In honor of the Lunar New Year 2024, the Year of the Dragon, widely celebrated in China and various Asian countries, I want to highlight the oldest symbols of Freemasonry that I’ve come across. These symbols are depicted in a painting featuring Fuxi and Nuwa, where Fuxi holds the Square, and Nuwa holds the Compasses. While I initially associated the origins of these familiar Masonic tools with the Hermetic Rebis, my perspective shifted during a visit to China in 2013. There, I unexpectedly discovered these tools and the painting while learning about the creation story.

The painting of Fuxi and Nuwa bears striking similarities to the Hermetic Rebis, both serving as representations of unity and cosmic balance. They signify the convergence of opposing forces, reconciling earthly and spiritual realms, and embodying sexual unity. The dual heads, each adorned with the Sun and Moon, along with astrological signs, further emphasize these parallels.

One notable difference is the antiquity of the Fuxi & Nuwa story, dating back thousands of years, contrasting with the 15th-century origin of the Rebis, associated with the alchemical ‘Magnum Opus’ or ‘Great Work.’ Similar to Freemasonry, the Fuxi & Nuwa narrative seems to have existed since ‘time immemorial.’

Another intriguing aspect of the Rebis is its connection to the Lunar New Year of the Dragon, where the dual opposites stand upon a fire-breathing Dragon. In alchemy, the dragon represents prime matter and the third alchemical element, sulfur. The winged dragon suggests ascension, symbolizing the merging of material and spiritual realms, with fire as a potent symbol of transformation.

Wishing you a joyful Year of the Dragon!