Helarctos malayanus Status: Vulnerable from heavy deforestation, and illegal hunting for food. In Vietnamese mythology, the ruler of the divine pantheon is Ngoc Hoang. While Ngoc Hoang’s father created the land and sea and sky, he created the animals and people, crafting each form and face with the love of an artisan. Among his children are the goddesses of the sun and moon. Mat Ga Trong is the sun rooster, bearing the sun across the sky and bringing light and life to the world. Her moon sister is Trang Chim, the moon swan, and she bears the moon across the sky to bright light to the dark hours. The two sisters share their marriage bed with Con Gau, the bear god. He is a lusty husband, and when a solar or lunar eclipse happens, it is said that Con Gau is with one or the other of his wives.
Size: 7 x 7 inches Detail closeups:
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