The dragon, therefore, was believed to be the powerful, spiritual creature that controls the water world.  In order to communicate and maintain good relationships with the dragon, the Han Chinese not only anthropomorphized its social life in the water world, but also endowed it with a human sense of morality and justice.

Liu Yi and his bride live happily by the water.

This folktale illustrates these agricultural peoples’ worldview, partially imaginative and partially a reflection of human expectations.  There is, for example, little difference between the water world and the human realm.  There are both good and bad characters among the pantheon of spiritual animals or beings, like the dragons.  And the supreme deity of Heaven, the Jade Emperor, encourages and honors those who maintain and protect justice.

Furthermore, the story affirms that it is possible for humans to establish a peaceful coexistence with the netherworld, provided that relations with that world are in good order.  Human beings should offer their help to those in need and not expect any rewards or immediate return.  Humans should also always try to harmonize and compromise with the unpredictable supernatural powers.  The story thus reflects the ultimate goal of the agricultural people to harmonize natural forces and environmental events. The Confucian ideal of "harmonious relationship and peaceful coexistence” has been the central ideology in Chinese philosophy for thousands of years.  It can be applied to the five directions and in four seas, the old sage says.

Finally, the story demonstrates that human beings must sometimes learn from long and hard experiences, such as the nine years' flood in King Yao’s reign and seven years’ drought in King Tong’s time, how to overcome their difficulties.

Shien Min Jen is professor of anthropology at California State University in Fresno.