deathtocapslock | Magical Magic Creature Spotlight: Dragon: Chinese Fireball

Race #2:

Chinese Fireball

Oh, fuck yeah!!

Sometimes known as the “Liondragon,” this is the only dragon native to the Far East. It gets its name, obviously, from its flames, which are shaped like mushrooms. Its eggs are red and gold, and greatly prized by Chinese wizards.

This dragon is “aggressive but more tolerant of its own species than most dragons.” I’m not quite sure what that means, but whatever. I have a sneaking suspicion that “aggressive” means, “dangerous to humans,” because as we all know, humans, namely, magical humans are more important than anything.

Okay, now I’m imagining a biker gang of Chinese dragons. Or maybe something like Team Magma of Pokemon fame, who were intensely loyal to one another but all fairly dickish toward the heroes (except the leader himself, though even then...).

Chinese dragons prefer to eat pigs and humans, though they aren’t choosy. This is a point that will recur several times over the course of the book, and I’m not quite sure what to make of it: why do so many magical creatures actively prefer to eat humans? Because this comes up again and again- it’s one thing to consider humans fair game (assorted real-world carnivores do that) but quite another to prefer to eat them, which almost never happens in the real world. So why do all the magical creatures enjoy eating humans so much?

Especially considering in China dragons are frequently considered good and wise. Fortunately Rowling did not feel the need to comment on this.

A Chinese Fireball was one of the dragons that appeared in the Triwizard Tournament in Book Four, where Viktor Krum injured her so badly that she destroyed half of her own eggs thrashing about in pain. Um... remind me again whether it’s magical or nonmagic people who need to be taught how to respect animals?

*Sigh* I love Chinese dragons. They are so cool. <3

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Chinese dragons prefer to eat pigs and humans, though they aren’t choosy. This is a point that will recur several times over the course of the book, and I’m not quite sure what to make of it: why do so many magical creatures actively prefer to eat humans? Because this comes up again and again- it’s one thing to consider humans fair game (assorted real-world carnivores do that) but quite another to prefer to eat them, which almost never happens in the real world. So why do all the magical creatures enjoy eating humans so much?

Especially considering in China dragons are frequently considered good and wise. Fortunately Rowling did not feel the need to comment on this.

I'm pretty sure she didn't want to add "disrespect of other cultures" to the HP series' many, *many* sins.

A Chinese Fireball was one of the dragons that appeared in the Triwizard Tournament in Book Four, where Viktor Krum injured her so badly that she destroyed half of her own eggs thrashing about in pain. Um... remind me again whether it’s magical or nonmagic people who need to be taught how to respect animals?

Well, in the interest of fairness, they *did* take off points for that. And Krum probably got a talking-to probably involving "Are you out of your bloody idiot skull, you dumb man?!" Other than that, though...*sighs* Knowing Rowling, probably not. And considering the whole "Muggles = dumb, wizards = awesome" thing (completely contrary to Rowling's perceived plea for tolerance, obviously!)...*sighs* Maybe I'm just giving the Wizarding World more credit than it deserves. :P

Sirius intended to suggest the very same spell Viktor used to Harry. Maybe it's a good thing Ron interfered.

Yeah. *Pats Ron on back* Good for you, Ron. Good for you. :)

I'm pretty sure she didn't want to add "disrespect of other cultures" to the HP series' many, *many* sins.

She may not have wanted to - but she did it! The series is quite disrespectful of the French, and all the characters (except possibly Luna) are quite xenophobic. Not to mention (again) all the veiled and not-so-veiled antisemitic imagery.

Eastern Europeans don't come off very well either. Apparently they're all honorary Slytherins, except Victor, who later lets fame get to his head and acts Gryffindorishly spoiled about how he deserves prettier girls to dance with at the wedding. Fleur, as a quarter-Veela, is both French and an Eastern European vicious harpy hiding her true nature. Which is why it is so shocking when she turns out to properly appreciate the greatness of Gryffindors, I suppose. *eyeroll*

And Chinese dragons are usually associated with water, rather than fire, if I'm not mistaken.

“aggressive but more tolerant of its own species than most dragons.” True Gryffindors in nature, then. So-so tolerant to each other but aggressive/abusive towards everyone else. (Come on, they even come in house colors! ;))

why do so many magical creatures actively prefer to eat humans? Because we're everywhere & easy to catch? Not to mention tasty... :p

It would appear they are true Gryffindors. Yet none of the Gryffindors at the school mind when someone who isn't even a Gryffindor tortures one of them. Hmmmmmmm....

Suffering builds character. Besides, if she really loved those eggs, she would have died for them.

The magical creature dynamic is full of seriously callous schadenfreude designed to completely shut down the empathy of readers. By the time we got to Fang in the burning hut, I was just like, meh, although I know I was supposed to cry out, Hagrid's dog! To think, many HP fans actually want to live in the Potterverse... a place where people mistreat their magical charges until they can serve as targets for other wizards.

I love your drawings, by the way. Cheerful creatures FTW!

why do so many magical creatures actively prefer to eat humans? Because this comes up again and again- it’s one thing to consider humans fair game (assorted real-world carnivores do that) but quite another to prefer to eat them, which almost never happens in the real world. So why do all the magical creatures enjoy eating humans so much?

Simple. The animals can't tell the difference between wizards and Muggles, but they sure as hell know which species is tormenting them on a regular basis.

I love your reasoning!

That's a good thought. Actually, it even makes some logical sense, as a later entry (much later) will effectively suggest something similar.

Yes, but there is a difference between killing things and eating them, I think. It sounds here like they are hunting humans, actively going into their territory. Maybe it's because it makes them more dangerous/cool or something?

Maybe it's all a trick of the mind to get you to root for these assholish, dangerous Wizards. "Magical creatures and evil dark wizards are soooo much more dangerous and horrible than your petty Muggle problems of terrorism, genocide, environmental degradation, and sexual slavery, so just sit tight and hope that those benevolent Wizards can protect you from what really threatens you- colorful dragons who think humans make tasty snacks!" I mean, that more or less fits the entire tone and theme of the books, doesn't it?

Wow... That is one of the most amazing summings up of this entire series that I have ever heard. Brava. Brava.

I mean, I know it's a kid's book, but who said that kids can't deal with tough issues at a young age? To ignore these things in a series that supposedly deals with "real world issues" like prejudice is immature at best.

You know, I always though it was weird that JKR's Chinese dragon would eat humans and generally be malevolent if they were revered in Chinese culture as being good. I mean, if I remember right, the symbol for the Emperor himself was a dragon. Pretty sure that they would have chosen another symbol if dragons really were man-eating monsters.

Also, I wonder if Chinese wizards behave in the same way as western ones. I mean, I don't think that they would have been as historically persecuted, so why would they shut themselves off from the muggle world? On the other hand, what would have happened to them when China became a communist country? Would they have finally decided to shut themselves off, or would some of them perhaps have embraced the new regime? Uh, maybe I am thinking too much about this.

A very, very belated addition...

In Nisi Shawl's short story "The Pragmatical Princess," the dragon explains that eating too many humans is unhealthy for him because we are all so salty. Presumably this is due to our diets? And if medieval humans were too salty, imagine what modern humans gorging on mountains of salty, fatty convenience foods must be like!

Dragons eating humans because we are the equivalent of pork rinds is at least as good an explanation as anything Rowling might give us.

Magical Magic Creature Spotlight: Dragon: Chinese Fireball

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