In the sea there is a big fish called whale, and on the shore there is a creature whose name is ''pulao''. The ''pulao'' has always been afraid of the whale. Whenever the whale strikes (attacks ) him, ''pulao'' cries (roars ) loudly. Thus those who want to make a load () would put a ''pulao'' on top. Therefore the bell-striker would be made (the shape of ) a whale.〔Quote from Li Shan's text, given in Yang Jingrong and Liu Zhixiong (2008):
"海中有大鱼曰鲸，海边又有兽名蒲牢，蒲牢素畏鲸，鲸鱼击蒲牢，辄大鸣。凡终欲令声大者，故作蒲牢于上，所以撞之者为鲸鱼." In the article (The Bell of the Bailin (Cypress Grove) Temple ), the following English translation is offered: "There is the big fish called the whale in the sea and the animal called ''pulao'' at the seaside. The pulao is always afraid of the whale. Whenever the whale attacks the ''pulao'', the latter roars. Whoever wishes to make a bell sonorous puts a ''pulao'' design on it. The striker is the whale."〕

The ''tulaos form is like that of a dragon, but small. By its nature it likes to roar, and has supernatural strength. () used to hang bells (the ''tulao'' ).
〔Quote from Lu Rong's ''Shuyuan Zaji'', given in Yang Jingrong and Liu Zhixiong (2008):
"徒劳其形似龙而小，性好吼叫，有神力，故悬于钟上。" The full text of ''Shuyuan Zaji'' can be found at a number of sites online, e.g. here: ( 菽園雜記 )〕