Weird Tales

TaoTie/饕餮: More Than a Chinese Mythical Beast

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Introduction to Taotie

Taotie is a mysterious creature in Chinese mythology. Its name translates to “gluttonous ogre” and is often associated with insatiable greed. Taotie’s depiction is primarily found on ritual bronze vessels from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, where it is characterized by a symmetrical, zoomorphic face, often without a lower jaw.

TaoTie/饕餮: Mythical Beast in Ancient China

2. Historical Context

Origin and Evolution: The origins of Taotie remain unclear, but it is thought to have evolved from earlier totemic symbols. 

GuDiao/蠱雕: A Man-Eating Eagle

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GuDiao/蠱雕: A Man-Eating Eagle

In the water, there is a beast called 蠱雕 (Gu diao). Its shape is like a eagle, and it has a horn on its head. Its sound is like a crying baby, and it eats people.

又東五百裏，曰鹿吳之山，上無草木，多金石。澤更之水出焉，而南流註於滂水。水有獸焉，名曰蠱雕，其狀如雕而有角，其音如嬰兒之音，是食人。

《山海經 南次二經》

ZhuRu/朱獳

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Zhuru(朱獳) is a mythical beast that lives in the mountains. It looks like a fox with fins like a fish. Its cry sounds like it is calling its own name. Wherever it appears in a country, that country will experience something that causes fear.

Zhuru(朱獳) is a mythical beast that lives in the mountains. It looks like a fox with fins like a fish. Its cry sounds like it is calling its own name. Wherever it appears in a country, that country will experience something that causes fear.

《山海經 東次二經》

又南三百裏，曰耿山，無草木，多水碧，多大蛇。有獸焉，其狀如狐而魚翼，其名曰朱獳，其鳴自，見則其國有恐。

ShanHui/山[犭軍​]

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ShanHui/山[犭軍​]: shaped like a dog with a human face，skilled in throwing objects and laughs when it sees people. It moves as fast as the wind. Whenever it appears, the world will be filled with strong winds.

Shanhui(山[犭軍​]) lives in the mountains. It’s shaped like a dog with a human face，skilled in throwing objects and laughs when it sees people. It moves as fast as the wind. Whenever it appears, the world will be filled with strong winds.

《山海經 北山一經》

又北二百裏，曰獄法之山。瀤澤之水出焉，而東北流註於泰澤。其中多䲃魚，其狀如鯉而雞足，食之已疣。有獸焉，其狀如犬而人面，善投，見人則笑，其名山[犭軍​(左右​)]，其行如風，見則天下大風。

Kirin/Qilin/麒麟: Auspicious beast in Chinese mythology

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The Kirin in Chinese mythology is not just a mythical beast but a symbol of all that is good and virtuous. Its enduring presence in Chinese culture highlights the deep-rooted appreciation and reverence for mystical creatures that embody positive qualities and the harmony between humanity and the natural world.

ChenHuang/乘黃

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Chenhuang(乘黃/飛黃)is a mythical creature in ancient Chinese mythology. According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas(山海經), it looks like a fox, has a horn on its back, and is yellow in color. The person who rides it will live for 2,000 years longer.

白民之国有乘黄，长得像狐，背上有角，毛色是黄的，乘者增寿二千岁