how the supply of so vast a number of dragons may be orchestrated plainly poses a problem of no small order ; indeed , for this purpose the chinese have established an entire ministry of draconic affairs ... ... it may be that the ancient chinese practice of keeping their coins strung upon cords is due to the former necessity of providing a means of handling money to dragons ; however , this is a relic of earlier times , and since at least the tang dynasty , the present system has been in place .