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The Flying Horse

4/3/2019

21 Comments

 
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I’m torn.  Back in 2014 I designed this flying horse to commemorate the Year of the Horse in the Chinese calendar.  The Horse is the seventh in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac sign. The Years of the Horse include 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026...  The 12 Chinese horoscope animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

About 25 years ago, Hubby and I were visiting his parents in BC and spent a day wondering around China Town on the waterfront of Vancouver and came across this little gem in one of the many shops. He was always interested in the flying horse; feeling it was unique from all the other horse statues, art and stories in history so we purchased it.  When I set about to design the pattern my first thought was the Flying Horse to represent this year in the Chinese calendar and even used our statue for the reference.     
 
The Chinese characters in each corner stand for Happy New Year and felt they framed the horse perfectly. I thought running the animal through the 0 of 2014 would be clever and create a balanced picture.  I like the design, but I’m not sure if I should remove the 2014 and characters and finish only the horse and swallow with the background and a border, perhaps making a pillow for our home study.

Although I love the look of this pattern I’m not sure if I want the already outdated year to be such a focal point and I’m not Chinese, so this symbolism means little to me.  We are going to produce patterns with the horse only as I it will make a lovely rug.  A photo of just the horse would probably be less off-putting to anyone purchasing the design, than having to ask what all the other stuff is for? 

I can easily remove all the red and fill in the body and background but my dilemma is that I love the red influence, how it plays off the antique bronze green finish of the animal and that creamy beige background.  I can’t only remove the year and leave the Chinese characters either because the horse is balanced on the date and if that is removed the horse is too far to the left and although I’m not a great fan of symmetry, this would be too lopsided even for me. 

I want to finish the hooking but I’m stymied by indecision on which way to go forward because there are as many pros as cons for me.   A week later after digging it out of storage, it’s become a stumbling block because I’ve promised myself to complete this project before I move ahead with another and I don’t want my frame being empty when there is so much I want to do.   Just make a decision Christine and stick to it instead of pitching it back and forth like a ball.  I usually know exactly what I want but for this case I could use a bit of help.  What would you do?   If I choose to erase the motifs in question I will set some red in the border, a line or two before the outside plaid I’ve selected to frame it.  



A brief History of the Flying Horse Of Gansu
Eastern Han dynasty, 25 - 220 AD 
Gansu Provincial Museum
​
This outstanding bronze horse has become an iconic emblem of China. Racing through the skies, it treads on a swallow (base of statue) that looks up in amazement. Unlike Pegasus, the Western flying horse, the wingless Han steed is meant to be understood metaphorically rather than literally; it represents an ideal horse that can gallop so fast that it seems to outrun the wind. The sculpture is perfectly balanced on only one hoof, to complete the illusion of flight.

The Five Elements of Horse is Fire (Huo), which symbolizes enthusiasm and energy. The animal gives people an impression of independence and integrity. Its spirit is recognized to be the Chinese people's ethos - making unremitting efforts to improve themselves with passion and diligence.


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21 Comments
Gardinea
4/3/2019 01:13:11 pm

Wow Beautiful

Reply
Marye
4/3/2019 01:14:42 pm

Finish it! It’s beautiful! Change the date or eliminate it.

Reply
Audrey
4/3/2019 01:15:13 pm

Could you change the 14 to a 26 and have it ready for the next year of the horse?

Reply
Christine
4/3/2019 01:15:48 pm

I thought of doing that for a minute. It’s still dated that way and someday will be obsolete.

Reply
Audrey
4/3/2019 01:16:12 pm

For the person who was born in the year of the Horse it would still have meaning year after year. Especially if it were given to a newborn that year.

Audrey
4/3/2019 01:16:52 pm

Another thought. Leave it at 2014 and put it up for sale. Someone might buy it for their grandchild. And making the horse into a unicorn may make it more desirable.

Reply
Christine
4/3/2019 01:17:16 pm

I never sell my work. This one is for Gregg. The hookin was cancelled in case you planned to come. Weathers too lousy so stay home and be warm.

Reply
Amzi
4/3/2019 01:17:41 pm

Wow! Finish it!!

Reply
Bonnie
4/3/2019 01:18:04 pm

I would take out the symbols and the date and carry on with the same background. Square off the pattern and use your rope border in the greys and red. I’m sure it would appeal to many people. Please keep us posted as to what you decide.

Reply
Bonnie Coey
4/3/2019 01:18:39 pm

Make it 2019 and you'll be all set..

Reply
Christine
4/3/2019 01:19:10 pm

Unfortunately 2019 is the year of the pig.

Reply
Trudy
4/3/2019 01:19:34 pm

Pegasus is often pictured with clouds, a moon, etc - could something like that work?

Reply
Christine
4/3/2019 01:20:57 pm

The picture you sent is beautiful but I really liked the beige background for my husbands study.

Reply
Jennifer
4/3/2019 01:24:21 pm

Change the numbers to a streamer...still an oriental feel

Reply
Mary Rubinski
4/3/2019 02:20:21 pm

Since the horse's element is fire, could you take out the numbers and replace them with flames to. balance the design? You could use the symbols for energy, enthusiasm, independence, and integrity in the corners. I think many people are interested in the Chinese zodiac and people born in any of the horse years would be especially interested.

Reply
Liz C
4/3/2019 04:14:20 pm

What if you removed the letters and used the red for a banner under the horse?

Reply
Joan Macfarlane
4/5/2019 12:32:21 pm

What if you took out the 2014 and put in HOME, the horse could still go through the O and you could still use the red.

Reply
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