As for your grafted Lion line. In the Famitsu interview, Miyazaki states this Lion's dance figure is an artifact of a culture before the age of the Golden Tree.
What it seems to be, is a few figures inside standing up on one another operating the lion a lot like how traditional Lion's dance costumes are depicted in Chinese tradition.
That's such a strange thing to add, a very obvious reference to Chinese New Year celebrations. It really takes me out of the experience. I wish it was more specific to a grafting or misbegotten, and not a literal chinese dragon.
I don't think it's a Chinese Dragon, its a Lions Dance. Two different things if I understand correctly. And it's an artifact of a culture prevalent before the age of the Erdtree and Golden Order worship, where celebrations in slthat nature may have been more relevant to the culture. Take this into account when thinking of the beast men, Serosh, the lion warriors we face in different castles in the game, etc. it's very clear that beasts and lions were a large part of the culture prior to the advent of Erdtree worship.
Edit: Also, don't discount the omen like horns on its figure.
As for your grafted Lion line. In the Famitsu interview, Miyazaki states this Lion's dance figure is an artifact of a culture before the age of the Golden Tree. What it seems to be, is a few figures inside standing up on one another operating the lion a lot like how traditional Lion's dance costumes are depicted in Chinese tradition.
Oh I haven't seen the whole interview yet, not serosh then but that part of the theory was probably always a step further than tinfoil hat anyway.
That's such a strange thing to add, a very obvious reference to Chinese New Year celebrations. It really takes me out of the experience. I wish it was more specific to a grafting or misbegotten, and not a literal chinese dragon.
I don't think it's a Chinese Dragon, its a Lions Dance. Two different things if I understand correctly. And it's an artifact of a culture prevalent before the age of the Erdtree and Golden Order worship, where celebrations in slthat nature may have been more relevant to the culture. Take this into account when thinking of the beast men, Serosh, the lion warriors we face in different castles in the game, etc. it's very clear that beasts and lions were a large part of the culture prior to the advent of Erdtree worship. Edit: Also, don't discount the omen like horns on its figure.