Why does Superman fly on his stomach, while the immortals in China fly vertically?

The flying tradition of Chinese immortals originated from ancient witch culture, and the flying "posture" was also handed down.

In the imagination of China ancestors, witches/gods/people needed mounts to gain the ability to fly. This establishes the basic posture of flying-sitting or standing, not lying down (that becomes someone else's mount).

In ancient times: controlling dragons to ascend to heaven

In the legends of the Five Emperors' era, there is a shadow of the witch-sitting culture.

The Yellow Emperor collected bronzes in Shoushan and cast ding at the foot of Jingshan Mountain. When the tripod was finished, a dragon lowered its beard to welcome the Yellow Emperor. When the Yellow Emperor got on, there were more than 70 ministers' harem coming down from above, with dragons on it. I'm not allowed to go, but I know I have a dragon beard in my hand. The dragon beard pulled and fell into the bow of the Yellow Emperor. People look up to the Yellow Emperor, but hold his bow and beard, so later generations call it Dinghu, and his bow is called Wu Hao. (Sima Qian's Historical Records of Zen)

This legend is widely circulated. The mural of the tomb of "Dressed Lapras ascended to heaven" found in the stone tomb of the Han Dynasty is considered to describe the scene of the Yellow Emperor ascending to heaven.

It's not that the clouds are full of flowers. The Yellow Emperor did not overcome gravity, but sat on a dragon and went to heaven. Ignoring gravity and soaring in the daytime is a Taoist saying of later generations.

Not only the Central Plains civilization has its own witchcraft culture, but also Jingchu civilization and Bashu civilization have developed their own witchcraft culture.

The common "Tiger Birds" in the tombs of the Warring States Period are considered to be the product of the fusion of Chu witches and Ba witches.

Qin and Han Dynasties: Various Mounts

Folk myths continue to develop, and then various mounts are derived.

Like a phoenix-

Nong Yu was a woman in Qin Mugong in the Spring and Autumn Period. She married Shaw History, who was good at playing the flute. On this day, the small flute is that Mu Gong lives in it as the Phoenix Tower. The latter couple flew to heaven by phoenix. (Liu Xiang's Biography of Immortals)

Like cranes—

Xun Xuan rested on the Yellow Crane Tower in Jiangxia, looking at what floated down from Han Yun in the southwest, which was also a guest driving a crane. The host and guest took a joyous farewell, flew over the crane and disappeared. (Ren Fang's "Xu Yi Lu")

"The Yellow Crane carries saints to heaven, and the Yellow Crane Tower is empty" is also about driving away Crane Immortal.

Post-(electric) God (vision) talks about (drama) era: pretend to fly by yourself.

No matter what kind of mounts are used, the immortals in China are dignified and fly smartly in the mist.

Further evolution, even the mount is not needed, and directly rides on the cloud. o(≥v≤)o~~

Superman has entered modern civilization when he appeared. He flies like an airplane and a missile. In short, it is a common-sense way of flying.