A Dragon’s Flame Almost Dies, Love Shields It From Night

I spent almost a month in Taiwan this summer. Hot. Humid. Two typhoons. And still—worth it. I came back with stories about seals, names, and culture.

Confucius began his great travels in his fifties. Thirteen years on the road, searching for a ruler who would listen. That inspires me. I won’t be away that long, but I’d like to make three trips a year—visiting Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and more—while keeping my home in the U.S.

Now let me tell you about someone else who journeyed—though not across kingdoms, but through failure.

Kasing Lung and Labubu

Maybe you’ve seen Labubu on YouTube. A small figure with wide eyes and sharp teeth. Cute and eerie at the same time. That tension made it a cult hit, and its creator, Kasing Lung (龍家昇, Lóng Jiāshēng), went from obscurity to global fame.

The spelling “Kasing Lung” comes from Cantonese. 龍 (lóng) means “dragon.” 家昇 (Jiāshēng) means “family rising.” Even in three simple characters, there’s a story.

The dragon itself has many forms: 龍 in traditional Chinese, 龙 in simplified, 竜 in Japanese. Bruce Lee’s Chinese name was 李小龍—Little Dragon. Jackie Chan’s stage name is 成龍—Becoming the Dragon.

Names carry power. Characters, even more.

In America, the most requested tattoo is 家 (jiā), meaning “home” or “family.” In Asia, wall hangings often feature 忍 (rěn), meaning “endurance” or “perseverance.” Why the difference? My hunch: in America, where culture leans individual, people long for closeness. In Asia, where family can feel like pressure, people long for patience.

And then there’s 昇 (shēng), “to rise.” 日, the sun. 升, to lift. Together: sunrise. A new start.

Perseverance and Encouragement

Here’s what makes Kasing Lung’s story powerful. Before Labubu, he spent three years with no income, chasing his dream. He nearly quit. His wife told him not to. Two friends told him not to. He held on. Years later, the breakthrough came.

That reminds me of director Ang Lee (李安, Lǐ Ān). Six years unemployed after film school. About to give up. His wife told him to keep going. Today, you know his name.

The lesson is simple. Sometimes the flame almost dies. Sometimes we don’t have enough belief in ourselves. That’s when we need someone else to hold the light for us.

Your Seal of Approval

If you own one of our seals, use it for that. Write a note. Stamp it. Tell someone, I believe in you. Don’t give up.

Dragon’s name ascends,
Family and patience endure,
Sunrise lifts the dream.