CHAPTER X.

SERPENTS, DRAGONS, FABULOUS ANIMALS, AND MONSTERS.

The Serpent and Universal Legend—Healing Qualities of Serpents’

Flesh—Human Beings assuming Serpent form—British Parallels—The

Fuhkien Snake Story—Serpent Worship and its Temples—Serpents as

River Gods—Precious Stones in the Heads of Serpents—The Snake and

the Butcher’s Block—Dragons and their Serpent Origin—Serpent

Worship in India and China—Five-Clawed Dragons—British

Dragons—Chinese Description of the Dragon—River Dragons—Domestic

Dragon Worship—Ah Tseung and the Bob-tailed Dragon—Chinese Version

of St. George and the Dragon—The Phœnix and Unicorn—The

Blood-yielding Baboon—Sea Serpents and Strange Fish—Mermaids and

their Original Home—Popular Beliefs respecting the Straits of

Hainan, pp. 102–115.

The folk-lore of China · 第 10 / 13 章