Fans of monster movies should enjoy this film that stars relative unknowns Bai Wen and Wang Wei.
Like any deep body of water, the Yellow River is replete with legends of monsters. In 1938, a number of people claimed two monsters broke through the surface of the river to make loud wailing sounds. They were clearly Jiaolong or scaly dragons apparently.
Legends of such creatures date back nearly two thousand years, mentioned by Zu Taichi in his anthology Zhihuai written about 400AD - but even before that General Zhou Chu (known to be a bit of a braggart) claimed to have slain a jiaolong around 260AD after spotting the monster in Lake Tai from a bridge. The General claimed he leaped from the bridge into the lake and stabbed the dragon several times.
A couple of emperors have also gotten in on the act. Emperor Hu (50BC) claimed to have shot a dragon in a river whilst Emperor Zhao (400AD) caught a kiao (giant eel-like monster) whilst fishing - "The Emperor caught a kiao, three chang [ten meters] long, which resembled a big snake, but had no scaly armour. The Emperor said: 'This is not a lucky omen', and ordered the Ta kwan (cook) to make a condiment of it. Its flesh was purple, its bones were blue, and its taste was very savoury and pleasant."
Cynics might argue all these people were mistaken and what they really saw / caught was a crocodile, shark, carp, giant turtle or manta ray - but what do they know?
Like any deep body of water, the Yellow River is replete with legends of monsters. In 1938, a number of people claimed two monsters broke through the surface of the river to make loud wailing sounds. They were clearly Jiaolong or scaly dragons apparently.
Legends of such creatures date back nearly two thousand years, mentioned by Zu Taichi in his anthology Zhihuai written about 400AD - but even before that General Zhou Chu (known to be a bit of a braggart) claimed to have slain a jiaolong around 260AD after spotting the monster in Lake Tai from a bridge. The General claimed he leaped from the bridge into the lake and stabbed the dragon several times.
A couple of emperors have also gotten in on the act. Emperor Hu (50BC) claimed to have shot a dragon in a river whilst Emperor Zhao (400AD) caught a kiao (giant eel-like monster) whilst fishing - "The Emperor caught a kiao, three chang [ten meters] long, which resembled a big snake, but had no scaly armour. The Emperor said: 'This is not a lucky omen', and ordered the Ta kwan (cook) to make a condiment of it. Its flesh was purple, its bones were blue, and its taste was very savoury and pleasant."
Cynics might argue all these people were mistaken and what they really saw / caught was a crocodile, shark, carp, giant turtle or manta ray - but what do they know?
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