“The Shanhaijing,” also known as “The Classic of Mountains and Seas,” stands as a revered treasure within ancient Chinese literature, captivating generations with its enigmatic tales and mythical allure. This ancient text, believed to have emerged during the Han dynasty, offers a rich tapestry of mythic geography, legendary creatures, and cultural insights.
Comprising eighteen sections, this compilation unravels over 550 mountains, 300 channels, and a plethora of mesmerizing narratives. Its essence transcends mere geographical descriptions, weaving together a vibrant mosaic of pre-Qin China’s cultural heritage and captivating Chinese mythology.
Debates surrounding its authorship have persisted for centuries, ranging from attributions to figures like Yu the Great and Boyi to speculations about the book’s origins during the Warring States period. This enduring mystery adds an intriguing layer to its mystique.
Beyond its geographical accounts, “The Shanhaijing” offers a glimpse into ancient Chinese beliefs, spiritualism, and the fantastical realm, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of Chinese literary heritage. Its legacy endures as an invaluable source for understanding ancient Chinese culture, mythology, and the intriguing fusion of reality and fantasy within the annals of history.
In Chinese mythology, in the Lei Ze(The lake of thunder), there lived a thunder god. This god of thunder had a dragon-like body and a human head. If he slapped his abdomen, he would make a thunderclap.
雷澤中有雷神，龍身而人頭，鼓其腹。在吳西。
《山海經 海內東經》
天馬(Tianma/Sky Horse) is a beast there whose shape is like a white dog with a black head. When it sees a person, it flies away.
又東北二百裏，曰馬成之山，其上多文石，其陰多金玉，有獸焉，其狀如白犬而黑頭，見人則飛，其名曰天馬
《山海經·北山經》
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) 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。
There is a beast that is like a bull with four horns, human eyes, and pig ears. It is called the “諸懷(Zhuhuai)”, and its cry is like a crying goose. It is a man-eater.
《山海經 北山經》
有獸焉，其狀如牛而四角、人目、彘耳，其名曰諸懷，其音如鳴雁，是食人。
In the Shanhaijing, there are also some descriptions of mythical creatures that are very realistic, like this one: Feishu is an animal there whose shape is like a rabbit but with a mouse’s head. It flies using its back.
《山海經·北山經》
又東北二百裏，曰天池之山，其上無草木，多文石。有獸焉，其狀如兔而鼠首，以其背飛，其名曰飛鼠。澠水出焉，潛於其下，其中多黃堊
狍鴞(Paoxiao) is shaped like a sheep with a human face. Its eyes are under its armpits. It has tiger teeth and human claws. Its cry is like that of a baby, and it eats people.
《山海經 北山經》
鉤吾之山有獸焉，其狀如羊身人面，其目在腋下，虎齒人爪，其音如嬰兒，名曰狍鴞，是食人。
In the mountains, there is a beast Zhujian(諸犍) that resembles a leopard. It has a long tail, a human head, cow ears, and only one eye. It often roars loudly. When it walks, it holds its tail in its mouth. When it sleeps, it curls its tail up.
《山海經 北山一經》
又北百八十裏，曰單張之山，其上無草木。有獸焉，其狀如豹而長尾，人首而牛耳，一目，名曰諸犍，善咤，行則銜其尾，居則蟠其尾。
In the Luo River(洛水), there are many 蠻蠻(Man man). Their bodies are like rats, and their heads are like turtles. Their sounds are like barking dogs.
《山海經·西山經》
又西二百里，至剛山之尾。洛水出焉，而北流注于河。其中多蠻蠻，其狀鼠身而鼈首，其音如吠犬
