古语讲龙生九子，请问是那九子？分别叫什么名字？长什么样？有什么作用？
龙 生 九 子
一曰霸下，又名赑屃(bi xi)，形似龟，好负重，宫殿、祠堂、陵墓的石碑多竖在龟背上，而这些被重物压得不亦乐乎的家伙就是龙子中的老大。
二曰螭(chi)吻，形似把尾巴去掉的四脚蛇，好东张西望，宫殿阶柱及殿顶，以及在民间房屋上雕的兽头是其遗像。
三曰蒱牢，有点像龙，但是非常喜欢大吼大叫，虽然生活在海边，但是却没有办法像他的父祖辈一样呼风唤雨，相反的还十分害怕鲸鱼，所以古代人掌握了他这个弱点，在寺庙、祠堂上的铁铸钟钮就是照着他的形象来做的，而撞钟的木柱都是雕成鲸鱼状，这样据说撞击起来会特别大声，这个家伙可真是把他老爸的脸都丢光了！
四曰狴犴(bi gan)，形似虎，有怪力，又好讼，古代监狱门上刻的虎头是他的样子。
五曰饕餍(tao yan)，形似狼，好饮食，鼎盖上雕的兽头就是这位龙子。
六曰狻猊(suan ni)，形似师，好烟火，又好坐，庙中菩萨坐骑和香炉上雕的兽头是其遗像。
七曰囚牛，形似有鳞角的黄色小龙，平生好音乐，胡琴上刻的兽头就是这一位龙子。
八曰睚疵(ya zi)，形似豺，性好杀，通常在一些武器的柄上，或是尾端的环上上面可以见其雕像，以加强杀气。
九曰椒图，形似螺蚌，性好闭，所以大多将其雕像雕在门上，取其好闭之意，当然是希望除了主人之外，不要有人能进入这个家中，免得宵小光顾。
The dragon gives birth to nine sons:
First said (bi xi) that has another name called under hegemony, similar to tortoise is easy to shoulder a heavy task, palace, ancestral hall, mausoleum have more vertical on curvature of the spinal column stone tablets more, and these pigeonhole fellow extremely eldest of (Long Zi) heavy object.
Two said (chi) kiss, similar to lizard that tail removes, easy to gaze around, the steps post of the palace and top of the palace, and the beast head carved on the folk house is its portrait of the deceased.
Three said that (蒱牢), somewhat like the dragon, but like out roaring and crying very much, though live on the seashore, have no idea to exercise magic powers like his father ancestors, the iron on the temple, ancestral hall casts the clock button to do according to his image, and the post which knock into the clock is all to carve whale’s form, it is said like this that it will be very loud to strike, this fellow has really thrown all his daddy’s faces the light!
Four said (bi gan), similar to tigers, there is strange strength, and easy to bring a case to court, the tiger head carved on the ancient prison door is his appearance.
Five said (tao yan), similar to wolf, fine diet, pot cover beast that carve hair the dragon son.
Six said (suan ni), is similar to a teacher, the good firework, easy again to sit, the beast head carved on Bodhisattva’s saddle horse and incense burner in the temple is its portrait of the deceased.
Seven said imprison oxen, is similar to the yellow little dragon with scale’s horn, the good music in all one’s life, the beast head carved on the Chinese fiddle is this dragon son.
Eight said (ya zi), is similar to jackals, the sex is easy to kill, usually on the handles of some weapons, or can see its statue in the above on the ring of the end, in order to strengthen the murderous look.
Nine said that (椒图), similar to spiral shell’s clam, the sex is easy to close, so mostly carve its statue on the door, choose its good purpose that closes, certainly hope besides host, do not want someone to enter in this family, so as to not make night patronize small.