I probably first encountered concept of a "Master" in "Dr Who" where "The Master" was "Dr Who's" evil nemesis.
Star Wars was probably the next to expose me to the archetype with it's Jedi Masters & "Sith Lords"
In Dungeons and Dragons, the fantasy role playing game I was first given an opportunity to be a Dungeon Master. But soon learnt it means hard work and responsibility.
As a teenager I remember when Metallica released "Master of Puppets" drawing inspiration from the politics of, and horrendous loss of life in the 1st World War.With its refrain "Obey your Master"
The hip / house tune by "Wildchild" (remixed by Fatboy Slim) with its refrain "Back once again for the Renegade Master" brought the concept back into to focus particularly when I began learning Martial Arts and entered into a Master student relationship with my Kung Fu Master.
He once told me in a traditional Dojo you never really know who the Master is.
I was taught that martial arts can be a mind body and spirit discipline, enabling one to achieving a knowledge of self and a level of self mastery over behaviour,thoughts, emotions etc. My Kung Fu style "Yellow Dragon Fist" also reintroduced me to the concept of the Dragon. In Some Secret Societies and quasi Masonic orders e.g KKK the Grand Master is referred to as Grand Dragon.
Both Masters and Dragons are strong/powerful. The Dragon can symbolise wealth & wisdom (sometimes evil) it is a magical figure often feared & persecuted often hunted and locked up or forced to hide in underground caverns like the Dragon in the vaults at Camelot that taught Merlin. I see the path to Mastery as one of self development, learning to transform energy , learning to navigate the Labyrinth of the mind, ones physical and psychological challenges, the Dungeons and Dragons of our own lives.
In recent years as the number of fake Masters proliferates across the world of martial and esoteric arts the Association of Traditional Chinese Martial arts has banned people giving themselves the label.
