Literature, art and symbolism Bear

onikuma, japanese demon bear ehon hyaku monogatari, c. 1841



the latvian legendary hero lāčplēsis kills bear bare hands

there evidence of prehistoric bear worship, though disputed archaeologists. prehistoric finns, siberian peoples , more koreans considered bear spirit of forefathers. there evidence of bear worship in chinese , ainu cultures. in many native american cultures, bear symbol of rebirth because of hibernation , re-emergence. image of mother bear prevalent throughout societies in north america , eurasia, based on female s devotion , protection of cubs. japanese folklore features onikuma, demon bear walks upright. ainu of northern japan, different people japanese, saw bear instead sacred; hirasawa byozan painted scene in documentary style of bear sacrifice in ainu temple, complete offerings dead animal s spirit.

in korean mythology, tiger , bear prayed hwanung, son of lord of heaven, might become human. upon hearing prayers, hwanung gave them 20 cloves of garlic , bundle of mugwort, ordering them eat sacred food , remain out of sunlight 100 days. tiger gave after twenty days , left cave. however, bear persevered , transformed woman. bear , tiger said represent 2 tribes sought favor of heavenly prince. bear-woman (ungnyeo; 웅녀/熊女) grateful , made offerings hwanung. however, lacked husband, , became sad , prayed beneath divine birch tree (hangul: 신단수; hanja: 神檀樹; rr: shindansu) blessed child. hwanung, moved prayers, took wife , gave birth son named dangun wanggeom - legendary founder of gojoseon, first ever korean kingdom.

the constellation of ursa major depicted in urania s mirror, c. 1825

artio (dea artio in gallo-roman religion) celtic bear goddess. evidence of worship has notably been found @ bern, named bear. name derived celtic word bear , artos. in ancient greece, archaic cult of artemis in bear form survived classical times @ brauron, young athenian girls passed initiation right arktai bears . artemis , 1 of nymphs she-bear, see myth of callisto.

the constellations of ursa major , ursa minor, great , little bears, named supposed resemblance bears, time of ptolemy. nearby star arcturus means guardian of bear , if watching 2 constellations. ursa major has been associated bear as 13,000 years since paleolithic times, in widespread cosmic hunt myths. these found on both sides of bering land bridge, lost sea 11,000 years ago.

pliny elder s natural history (1st century ad) claims when first born, [bears] shapeless masses of white flesh, little larger mice; claws alone being prominent. mother licks them gradually proper shape. belief echoed authors of bestiaries throughout medieval period.

3 bears , arthur rackham s illustration english fairy tales, flora annie steel, 1918

bears mentioned in bible; second book of kings relates story of prophet elisha calling on them eat youths taunted him. legends of saints taming bears common in alpine zone. in arms of bishopric of freising, bear dangerous totem animal tamed st. corbinian , made carry civilised baggage on mountains. bears feature in legends of st. romedius, saint gall , saint columbanus. recurrent motif used church symbol of victory of christianity on paganism. in norse settlements of northern england during 10th century, type of hogback grave cover of long narrow block of stone, shaped apex roof beam of long house, carved muzzled, christianised, bear clasping each gable end, in church @ brompton, north yorkshire , across british isles.

the persian cat, british lion , russian bear in anglo-russian entente of 1907

lāčplēsis, meaning bear-slayer , latvian legendary hero said have killed bear ripping jaws apart bare hands. however, revealed in end of long epic describing life, lāčplēsis own mother had been she-bear, , superhuman strength resided in bear ears. modern latvian military award order of lāčplēsis, called hero, known order of bear-slayer.

bears popular in children s stories, including winnie pooh, paddington bear, gentle ben , brown bear of norway . version of goldilocks , 3 bears , published 3 bears in 1837 robert southey, many times retold, , illustrated in 1918 arthur rackham. cartoon character yogi bear has appeared in numerous comic books, animated television shows , films. care bears began greeting cards in 1982, , featured toys, on clothing , in film. around world, many children—and adults—have teddy bears, stuffed toys in form of bears, named after american statesman theodore roosevelt when in 1902 had refused shoot american black bear tied tree.

bears, other animals, may symbolize nations. in 1911, british satirical magazine punch published cartoon anglo-russian entente leonard raven-hill in british lion watches russian bear sits on tail of persian cat. russian bear has been common national personification russia 16th century onwards. smokey bear has become part of american culture since introduction in 1944, message can prevent forest fires . in uk, bear , staff feature on heraldic arms of county of warwickshire. bears appear in canting arms of 2 cities, bern , berlin.

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