This story is also about dragons and monkeys.  The daughter is born in the year of the dragon, son the monkey.  Both archetypal animals in Chinese culture.  Both animals appear to be mortal enemies.  Google dragon and monkey fighting and you’ll find some interesting pieces of art depicting this enduring conflict.  My favorite picture is the dragon breathing fire while the monkey throws his poop back.

Dragons in Chinese culture are sacred and valued.  The dragon is powerful and good.  In fact, the description of the pinnacle of a great person’s life is many dragons, no head – power and humility coexisting.  Dragons, however, can be feared and reviled in Western culture.  

Like the black knight.  

Nevertheless, I taught the boy to be a black knight instead of a white one.  After a movie, he asked me “Are black knights good or bad?”  I replied “Good but some think they are bad.”  I’ve always seen the black knight as independent, principled, unbound, unfettered.  A real force with deep mystique and great reserves of strength, power.  I’m actually quite wary of the white knight types – to me, they were the pretty boys who showed up to take the credit after the conflict is over.

Strangely enough, in Malaysian culture, there is a similar trope – Panglima Hitam or the Black Commander.  Just like the different views of the dragon by culture, the Black Commander is valued and revered in Malaysia, considered the model for a warrior.  

I’d also refer here to the Dark Knight movie where there is a dichotomy between DA Harvey Dent (white) and Bruce Wayne (black).  One is the hero that the people need, the other they deserve.  The ending of the Dark Knight where Batman chooses to take the fall for Dent and be hunted is profound.

I once slipped in a white knight chess piece in a gift to the girl I lit the candles for.  I’m not even sure why I did that, it seemed poetic.  If I were more confident, I would have given her the black one.