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Fran Lu

A massive fireworks display put on by Chinese artist Cai Guo-qiang and the outdoor brand Arc’teryx at the foot of the Himalayas has sparked public outrage.
“The rising dragon” art event was launched on September 19, at about 5,500 metres above sea level.
The display saw fireworks erupt four times for 52 seconds in total, using 1,050 clusters of fireworks.
Witnesses said the display twirled around the mountain and generated disturbing sounds and smells.

As local government officials began an investigation, Cai and Arc’teryx apologised on social media.
They said they would invite environmental institutions to evaluate the site and make remedies if their activity caused any damage.
One particular criticism of the event was that it had “blown up the dragon vein”.
The “dragon vein” is an ancient Chinese concept deriving from feng shui theories. It is used to describe stretching mountain ranges that look like dragons from above.
Feng shui theories believe that everything on Earth possesses energy, and the topography and water flows are closely linked to the flow of energy between Heaven and Earth.

It is believed that dragon veins are pathways for energy flow and that they symbolise the luck of a country.
Theories that developed in the Song dynasty (960-1279) believe that there were three major dragon veins that extended across China from West to East.
Smaller scale mountain ridges shaped like dragons are also often considered to be such veins.
It is said that behind each dynasty there was a special dragon vein, and when that vein weakened, it was time for the dynasty to change.
A classic work by Chinese wuxia novelist Louis Cha Jin Yong, The Deer and the Cauldron, famously depicted a mountain in northeastern China as the dragon vein of the Qing dynasty (1644-1912).
In the novel, a secret society aiming to overthrow the Qing dynasty forced the protagonist to destroy the dragon vein, thinking it was the way to restore the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

It is believed by Chinese researchers that the origins of dragon vein theories are linked with the figurative view of the Chinese landscape in the Tang (618-907) and Song dynasties, which replaced the previous atmospheric view of mountains and rivers.
The theory is deemed superstitious by modern science. However, many still believe in it, saying it symbolises a harmonious environment and ecology.
Some said that the strong light and noise from the fireworks disturbed the energy of the dragon vein.
Ways to repair it include reforesting the mountains, improving water flows and setting up buildings that help rebuild the flow of energy.


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People & Culture

Environmental worries over pyrotechnics that may have compromised ancient beliefs about topography related to rise and fall of dynasties


Environmental worries over pyrotechnics that may have compromised ancient beliefs about topography related to rise and fall of dynasties.


Chinese superstitions

Louis Cha 'Jin Yong'

Arc’teryx

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Explainer | What is ‘dragon vein’ and why China artist and top brand chided over Himalayas fireworks

Environmental worries over pyrotechnics that may have compromised ancient beliefs about topography related to rise and fall of dynasties