LUNG, luting (Chin., dragon). The chief of the four supernatural beasts of Chinese legen dary lore, and of the 360 species of scaly reptiles. As usually represented the lung has a scaly. serpentine body, with four feet armed with long claws, a bearded scowling head, straight horns, a line of bristling dorsal spines, and flames pro ceeding from its hips and shoulders—the usual mark of a supernatural animal. Originally it was represented with three claws, but the num ber has been increased, the Imperial dragon of the present dynasty having rive. This is the kind usually embroidered on the Emperor's robes, and represented on the porcelains, etc.. made for Imperial use. In Japan the Imperial dragon has only four claws. The Emperor's throne is called the `dragon-throne:' his face is spoken of as the `dragon-countenanee:' the Im perial flag has a dragon on an imperial yellow grown!. and is styled the `dragon-banner.' and when the Emperor dies lie is borne 'on high' by dragons. The dragon has the power of rendering itself visible or invisible. and may become at will as small as a silkworm, or assume such propor tions as to fill the universe. There are many
different kinds of lung: the 'celestial dragons.' which guard the mansions of the gods; 'spiritual dragons,' which rule the winds and produce rain; 'earth-dragons,' which direct the flow of rivers and springs. There is also a Buddhist `dragon of the law.' which is represented as firmly grasping the 'jewel of the law' in its out stretched paws; and on old bronzes, as well as on porcelains and other objects, an archaic dragon called Chili-lung is sometimes found. It is lizard-like, has no claws on its feet. but has a spiral bifid tail. In art the 'celestial dragon' is usually represented as moving rapidly through the clouds in pursuit of an effulgent jewel from which flames issue as it whirls through space, and which is supposed to be possessed of great magic efficacy. It was a yellow dragon which rose out of the river Loh in ancient times and. presented to the view of Fuh-hi (q.y,) the mystic symbols which form the pa-kira or 'Eight Dia grams.'