The formation of dragons began in the Neolithic Age. After the development of Shang and Zhou Dynasties, the Qin and Han Dynasties basically took shape. It breaks away from the specific animal image in nature and becomes a special animal that combines the spirituality and expertise of various animals. In the Tang Dynasty, the dragon became the patent of the Emperor of Heaven. The dragon pattern can only be used for the emperor's clothes and utensils, and the dragon becomes a symbol of imperial power. After the Song Dynasty, there were more legends about the history and family of dragons.
During the formation of the dragon image, many strange animal images appeared. Later, these monsters combined some characteristics of the dragon with the development of the image of the dragon, forming a different view that the dragon gave birth to nine sons. But what are the nine sons of the dragon, who ranks first and who ranks second, and there is no exact record. There are also various opinions among the people.
It is said that on one occasion, Zhu Youtang, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, had a whim and asked Li Dongyang, a learned minister of rites, "I heard that Dragon gave birth to nine sons. What's the name of Jiuzi? " Li Dongyang couldn't answer. After leaving North Korea, he pieced together a list. According to Li Dongyang's list, Long's nine sons are: Pufu, Chifeng, Yezi, Shutu, Kiss, Bulong, Sister-in-law and Prison Bull. But in folklore, there are far more than these dragons, and they are all said to be sons of dragons. As long as we understand the formation process of Longsheng Jiuzi, it is not difficult to understand why there are so many statements about Longsheng Jiuzi.
The so-called dragon gave birth to nine children, not that the dragon happened to give birth to nine children. In the traditional culture of ancient China, nine is often used to express many things, which has a supreme position. Nine is an imaginary number and an expensive number, so it is used to describe the dragon son. If you have to choose nine sons, you should also choose the nine that have the greatest influence on the people. Li Dongyang is also anxious to make a job, and the list is not representative.
After consulting some materials, combined with the folk customs seen in various places, according to the factors such as folk influence and frequency of occurrence, the list of Longsheng Jiuzi was re-listed.
1, the heavy one: You Yi (Yin Bixi) likes heavy things most, so he carries a stone tablet on his back.
2, the Cape of Good Hope: Kiss (sound and food kiss), like to look around most, often decorated on the roof.
3. Soup is the most gluttonous, can be eaten and drunk, and is often decorated on the tripod cover. Because it can drink water, it can be seen almost in the middle of the outside of the ancient bridge to prevent the bridge from being flooded.
4. Born black boy: Tooth (with voice and teeth) likes killing and fighting, and is often decorated on the knife ring and handle of weapons.
Armadillo is a person who hates crime most, so it is often decorated on the prison lintel. Another way of saying it: armadillo: also called Charter. Looks like a tiger, powerful, and good at prison litigation, people carved it on the prison door. Tigers are powerful beasts, so the use of armadillos is to enhance the majesty of prisons and make criminals daunting.
6, good fireworks: sister-in-law (sound sour mud), good fireworks, often decorated on the cover button of the incense burner cover. Another version: sister-in-law: also known as Jin and Ling. Sister-in-law is another name for a lion, so she looks like a lion. She is good at setting off fireworks and sitting well. Its style can be seen in Buddhist temples and incense burners. Lions, which even tigers and leopards dare to eat, are magnificent animals and were introduced to China with Buddhism. Because Buddha Sakyamuni is known as the "fearless lion", people naturally arrange him in the Buddha's seat, or carve him on an incense burner to enjoy the incense at leisure.
7. Good drinker: Papa (Yinbaxia) is located at the favorite waterside of the bridge and is often decorated at the top of the stone bridge railing. Lying on the four corners of the back door bridge, the shape is very beautiful.
8. Gentle people: Pepper maps that hate others entering their nests are often decorated at the gate. Pepper map: It looks like a snail and is very quiet, so people often carve its image on the top of the gate or on the door panel. Snails always meet and shell when they are attacked by foreign objects. People use it on doors, probably because it can be closed for safety.
9. Good singer: Bran, who likes music and roar best, is often decorated on the knob of the big clock. Bran: It's shaped like a dragon, but Buron is small and easy to sing. It is said that I don't live by the sea all the time, and what I fear most at ordinary times is whales. Whenever there is a whale attack, he will scream when he is not old. Therefore, people put their own image on the clock and carve the long wood that hit the clock into the shape of a whale to make it loud and bright.