The Nine Sons of the Dragon
Yaiba is on the Longquan sword, the one who kills demons
The boss Bixi (bìxì)
The second child Chi Kiss/鸱tail (chǐwěn/chǐweǐ)
The third child Pulao (pǔláo)
The fourth child 狴犴 (bìàn)
The fifth child Taotie (tāotiè)
老六谛蝮 (bāxià)
老七睚禦 (yázī)
老八狻ni (suāní)
Laojiujiaotu (shūtú) The legend of the dragon giving birth to nine sons means that the dragon gave birth to nine sons. None of the nine sons became a dragon, and each of them 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 represents many things and has the supreme status. Nine is an imaginary number and also a noble number, so it is used to describe the dragon son. The saying that the dragon has nine sons has been around for a long time, but there is no explanation about which nine animals they are. It was not until the Ming Dynasty that various theories emerged.
One saying that "the dragon gave birth to nine sons" comes from the "Huailutang Collection" written by Li Dongyang of the Ming Dynasty. The nine sons of the dragon are:
Some theories also refer to Chi. First, Qilin, Chaotianhou (犼), and Pixiu are also included as one of the dragons.
The dragon gave birth to nine sons, each of which is different. There are many theories about the nine sons of the dragon in ancient China. Regardless of the various theories for now, let’s introduce some legendary descendants of the dragon
One of the sayings:
Qiu Niu, one of the nine sons of the dragon, is shaped like a small yellow dragon with scales and horns. He likes music and squats on the head of the piano. This musical dragon son not only stands on the huqin of the Han people, but also on the dragon-headed yueqin of the Yi people, the three-stringed qin of the Bai people, and some Tibetan musical instruments with his head raised and his mouth open.
睚禦 (Pinyin: Yázì), one of the nine sons of the dragon, with the body of a dragon and the head of a jackal, is fierce in nature, and is most fond of killing. It looks like a jackal and is easy to kill. Often carved on the hilt and scabbard. The original meaning of Yaizhen is to stare angrily, as the saying goes, "The virtue of a meal must be repaid, and the resentment of Yaizhu must be repaid." Retribution will inevitably lead to death, so it is natural for this jackal-like dragon to appear on the handle of the sword and the scabbard.
Chaofeng, one of the nine sons of the dragon, has always been in danger, and now his image is a beast with a horn.
Pulao, one of the legendary nine sons of the dragon, roared loudly when he was struck, and served as the animal button on the bell to help its sound spread far and wide. Shaped like a dragon but smaller than a dragon, it sings easily. It is said that Pulao lives by the sea and is most afraid of whales. Whenever he encounters a whale attack, Pulao screams incessantly. So, people put his image on the bell and carved the long piece of wood that struck the bell into the shape of a whale, using it to strike the bell in order to make the sound louder and louder.
Suanni (Pinyin: Suānní), one of the nine sons of the dragon in the legend, looks like a lion and likes smoking and sitting, so the image usually appears on the incense burner, swallowing smoke and blowing out mist.
Also known as Jin Ni and Ling Ni. Suanni is originally an alias for lion, so it is shaped like a lion, good at fireworks and easy to sit on. His style can be seen on the Buddha's seat and incense burner in the temple. Lions, animals that dare to eat even tigers and leopards and have a majestic appearance, were introduced to China along with Buddhism. Since the Buddha Sakyamuni has the metaphor of a "fearless lion", people naturally arrange him as a Buddha's seat, or carve it on an incense burner so that he can enjoy the incense.
Hui Lin, an eminent monk in the Tang Dynasty, said: "Suanni is a lion, and it came out of the Western Regions."
Bixi (Pinyin: Bìxì), also known as Guifu, Baxia, and Caixia, The dragon is born with the length of nine sons, looks like a turtle, has teeth, is strong and likes to bear heavy loads. He also carries heavy objects on his back, and the stone turtle under the stone tablet is his image.
When the old city wall of Beijing was demolished, half a crocodile was found under the walls of Dongbianmen and Xibianmen. Therefore, it is said that the crocodile carried the city of Beijing.
Bi'an (Pinyin: Bì'àn), one of the nine sons of the dragon, looks like a tiger. It is said that he is fond of litigation, so his image is erected on both sides of the prison gate or the official hall. Also called charter. It looks like a tiger, is powerful, and is prone to prison litigation, so people carved it on the prison door. The tiger is a powerful beast, so it can be seen that the purpose of the tiger is to enhance the majesty of the prison and make the criminals intimidated.
Fùxì (Pinyin: Fùxì), one of the nine sons of the dragon, looks like a dragon, elegant and gentle, coiled around the top of the stone tablet.
Chiki, also called Chiwei or Chiki (pinyin, Chīwěn, Chīwěi, Chīwěn), is one of the nine sons of the dragon. He has a moist mouth and a thick throat and is easy to swallow, so he became a spine-swallowing beast at both ends of the palace ridge. , use it to put out fires and eliminate disasters.
There is no definite statement whether the owl is a kind of bird or a legendary whale on the sea.
Also called Good Hope. Shaped like a four-legged snake with its tail cut off, this dragon son is good at looking around in dangerous places and also likes to eat fire. According to legend, when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty built the Bailiang Palace, someone wrote that there was a fish in the sea with a tail like an owl, that is, a falcon. It could spray water to make rain and could be used to ward off fires, so his image was sculpted on the corners, ridges, and corners of the palace. above the roof.
In addition, it is said that Chaofeng, Prisoner of Niu, and Fuqi are not the Nine Sons, but are replaced by:
Taotie (Pinyin: Tāotiè), a vicious glutton in legend The beast is often decorated with its head shape on ancient bronzes, which is called the Taotie pattern. Legend has it that he is one of the nine sons of the dragon.
Looks like a wolf and eats well. Zhongding Yi vessels are often carved with the shape of their heads as decoration. Since the Taotie is a legendary evil beast that is particularly gluttonous, people call people who are greedy for food and even property as gluttons. Taotie also appears on Shang and Zhou bronzes as a patterned animal face decoration, called the Taotie pattern.
The earthworm should be one of the nine sons of the dragon in the legend. He likes water and is carved into the shape of an animal dripping water on bridge pillars and buildings.
Jiao Tu, one of the nine sons of the dragon, is shaped like a snail and a clam. It is reclusive and hates others entering its lair, so it has a ring around its head and title.
It looks like a snail and a clam and is easy to keep its mouth shut, so people often carve its image on the pavement of the door or depict it on the door panel. When snails and clams are invaded by foreign objects, they always close their shells tightly. People use it on doors, probably because it means it can be closed tightly for safety.
It is also said that Chi, Qilin, Jian, and Pixiu are also the Nine Sons
Chi, or Chishou, is one of the legendary Nine Sons of the Dragon, with a big mouth and a belly that can accommodate a lot Water is often used to decorate drainage outlets in buildings, called Chishou Sanshui.
Qilin, a mythical beast in ancient Chinese myths and legends. The male is named Qi and the female is named Lin. The shape of the unicorn is like a deer, and its tail is like an ox's tail. The unicorn has a single horn, while the unicorn has no horns. In ancient China, Qilin was used to symbolize auspiciousness.
It is now generally believed that the unicorn is the giraffe.
Jiang, commonly known as Wangtianhou and roaring towards the sky, is said to be the son of the Dragon King and has the habit of keeping watch. The dragon on the top of the Huabiao pillar roars towards the sky, which is regarded as conveying the will of heaven and conveying the sentiments of the people. There are also literature records that Guanyin Bodhisattva's mount is "Roaring towards the sky".
Pixiu is also known as Tianlu and warding off evil spirits. It is a mythical beast in ancient Chinese myths and legends. It has a dragon head, a horse body, and lin feet. It is shaped like a lion, has gray hair, and can fly. Pixiu is a ferocious and powerful creature. It is responsible for patrolling the heavens and preventing demons, ghosts, plagues and diseases from disturbing the heavens.
In ancient times, people often used Pixiu as a title for the army. It has a mouth but no anus. It can swallow everything without diarrhea. It can attract wealth and accumulate treasures. It can only go in but not out. It has special magical powers. Nowadays, many Chinese people wear jade products made of Pixiu. It is for this reason
Chinese folk have always circulated the saying that nine sons of a dragon will not become a dragon. That is to say, the nine descendants of the dragon are not dragons, but nine. different animals. There are many versions of this legend, and they are not uniform, but they are basically the differences in the rankings of the nine animals, and the nine animals themselves are basically the same.
Li Dongyang’s "Huailu Hall Collection" records: "The nine sons of a dragon will not become a dragon, each has his own interests. The prisoner Niu was a music lover throughout his life, and the beast carved on the head of the Huqin today is his portrait; Yazu (sound) : Ya), he was fond of killing all his life, and the dragon swallowing his mouth on the knife handle is his portrait; mocking phoenix, he was fond of danger in his life, and the beast on the corner of the palace is his portrait; Pulao, he was fond of singing, and the animal button on the bell is his portrait ; Suanni (sound: Suini) was fond of sitting in his life, and the lion on the Buddha's seat is his portrait; Baxia, he was fond of carrying heavy loads in his life, and the beast on the monument is his portrait; Bi'an (voice: Bi'an) was fond of litigating in his life, and today The lion's head on the prison gate is his portrait; Bixi (sound: Bi Xi) was a good writer throughout his life, and the dragons on both sides of the monument are his portrait; the owl kiss is his love for swallowing, and the animal head on the spine of the temple is his portrait.
The description in "Chinese Auspicious Illustrations" is as follows: The eldest of the nine sons is called Qi Niu, who likes music and squats on the head of the piano; the second son is called Ya Zi (ya zi), who is fond of killing and fighting, and is carved on The ring and hilt of the sword are swallowed; the third son is called Chaofeng, who was very dangerous in his life, and the beast in the corner of the palace is his portrait; the fourth son is Pulao, who roars loudly when he is hit, and serves as the animal button on the beam of Hong Zhong to help his sound spread far and wide. ; The fifth son Suan Ni (suan ni), shaped like a lion, likes smoking and sitting, leaning on the foot of the incense burner, swallowing smoke and blowing out the mist; the six sons Baxia, also known as XX (bi xi), like a turtle with teeth, like There are turtles under the stele to carry weights; Bi gan (bi gan), the seventh son, looks like a tiger and is fond of litigation, and there are images of them on both sides of the prison gate or the main hall of the official office; the bi gan (bi gan), the body of the eighth son, is like a dragon and is elegant and courteous, coiled around the top of the stele; Jiu Chi (chi) kiss, also known as owl tail or chi (chi) kiss, has a moist mouth and thick throat and is easy to swallow, so it has become a spine-swallowing beast at both ends of the palace ridge, using it to extinguish fires and eliminate disasters.
The explanation is more detailed in "Daqian Traditional Pattern Network":
*One of the Nine Sons of the Dragon, Prison Niu
The Prison Ox is the Nine Sons of the Dragon. The eldest son of the family loved music all his life. He often squatted on the head of the piano to enjoy the music played by plucked strings, so his portrait was engraved on the head of the piano. This decoration is still in use today, and some valuable Huqin heads are still engraved with the image of a dragon head, which is called "Dragon Head Huqin".
*The second of the nine sons of the dragon·Yaizu
Yaizu is the second child. He was aggressive and fond of killing all his life. The ring, handle and dragon swallowing mouth are his legacy. Decorating the image of the dragon, these weapons add even more frightening power. It is not only decorated on the weapons of famous generals on the battlefield, but also widely used on the weapons of ceremonial guards and palace guards, making it even more majestic and solemn.
. These animals lined up in a single line, standing upright at the front of the vertical ridge. The leader of the animals was an "immortal" riding a bird, followed in order by: dragon, phoenix, lion, Pegasus, seahorse, Suan Ni, fish, Xie Zhi, Bullfighting, and entertainment. There is a strict hierarchical system for their placement. Only the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City in Beijing can have all ten of them, and the number of secondary halls must be reduced accordingly. Chaofeng not only symbolizes good luck, beauty and majesty, but also has the meaning of deterring demons and eliminating disasters. The placement of the mocking wind makes the shape of the entire palace both strict and varied, achieving the harmony of solemnity and vividness, the unity of grandeur and exquisiteness. It adds a mysterious atmosphere to the towering palace.
Its portrait. It turns out that Pulao lives by the sea. Although he is a dragon, he has always been afraid of the huge whale. When the whale attacks, it roars loudly in fear. People reported that because of its "good nature to ring", "every bell wants to make a loud sound", that is, the Pulao was cast as a bell button, and the wooden pestle for ringing the bell was made into the shape of a whale. When ringing the bell, let the whale hit Pulao again and again, making it "ring into the sky" and "sound alone and far away".
The foot decorations on the Buddha's throne and the incense burner are his portraits. According to legend, this kind of suan Ni decorated on the Buddha's seat was introduced to China by Indians in the Han Dynasty. By the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it had been widely used in Buddhist art in my country. This shape was created by Chinese folk artists and gave it a unique The traditional Chinese style, which later became Longzi's Lao Wu, was mostly placed in front of statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas sitting cross-legged or cross-legged. The dragon-shaped decoration in the middle of the collar of the stone lion or bronze lion during the Ming and Qing Dynasties is also the image of Suanni, which makes the traditional Chinese door lion guarding the door more open and majestic.
*The Sixth of the Nine Sons of Longsheng·Baxia
Baxia, also known as Bixi, looks like a turtle and is the sixth child. Turtle Fu is his portrait. Legend has it that in ancient times Baxia often carried three mountains and five mountains on his back, making waves in rivers, lakes and seas. Later, Dayu conquered it when he was controlling floods. It obeyed Yu's command, pushed mountains and dug ditches, and dredged rivers, making contributions to flood control. After the flood was controlled, Dayu was worried that Ba Xia would go wild again, so he moved a very large stone tablet standing high in the sky, on which was engraved the traces of Ba Xia's flood control, and asked Ba Xia to carry it on his back. The heavy stone tablet made it unable to walk casually.
Basia and tortoises are very similar, but there are differences upon closer inspection. Basia has a row of teeth, while tortoises do not. There are also differences in the number and shape of the carapace between Basia and tortoises. Baxia, also known as stone turtle, is a symbol of longevity and good luck. It always held its head forward with difficulty, holding on to its four feet desperately, struggling to move forward, but it could never move away. The bases of some prominent stone monuments in our country are carried by Ba Xia, which can be seen in the Forest of Steles and some historical sites.
He was prone to litigation, but he was also powerful. The tiger head-shaped decoration on the upper part of the prison door is his portrait. Legend has it that Bifan is not only eager for justice and speaks out for justice, but also can distinguish right from wrong and make impartial decisions. In addition, its majestic image is not only decorated on the prison door, but also crouching on both sides of the lobby of the government office. Whenever the yamen chief sits in the court, his image appears on the top of the chief executive's title plate and the silence card. He looks around and looks around to maintain the solemnity and uprightness of the court.
Our country's stele tablets have a long history and are rich in content. Some of them are simple in shape, with smooth and bright bodies, and the light is discernible; some are exquisitely carved, with graceful characters and vivid writing; some are stone carvings of poems and articles by famous people, and are very popular. The popularity of moxibustion has been praised throughout the ages. Fuyi liked this kind of inscriptions that shone with artistic brilliance very much. He was willing to turn them into patterned dragons to set off these handed down literary treasures, making the base of the stele more elegant and beautiful. They are coiled around each other and seem to be slowly squirming. Together with the base of the base, it looks even more spectacular.
He was fond of swallowing all his life, and the curly-tailed dragon heads at both ends of the palace ridge are his portraits. "Taiping Yulan" has the following account: "In the Tang Hui Dynasty, after the disaster in the Liang Palace of the Han Dynasty, Yue Wu said, 'There are fish and turtles in the sea, with tails like owls, and strong waves will cause rainfall.' So he made his image on the tail to show the auspiciousness of the fire." "The "Witch" mentioned in the article refers to alchemists, and "Yuqiu" is the predecessor of Chiki. Chiki is water-based, so use it as a soothing agent to ward off fire.
Another:
Version 1:
Those who like heavy things: Bixi (sounds like Bixi), they like to carry heavy things on their backs, so they carry a stone tablet on their backs. .
Good Hope: 鸱ki (pronounced Chiki), likes to look around and is often decorated on the eaves. See the decorative animals on the ridges of ancient Chinese buildings
鸸 Tie (yin Taotie) is the most gluttonous, can eat and drink, and is often decorated on the lid of the tripod. Because it can drink water, some are also decorated on bridge railings to prevent floods from flooding the bridge.
Those who are good at killing by nature: Yaju (Yin Ya Zi), who are fond of killing and fighting, often decorated on the rings and hilts of weapons.
狴狴 (Yin Ya Zi), the most popular People who hate crime are often decorated on the lintel of prisons.
Those who like fireworks: Suanni (sound-sour mud) is good at fireworks, so they are often decorated on the button of the lid of the incense burner.
Water lovers: Papi (sounded as Baxia) is located beside the bridge and likes water the most. It is often decorated on the top of the stone bridge railings. The four corners of the rear door bridge are covered with snakes, and the shape is very beautiful.
Those with a gentle temperament: Jiaotu, most disgusted with others entering its lair, often decorated at the door.
Good ringer: Pulao, who likes music and roaring the most, and is often decorated on the button of the big bell.
Version 2:
1. Bixi (bi, xi): shaped like a turtle, good at carrying loads. You can see him carrying a stone tablet in palaces, ancestral halls, and mausoleums all over the country. Among the various sayings of Long Zi, Bixi is generally ranked first among the Nine Sons.
2. Chiki (chi, wen): Likes to look around and is often placed on the ridge of a building, opening its mouth to swallow a ridge, and having a sword to fix it.
3. Pulao (pu, lao): has a rock and roll temperament, loves music, and loves to shout. It is used to decorate the tops of ancient musical instrument bells, and can also be seen on the buttons of temple bells.
4. Bian (bi,an): in charge of prison. It is often decorated on the lintel of the death row prison. Because its shape resembles a tiger, there is also a folk saying of Tiger Head Prison.
5. Suan Ni (suan, ni): has Buddha nature and likes incense, which can be seen on the lid of the incense burner. Moreover, Suanni is also the mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva, which can be seen in temples dedicated to Manjushri Bodhisattva.
There is also a temple dedicated to Suanni on Mount Wutai, the monastery of Manjushri Bodhisattva. Because Suanni is the fifth son of the dragon, the temple is named Wuye Temple, which has great influence in the local area. Yichong once visited this temple, and the incense was extremely strong.
6. Taotie (hao, tie): gourmet, gluttonous. Taotie patterns can often be seen on bronzes unearthed during the Xia and Shang dynasties, representing ferocious monsters with heads and no bodies.
7. Yaizhen (ya, zi): cruel and irritable temperament, likes to fight. This is what the folk idiom "Yaiju must retaliate" says. Their statues can usually be seen on the handles of some weapons or on the rings at the tail ends to enhance their murderous intent.
8. Shutu (shu, tu): looks like a snail and a clam, has a docile temperament and is a bit autistic. So he was placed on the door with the knocker in his mouth to prevent Xiaoxiao from visiting.
9. Pixiu (pi, xiu): It is called the ninth son of the dragon in the South and Southeast Asia. It has a big mouth without an anus and can only go in but not out. It is very popular among gamblers. A jade ferret was placed in the Macau casino, and it was said that it would eat all kinds of food, and it would only make money but no loss.
Version 3:
The dragon gave birth to nine sons. In ancient times, there was a legend among the people that "the dragon gave birth to nine sons, but they did not become dragons, and each had his own interests." But there are different opinions on what Jiuzi is. "China's Auspicious Illustrations" says:
The eldest of the nine sons is called Qiu Niu. He loves music and squats on the head of the piano; Fighting, engraved on the sword ring and hilt to swallow the mouth;
The third child was called Chaofeng, and he was very dangerous in his life. The beast in the corner of the palace is his portrait;
The fourth son Pulao, When it is hit, it roars loudly and serves as the animal knob to carry the bell to help its sound spread far and wide;
The five sons Suan Ni (suan ni), shaped like a lion, likes smoking and sitting, leaning on the foot of the incense burner , followed by swallowing smoke and blowing out mist;
Liu Zibaxia, also known as XX (bi xi), looks like a turtle with teeth and likes to bear heavy loads, so it is the turtle under the stele;
Seven Zibi Bi gan (bi gan), looks like a tiger and is fond of litigating, and there are its images on both sides of the prison gate or the official hall;
The eight sons bear the burden, the body is like a dragon, elegant and gentle, coiled on the top of the stone tablet;
Lao Jiu Chi (chi) kiss, also known as owl tail or chi (chi) kiss, has a moist mouth and thick throat and is easy to swallow, so it became a spine-swallowing beast at both ends of the palace ridge, using it to extinguish fires and eliminate disasters.
The book "The Origin of the Gods" says that "Sheng'an Waiji" records that the nine sons of the dragon are: quality, shaped like a turtle and good at carrying heavy loads, that is, the turtle under the stele; Chiki, shaped like a beast, good in nature, Standing on the ridge of the roof; Taotie, good food, standing on the lid of the tripod; Earthworm, good at standing, standing on the pillars of the bridge; Jiaotu, like a snail and clam, good at closing, standing at the head of the door; Golden Ni, shaped like a lion, good at fireworks, standing on the incense burner ; plus the three of Pulao, Bian, and Yasu, they are the nine sons of the dragon.
A brief review of the Nine Sons of the Dragon
Chinese people claim that they are the descendants of the dragon and take the dragon as their ancestor. The history of dragons has a long history in China, spanning north and south. In Sanxing Tala, Inner Mongolia in the north, a jade-carved pig dragon was discovered in 1971. According to expert research, it was about 6,000-7,000 years ago; at the Banpo Yangshao Cultural Site in Xi'an, a pottery pot with dragon patterns was unearthed; thousands of miles away, The artifacts unearthed from the Liangzhu Culture in Wuxian County, Jiangsu Province are engraved with a connecting pattern that resembles a snake but is not a snake, which is the symbol of the dragon totem worship of the ancient Yue people. This shows that totem worship of dragons existed at least in the middle Neolithic Age. The formation of the dragon began around the Neolithic Age. After the development of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, it was basically formed in the Qin and Han Dynasties. It separated from the specific animal image in nature and became a special animal that combines the spirituality and expertise of various animals. By the Tang Dynasty, dragons had become the emperor's patent. The dragon pattern could only be used on the emperor's clothes and utensils, and the dragon became a symbol of imperial power. After the Song Dynasty, there were more legends about the history and family of dragons. In the process of forming its image, the dragon has embraced a variety of weird beast images. Later, as the image of the dragon developed, these strange beast statues incorporated certain characteristics of the dragon, forming the different sayings that the dragon gave birth to nine sons. But there is no precise record of what the nine sons of the dragon are and who ranks first and who ranks second. There are also various opinions among the people, but they all agree. It is said that Zhu Youtang, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, once asked Li Dongyang, the well-known scholar of the Ministry of Rites, on a whim: "I heard that the dragon gave birth to nine sons. What are the names of each of the nine sons?" Made a list. According to Li Dongyang's list, the nine sons of the dragon are: Pa Pi, Chaofeng, Jiazui, Bixi, Shutu, Chiki, Pulao, Suanni and Qiuniu.
However, there are far more than just these dragon sons in folklore. Biuan, Pixiu, Taotie, etc. are all said to be the sons of the dragon. As long as you know the formation process of the Nine Sons of the Dragon, it is not difficult to understand why there are so many theories about the Nine Sons of the Dragon. The so-called dragon gave birth to nine sons does not mean that the dragon happened to have nine sons. In ancient Chinese traditional culture, nine is often used to express many things and has the supreme status. Nine is an imaginary number and a noble number, so it is used to describe dragons. If we have to choose nine sons, we should choose the nine who have the greatest influence among the people. Li Dongyang was also in a hurry to make a deal, and the list he proposed was not representative. Ichong consulted some information, combined with the folk customs he saw during his travels to various places, and re-listed the list of the nine sons of dragons based on folk influence, frequency of occurrence and other factors. Bixi: shaped like a turtle, good at carrying heavy loads. You can see him carrying a stone tablet in palaces, ancestral halls, and mausoleums all over the country. Among the various sayings of Long Zi, Bixi is generally ranked first among the Nine Sons. Chiki: Likes to look around. It is often placed on the ridge of a building, with its mouth open to swallow the ridge, and has a sword to fix it. Pulao: He has a rock and roll temperament, loves music, and loves to yell. It is used to decorate the tops of ancient musical instrument bells, and can also be seen on the buttons of temple bells. 狴犴: in charge of prison. It is often decorated on the lintel of the death row prison. Because its shape resembles a tiger, there is also a folk saying of Tiger Head Prison. Suanni: has Buddha nature and likes incense, which can be seen on the lid of the incense burner. Moreover, Suanni is also the mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva, which can be seen in temples dedicated to Manjushri Bodhisattva. There is also a temple dedicated to Suanni on Mount Wutai, the dojo of Manjushri Bodhisattva. Because Suanni is the fifth son of the dragon, the temple is named Wuye Temple, which has great influence in the local area. Yichong once visited this temple, and the incense was extremely strong. Taotie: Gourmet, gluttonous. Taotie patterns can often be seen on bronzes unearthed during the Xia and Shang dynasties, representing ferocious monsters with heads and no bodies. Yaizhen: Brutal and irritable temperament, likes to fight. This is what the folk idiom "Yaiju must retaliate" says. Their statues can usually be seen on the handles of some weapons or on the rings at the tail ends to enhance their murderous intent. Shutu: Shaped like a snail and clam, gentle in temperament, a bit autistic. So he was placed on the door with the knocker in his mouth to prevent Xiaoxiao from visiting. Pixiu: Known as the ninth son of the dragon in the South and Southeast Asia, it has a big mouth without an anus and can only go in but not out. It is very popular among gamblers. A jade ferret was placed in the Macau casino, and it was said that it would eat all kinds of food, and it would only make money but no loss.