater together than isolated.

Our origin stories, values and hopes shape destiny.

Therefore, we must consciously sculpt culture and identity to ennoble humanity's future.

The dragon's fiery breath breathes life & nurture the pearl of wisdom, just as our inspired words and deeds can vivify progress.

Let dragons within arise!

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