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The Chinese Dragon: Commentary

There is a short reference to the Ying Lung or winged dragon; it is as follows :- "In the north-east corner of the Great Desert are mountains called Hiung-li and T'u K'iu. The Ying Lung lives at the south extremity. " [Commentary. -The Ying Lung is a dragon with wings.] "He killed Tsz Yiu and Kwa Fu. "[Commentary. -Tsz Yiu was a soldier.] "He could not ascend to heaven. "[Commentary. - The Ying Lung dwells beneath the earth.] "So there is often drought. " [Commentary. - Because no rain was made above.] "When there is a drought, the form of the Ying dragon is made, and then there is much rain. 66 [Commentary. Now the false dragon is for this purpose, to influence (the heaven); men are not able to do it.]" The better printed copies of this work are illustrated with a very truculent-looking dragon with outspread wings. A stone delineation of a dragon with wings forms the ornamentation of the bridge at Nincheang Foo. In the interior of China, it was observed by Mr. Cooper, and is given in his Travels of a Pioneer of Commerce. These are the only cases in China in which I have come across illustrations of dragons with genuine wings. As a rule, the dragon appears to be represented as having the power of translating itself without mechanical agency, sailing among the clouds, or rising from the sea at pleasure.