Classics of Eastern 'Loong', Chapter 1

The loong is the leader of the aquatic creatures. The loong is a mythical beast responsible for making clouds and rain, so it is also called "Rain Worker" and "Rain Master". It is the leader of the scaly insects.

There are sixteen levels of loong kings, and there are eighty-one scales on the dragon's back, which is the number result of 9 multiple by 9 (9*9 is ). The loong's head is like a camel, its horns are like deer, its ears are like cows, its eyes are like ghosts, its neck is like a snake, its chest and abdomen are like a big clam, its scales are like fish, its claws are like eagles, and its paws are like tigers. The chin contains a loong ball, and the loong's horns have hearing functions like ears.

Legend has it that in the Spring and Autumn Period, Gui Gu Zi wrote in the Zodiac Theory: "Loong ears are not sharp, so they are called loongs." It can be seen that in the ancients' cognition, the loong's hearing was not good. One foot below the loong's throat is the loong's reverse scale. Reverse scale: scales that grow inverted. Han Fei Zi, Talk About Difficulties: "As a loong, it is soft and can be ridden, but there is a scale under its throat that is one foot in diameter. If anyone touches it, he will be killed." Therefore, the reverse scale of the loong cannot be touched, which is often used to illustrate the majesty and taboos of the king that cannot be violated.

How to distinguish the male and female loongs? Loong horns are curved, undulating like waves, sharp horns, deep eyes, wide nostrils, sharp loong whiskers, dense loong scales, and the upper body is stronger than the lower body. Loong horns are curved like waves, but the ups and downs are not big, the loong eyes are unrestrained, the loong whiskers are round and soft, the loong scales are thin, and the tail is thicker than the abdomen. Male loongs whimper in the upwind, and female loongs dragon-cry in the downwind. They are transformed by the wind and conceived by the sound. The dragon-cry of a loong is like blowing a bamboo tube; the sound of a loong's roar is like knocking a golden bowl; the roar of a loong is like the sound of continuous firecrackers.

Legend has it that loongs would pile up large stones on the seabed to mark their territory and build nests, which are generally called "Loong Palace". "Controlled by stones but not visible in stones" may mean that loongs are good at cutting stones to build Loong Palace, but no one can enter Loong Palace to see loongs.

Loongs do not like to travel together, always go alone. Loongs are solitary animals and do not like to live in groups. Loongs are good at changing. When the Loong Qi gathers, it becomes a visible loong body. When its qi disperses, the loong body changes into gorgeous clouds. Loongs can control clouds and qi, soaring in the clouds and mist, as they please, and use yin and yang and qi as the nourishment of life. The loong's form is unpredictable, it can hide, it can show, and its size, length, and size can change at will.

*Loong Qi: the breath of a loong.

"Qi, 炁" it is a concept derived from Taoist philosophy. It is a system that circulates and metabolizes in the human body, acts through respiration, absorption, digestion and excretion. The sages who properly control this system can prolong life and become wise and inner-peaceful.

Written by Zhuo Wang (1636-?)