The nine sons of the dragon are those few

What are the nine sons of the dragon?

We often use "the dragon gives birth to nine sons" to compare the respective strengths of siblings, although "nine" is a virtual finger, but there are always good people who want to put the legendary beast on the set, which nine animals have not been said, until the Ming Dynasty appeared a variety of sayings.

The dragon gave birth to nine sons means that the dragon gave birth to nine sons, and the nine sons did not become dragons, each of which was different. The so-called "dragon gives birth to nine sons" does not mean that the dragon happens to give birth to nine sons. In traditional Chinese culture, nine is used to represent a lot, with supreme status, nine is an imaginary number, but also a valuable number, so it is used to describe the dragon.

The saying that the dragon has nine sons has a long history, but there is no theory about which nine animals there are, and it was not until the Ming Dynasty that various theories appeared. Some scholars' notes in the Ming Dynasty, such as Lu Rong's "Shuyuan Miscellaneous Records", Li Dongyang's "Huailu Tang Collection", Yang Shen's "Sheng'an Collection", Li Xu's "Jie'an Old Man's Manbi", Xu Yingqiu's "Yuzhitang Tanyun", etc., have many versions, different sayings, respectively, summarized as: Prison Niu, Jianxi, Chaofeng, Pu Lao, Fox, Cun, Qiang, Xuan, Qilin, Jiaotu, Worm, etc.

One is called Baxia (turtle), shaped like a turtle, and likes to carry weight. The image of the large turtle carrying the stone monument is its image.

The second is called the kiss (the kiss, the mocking wind, the good hope, the fish, the owl tail), the four-legged snake that looks like a sheared tail, likes to look around in dangerous places, and also likes to swallow fire. The beasts or heads on the ridges, corners and roofs of the temple are its images.

The third is called Pu Lao, which resembles a dragon and is small in size, and likes to chirp. They live by the sea, but they are afraid of whales. The animal buttons on the ancestral halls, temples, and iron bells are its images.

According to the characteristics of Pu Lao's fear of whales, the long wood that strikes the bell is carved into the shape of a whale, and it is said that the sound of the bell is loud and bright.

The four are called the Charter, which is shaped like a tiger, powerful, and easy to litigate. The image of a tiger carved on the prison door or standing on the prison door is its image.

Five said gluttony, its shape resembles a wolf, excellent diet. The beast head carved on the lid is its image.

The six are called the Fox (Jin Li), the shape is like a lion, likes fireworks, and is also easy to sit. The animal head carved on the Buddha seat and incense burner in the temple is its image.

Seven prison cows, like a yellow dragon with scales and horns, like **. The head of the beast engraved on the huqin is its image.

Eight eyes are called, its shape is like a jackal, and it likes to kill. Its image can often be seen in the handle and scabbard.

Nine pepper figures, its shape is like a snail mussel, good to close the mouth, so its image is often carved on the head of the gate.

The nine sons of the dragon are: Bao Qi (Yin Baxia), Mocking Wind, Jianhua (Yin Yazi), Zang Tu (Yin Bi Xi), Shu Tu, Qi Kiss (Yin Eat Kiss), Pu Lao (Pu, Lao): , Fox (Yin Sour Mud), and Prison Cow.