All things have a story...
Cranes are one of the most popular animal motifs in Asian art. Perhaps this is because of their great beauty and grace. To the Chinese, the crane was known as the "heavenly swan" and was portrayed as a messenger of wisdom. In the religion of Taoim, legends abound of cranes magically carrying Taoist sages from one world to the next. Unfortunately, in today’s world, the crane is an endangered species. Cranes are large birds with long necks and legs. They are similar to herons, except that cranes fly with their necks outstretched and not pulled in. The crane can be found on every continent with the exception of South America and Antarctica. Besides their grace and long white-gray, sleek bodies, cranes are known for their elaborate and spectacular mating rituals. It was previously thought that cranes mate their partners for life, but new evidence shows that cranes may have several partners over the course of their lives. On average, cranes live from 20-40 years, depending on their habitat. The crane has impacted cultures and history through the years. For one, it is the inspiration for a particular kung fu style called "crane style." For the Greeks, the crane was a bird of omen and protection. Pliny the Elder, the great ancient Roman philosopher and author, wrote that cranes guarded important places and did so by holding a stone in their claws. When danger was present, the crane would drop the stone alerting the sentry. In the Orient, Chinese cranes are considered to be lucky and symbolic of a long life. These beautiful white birds are one of the four symbols of longevity, which includes the tortoise, bamboo and pine tree. In Vietnam, the dragon and the crane are the country’s main symbols. In Japan, during the age of the feudal system, cranes were fed by the peasants and offered protection from noblemen. After the feudal system was outlawed, and during the Meiji era, cranes were killed and hunted. Their numbers declined in Japan to the point of extinction. Today it is illegal to hunt cranes in Japan and their numbers are slowly growing again. In one Japanese tradition, if one folds a thousand origami cranes, health and peace will be bestowed to that person.
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