The drawings made by Kwoh P‘oh appear to have been lost in the sixth century A.D.
Fig. 42.—The K’i with Bells.
(From the ’Rh Ya.)
Notices of the dragon only appear incidentally in the ’Rh Ya as forming part of the decoration of banners, &c.; but descriptions and figures of the Chinese unicorn are given, and of other remarkable animals, of which I shall eventually take notice.
These figures of dragons in the drawings of banners (Figs. 41-44) are especially interesting; as there is fair reason to suppose that they at least have been reproduced time after time from pre-existing ones with tolerable accuracy; and that they give us a good notion of the general character of the animal they purport to represent.
| Fig. 43.—The Chao Banner. (From the ’Rh Ya.) | Fig. 44.—The K’i or Kiao Lung Standard. (From the San Li Tu.) |
I have appended a few fac-similes of wood engravings from the ’Rh Ya on general subjects, in anticipation of others dealing with specialities, which will be found in their appropriate positions; they will serve to correct the notion that the Chinese are entirely devoid of artistic power and imagination (Figs. 46-49).
The “Shan Hai King” or Classic of Mountain and Seas.