Proclamations emanating directly from the Emperor, and published on yellow paper, sometimes have the likenesses of two dragons facing each other, and grasping or playing with a pearl, of which the dragon is believed to be very fond.
Ch. II. p. 338.
“The sagacious geomancer is also careful to observe the mountain or hill on the right and left sides of the spot for a lucky grave. The left-hand side is called the black dragon; the right-hand side is called the white tiger. The lucky prospects, in a Chinese sense, on the hills situated to the left, should clearly surpass the prospects of the hills on the right. And the reason for this is manifest, for the black dragon is naturally weaker than the white tiger.
Ch. I. p. 275.
“The common belief is that the dragon and the tiger always fight when they meet; and that when the dragon moves, the clouds will ascend and rain will soon fall.
“Hence, in a time of drought, if the bones of a tiger should be let down into this well called the ‘dragon’s well,’ and kept there for three days at the most, there will, it is sagely affirmed, most likely be rain soon.
“The tiger’s bones are used to stir up or excite the dragon.”