一切經音義 41.67

41.67

Great softshells and alligators (黿鼉: the first character is pronounced yuán. The Shuowen jiezi says: "A great softshell turtle; the large ones are like cartwheels, the small ones like platters; possessing spiritual power, capable of controlling aquatic creatures and bewitching people to eat them." For the second character, fanqie táng-duō. The Shanhaijing says: "In the Yangzi River there are alligators." Guo Pu's commentary says: "Resembles a monitor lizard, possessing scales; the large ones are over a zhang in length, the small ones four to five feet; their tails are like knives; their eggs are as large as goose eggs; their hide is thick and tough, suitable for making drums; hence the Mao Shijing mentions 'alligator-skin drums.' The Shuowen jiezi says: 'An aquatic shelled creature; composed of the toad radical (黽) with tuó (𠹈) phonetic; 𠹈 is pronounced nuó.' Note: both characters yuán and tuó take the toad radical (黽); vulgar usage writing them below with the turtle radical (龜) is incorrect).