Note 22 — Chapter V · Chinese Dragon Lore
Reading edition
How a snake becomes a dragon is explained in the Shu i ki, which says: “A water-snake after 500 years changes into a kiao, a kiao after 1000 years changes into a lung;22 a lung after 500 years changes into a kioh-lung,23 and after 1000 years into a ying-lung.24” In Japan is found, in addition, the pʼan-lung (“coiled dragon”), which has not yet ascended to heaven.25 The “coiled dragon” is evidently the water-retaining monster.