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There are nine major types
of Chinese dragons These include the horned dragon, the winged dragon,
the celestial dragon (which supports and protects the mansions of the gods),
the spiritual dragon which generates wind and rain for the benefit of mankind),
the dragon of hidden treasures (which keeps guard over concealed wealth),
the coiling dragon (which lives in water), and the yellow dragon (which
once emerged from water and presented the legendary Emperor Fu Shi with
the elements of writing). The last of the nine is the
dragon king, which actually consists of four separate dragons, each of
which rules over one of the four seas, those of the east, south, west,
and north. |
The most powerful generalized type of Chinese dragon is the horned dragon,
or lung, which can produce rain and is totally deaf. Additionally, there
is a homeless dragon (Ii) that lives in the ocean and another type (chiao)
that is scale-covered and usually inhabits marshes but also keeps dens
in the mountains.
There are also nine ways the Chinese have traditionally represented these
dragons, each one revealing a different dragon characteristic. There are
dragons carved on the tops of bells and gongs, because of the beast's habit
of calling loudly when attacked. A second type is carved on the screws
of fiddles, since most dragons are fond of music. A third is carved on
the tops of stone tablets, because of dragons' love of literature. A fourth
is found at the bottom of stone monuments, as dragons can support heavy
weights. A fifth is placed on the eaves of temples, as dragons are ever
alert to danger. A sixth occurs on the beams of bridges, since dragons
are fond of water. A seventh is carved on Buddha's throne, as dragons like
to rest. An eighth is placed on the hilts of swords, since dragons are
known to be capable of slaughter. The ninth is carved on prison gates,
as these are dragons that are fond of quarreling and trouble making.
The colors of Chinese dragons are evidently quite variable, but in the
case of the chiao type its back is striped with green, its sides
are yellow, and it is crimson underneath. The nine major characteristics
of a lung type dragon include a head like a camel's, horns like
a deer's, eyes like a hare's, ears like a bull's, a neck like an iguana's,
a belly like a frog's, scales like a carp's, paws like a tiger's, and claws
like an eagle's. It has a pair of large canine teeth in its upper jaw The
long, tendril-like whiskers extending from either side of its mouth are
probably used for feeling its way along the bottom of muddy ponds. In color
it varies from greenish to golden, with a series of alternating short and
long spines extending down the back and along the tail, where they become
longer. One specimen had wings at its side, and walked on top of the water.
Another tossed its mane back and forth making noises that sounded like
a flute.
Cow-heads are also common. A ten-footer, found lying on the banks
of China's Yangtze River, was different from most because of its long,
thick eyebrows. A Yellow River variety, seen on shore in the 1920s by a
Chinese teacher, was bright blue, and as big as five cows. Both dragons
crawled into the water as soon as it started to rain.
A few dragons begin life as fish. Carp, who successfully jump rapids and
leap over waterfalls, change into fish-dragons. A popular saying, "The
carp has leaped through the dragon's gate," means success, especially for
students who have passed their exams.
Male dragons sometimes mate with other kinds of animals. A dragon
fathers an elephant when he mates with a pig, and he sires a racehorse,
after mating with a mare.
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