Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-09
THE GAZETTE
WEDNESDAY EvEN'G., sEpTEADEl
THE JAPANESE DRAGON.
We shall attempt 20 detailed description cI

We shall attempt 90 detailed description ol
the japanese dragon, presauirs that most Of
our readers are already familiar with liz APP
uearance on works of art. The creature locks
like winged crocodile, except as to the scout
which is tufted with hair, and the claws, SHEA
are very sharp. \ celebrated japanese author,
in his masterpiece Of Hakkendeu, describes
the monster with dogmatic accuracy. lie says
"rhe dragon is creature OF u very superior
order of being. Ii has decr's hoTDS. horse 5
} head. eyes like those OF deYli, IeeE ESe
that Of snake, belly Ike that OF red WGrM'
scales like those Of Il fish, claws like hawk :,
paws like tigers, and cars Ike COW $. La
{ the spring the drag lives iu heaven IN The
autump in the water; in the summer 1t travels
in the clouds and takes lis pleasure, II %inter
j; lives in the earth, dormant. IL always
uwells alone and Fever IN Lea1GS. lhcfc are
many kinds of dragons, such IS the violet, the
yellow, the green, the rec, The white, the black
and the flying dragon. Some are scaly, some
horned, some without horns. " hen The white
dragon breathcs the breath Of his lunss gees
into the earth and turns to gold. When the
violet dragon splits, tho spittlc becomes bats
, of pure crystal. OF which gems AID caSketa are
, made. One kind O: dragon has niue calors on
his body, and another can sec everything "liil-
10 u hundred ri; another has I;omcns2 tfes Surcs
Of every sort; another delights TO Kill human
beings. The watcr-drsgGn causes 120dS OF
rsin; when he is sick, the rain has tisily smell
The fre-dragon is only seven feet long, bat his
body is Of fame.
The female dragon products at every raTiu
rition nine young. The frs. young dtagoa
. sings, and likes all harmonious sounds, heuce
the tops of Japanese bells arc cast III the form
ii this dragon; the second delights IN the
sounds of musical Instruments hence the koto
. or horizontal harp, and suzumi, Z girls drum
struck by the fingers, arc orramented with the
figure of this dragon; the third is fond Of drink
ing. and likes all stimulating liquors. therefore
goblets and drinking cups adorucd with, repre-
scptations Of this creature; the fourth likes
steep and dangerous places, hence gables,
towers, the projecting beams OF temples and
pagodas, have carved images OF tins dragon up
ca them; tie fifth is great destroyer OF living
things, fond o! killing and b!oclsicd; therefore
swords are decorated with go!;.cG figures Of this
j.. dragon; the sixth loves learning and delights IN
literature, kcucc On the covers and title pages
:. of books and literary works are pictures OF this
creature; the seventh IS renowned for ispcwcc
Of hearing; the eighth enjoys sitting, hcace. the
. easy. chairs are carved 10 It's image; The MUM
loves to bear 'scght therefore ti,e ieet ottabies
and of ibacLi-braz!crs to hold fire, usually
made of brass or trOrZc-ara shaped like this
creatures feet. AS TIC dragon Is the most
powerful animal IN existence, 50 the garments
vt the emperor or mikaao are called the 'dra..
: e robes, his face the dragon courtenance,
lis body the dragon body, and his anger the
i dragon wrath. y OculuAd NonthH.