Shan Hai Jing - The Classic of Mountains and Seas

Delving into the Rich Myths of Ancient China

The Classic of Mountains and Seas is a treasure trove of ancient Chinese mythology. It invites readers to explore a world filled with deities, mythical figures, strange creatures, and mysterious natural events. This ancient text captures the essence of ancient Chinese concepts about the origin of the world, divine worship, and heroic tales.

These myths not only embody dreams of an ideal life but also express humanity's desire to overcome nature and evil. As many myths have evolved into reality, humans have drawn closer to achieving a divine status. From this perspective, the myths created by our ancestors provide inspiration and direction, serving as a spiritual resource for our pursuit of transcendence.

The content of the Classic of Mountains and Seas is rich and varied. As it is introduced as a product series, the following sections will focus on content with positive symbolic meanings or images that are still widely circulated today.

Myth 1：Kuafu Chasing the Sun

Original: 夸父与日逐走，入日。渴，欲得饮，饮于河、渭；河、渭不足，北饮大泽。未至，道渴而死。弃其杖，化为邓林。

Translation: The giant Kuafu, in pursuit of light and warmth, decided to chase the sun. With boundless strength, he crossed mountains and rivers, chasing for seven days and nights. Due to prolonged running, Kuafu became extremely thirsty, drinking dry the waters of the Yellow River and Wei River, yet still unsatisfied, he ultimately collapsed on his way to find more water. After Kuafu's death, his body transformed into mountains, his hair into forests, his blood into rivers, and his staff into a peach grove, providing shade and water sources for future generations. 

The Spirit of Kuafu Chasing the Sun: It embodies a romantic spirit of transcending reality and pursuing ideals. Kuafu's heroism and pursuit of the sun show a spirit of brave pursuit, never giving up, and willing to benefit mankind.

Myth 2：Jingwei Filling the Sea

Original:又北二百里，曰发鸠之山，其上多柘木。有鸟焉，其状如乌，文首、白喙、赤足，名曰精卫，其鸣自詨。是炎帝之少女名曰女娃，女娃游于东海，溺而不返，故为精卫。常衔西山之木石，以堙于东海。

Translation: Two hundred li (one li approximately 0.5 kilometers)  further north lies Mount Fajiu, covered in Zhe trees. On this mountain, there is a bird, resembling a crow, with a patterned head, white beak, and red feet, named Jingwei, whose cry sounds like its own name. Jingwei was originally the youngest daughter of Emperor Yan, named Nuwa. Nuwa once went to play by the East Sea, where she unfortunately drowned and never returned, thus transforming into Jingwei. She often carries branches and stones from the West Mountain, attempting to fill the East Sea.

The Symbolism of Jingwei Filling the Sea: The story of Jingwei filling the sea symbolizes perseverance and fearlessness in the face of adversity. Jingwei's actions demonstrate the tenacious will and unwavering pursuit of goals that Chinese people exhibit when confronted with difficulties. This tale inspires us that with a firm belief and relentless effort, we can overcome all obstacles and achieve our goals.

Myth 3：Dayu Controlling the Floods

Original：洪水滔天，鲧窃帝之息壤以堙洪水，不待帝命。帝令祝融杀鲧于羽郊。鲧复生禹，帝乃命禹卒布土，以定九州。

Translation: Floods covered the earth, and Gun, without the Emperor's consent, stole the divine soil to block the floods. The Emperor commanded Zhurong to execute Gun at Yu Mountain's outskirts. After Gun's death, Dayu was born from his belly. The Emperor then ordered Dayu to control the floods, and Dayu ultimately divided and planned the territories, establishing the Nine Provinces.

The Spirit of Dayu's Flood Control: Dayu's "three passes by his home without entering" exemplifies the selfless dedication and public-spirited qualities of the Chinese nation. This story also embodies the spirit of scientific management, unity, and innovation, offering important lessons for modern society. It teaches us to use scientific methods to deal with natural disasters and to work together to achieve our goals.

Myth 4：Dayi Shooting the Suns

Original：羿射九日，落为沃焦。

Translation: During the reign of Emperor Yao, ten suns suddenly appeared in the sky, causing severe drought on earth. The Heavenly Emperor sent Dayi to help the people escape their suffering. Dayi, armed with a red bow and white arrows bestowed by the Heavenly Emperor, shot down nine of the suns, leaving only one to continue illuminating the earth, allowing people to live in peace and contentment.

The Lessons of Dayi Shooting the Suns: The story of Dayi shooting the suns inspires us with courage, responsibility, and harmony between humans and nature. Dayi, with extraordinary courage and firm determination, shot down the nine excess suns, saving humanity and reflecting the Chinese nation's admiration for heroism and courage.

Meet the Mythical Beings of Ancient China

Mythical Emperors

Mythical God

The Five Elements Deities

• Eastern Wood Deity: Goumang

Goumang is the folk deity of wood, also known as the God of Spring (ancient people's descriptions of deities were relatively simple). Legend has it that he has a bird's body and a human face, rides two dragons, and is in charge of the budding of trees and the revival of all things in spring. He is a creation deity, on par with Nuwa, and created all things in the world. He is a subordinate of the Eastern Heavenly Emperor Fuxi. As Fuxi's beloved minister, Goumang inherited most of his abilities. He was very important in ancient times, and every year when people were preparing for farming, they would hold a spring sacrifice, which was a sacrificial activity for Goumang. Nowadays, in sacrificial activities, the image of the Spring God Goumang has gradually become a spring-riding cowherd, with a double bun on his head, holding a willow whip, also known as the Mangtong.

• Southern Fire Deity: Zhurong (Summer God, Ancestor of Chu)

Zhurong has the appearance of a beast-man and often rides two dragons. He is the ancient god in charge of fire, commanding fire and teaching humans the art of fire control, and is revered as the god of fire by later generations.

• Northern Water Deity: Yujiang (Xuanming)

Yujiang is a sea god, wind god, and plague god in ancient Chinese legends and is a descendant of the Yellow Emperor. Yujiang's abilities are not like those of the modern "Aquaman." The sea god Yujiang has human hands and feet, with two green snakes hanging from his earlobes and two green snakes under his feet. It is said that Yujiang's wind can spread the plague, and if it encounters his northwest wind, it will be injured, so the northwest wind is also called "Lifeng" by the ancients. Yujiang also joined the character of the Turtle Deity (Guīshén) and became a symbol of longevity and divination.

• Western Metal Deity: Rushou

With a snake in his left ear and riding two dragons, he is the autumn god in charge of the harvest and the heavenly deity in charge of punishment.

• Central Earth Deity: Houtu

Initially derived from the worship of the matriarchal clan, Houtu is the fourth Heavenly Emperor of Taoism, known as the Mother of the Earth, and is paired with the Jade Emperor, in charge of the female deity of the earth's mountains and rivers. Later, with the development of the times, the object of people's worship of the earth god gradually shifted to male deities, and then became the object of imperial worship.

Marvel at the fantastical creatures

Renowned Mythical Beasts

• Pixiu: Pixiu in the Classic of Mountains and Seas is described as a divine beast with the body of a leopard and the head and tail like a dragon. It feeds on wealth and is believed to bring in treasures. Pixiu is considered to have a mouth but no anus, capable of swallowing everything without excretion, thus it is thought to be able to attract wealth and treasure. It is often used as an amulet and a symbol of wealth attraction.

• Taotie: It is recorded: "钩吾之山其上多玉，其下多铜。有兽焉，其状如羊身人面，其目在腋下，虎齿人爪，其音如婴儿，名曰狍鸮，是食人。"This means that in the Gouwu Mountain, there is a kind of beast called Paowu. They have a human face and a sheep's body, with tiger-like teeth and a cry like a baby, which is the origin of Taotie.
• Of course, there is also a saying that in ancient times, the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou had a great battle.Chiyou was defeated and beheaded by the Yellow Emperor with the Xuanyuan Sword. Thus, his head fell to the ground and turned into Taotie. It is said that Taotie is gluttonous, even eating itself when hungry. Therefore, the Yellow Emperor used the Lion Clan to guard Taotie, which is also the origin of the stone lions guarding the door in ancient times.

• Qilin: It is recorded: "昆仑之虚，方八百里，高万仞。上有木禾，长五寻，大五围。而有九井，以玉为槛。面有九门，门有开明兽守之，百神之所在。" This means that the Kunlun Mountain, eight hundred li (one li approximately 0.5 kilometers) in circumference and ten thousand ren (one ren approximately 2.31 meters) in height. There is a wooden grain on it, five xun (one xun approximately 2.64 meters) in length and five wei (one wei approximately 0.33 meters) in size. There are nine wells, with jade as the railing. There are nine gates, each guarded by the Open Bright Beast, the abode of all deities.
• The "Open Bright Beast" here is actually what is later called "Qilin."Qilin in the Classic of Mountains and Seas is described as a mysterious and sacred creature, with the characteristics of a lion's body, an ox's tail, a deer's antlers, and a horse's hooves, and is regarded as a symbol of auspiciousness.

• Nine-tailed Fox:  It is recorded: "青丘之山有兽焉，其状如狐而九尾，其音如婴儿，能食人，食者不蛊。"This means that in the Green Hill Country, there is a beast, its shape like a fox with nine tails, its cry like a baby, capable of eating people, and those who eat it will not be bewitched."
• The most basic feature of the nine-tailed fox is "nine tails." It is said that it appears as an auspicious sign when the world is peaceful. The "Book of Song · Fu Rui Zhi" says: "A white fox, a wise and benevolent king will come." The "Classic of Filial Piety" says: "When virtue reaches birds and beasts, the fox will have nine tails."The nine-tailed fox in the Classic of Mountains and Seas is a divine beast, living in the Green Hill Country, with four legs and nine tails, and a cry like a baby. It was once considered an auspicious beast, symbolizing world peace. In modern times, the image of the nine-tailed fox is often used as a lucky charm, representing wisdom and beauty.

• Yinglong: Yinglong is an ancient Chinese mythological creator god and a progenitor of dragons, appearing in myths as a winged dragon. It is also known as the Huanglong or Feilong. It is said that fish and shrimp can become true dragons by drinking a mouthful of Yinglong's urine, and it is a representative of the rain god and the water god. The image of Yinglong can be used as an amulet, symbolizing strength and protection.

• Lushu: Lushu is a mythical beast resembling a horse with a white head and a red tail, covered in tiger stripes, and its cry sounds like a human singing. It is recorded: "杻阳之山有兽焉，其状如马而白首，其文如虎而赤尾，其音如谣，其名曰鹿蜀，佩之宜子孙。"This means that on the Niuyang Mountain, there is a beast, its shape like a horse with a white head, its pattern like a tiger and a red tail, its cry sounds like a song, its name is Lushu, wearing it is auspicious for descendants. Lushu is considered a very auspicious animal, and its fur is believed to have divine power, capable of warding off evil and disasters. At the same time, Lushu is also considered an animal that can bring prosperity and longevity to a family. Therefore, in ancient China, Lushu was regarded as a symbol of prosperity and longevity.

• Chilong: Chilong is a descendant of the dragon, symbolizing fire prevention and flood prevention. It is recorded that placing Chilong on the roof can prevent fires and floods. It is also a representative of auspicious beasts and is often used as an amulet to seek fire and flood prevention and home safety.

• Jinchan: Jinchan is a three-legged toad, regarded as an auspicious beast. It is recorded that it can spit out money, bringing wealth and good fortune to people. Jinchan is often used as a wealth-attracting amulet, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.

• Chiyu: Chiyu is a mythical beast recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, with a fish body and a human head, living in the Sea of Japan. It is said that eating Chiyu can lead to immortality. Using Chiyu scales as an amulet can receive divine protection.

• The Nine Sons of the Dragon: The dragon images in the Classic of Mountains and Seas are rich and varied, and the story of the "Nine Sons of the Dragon" is particularly famous ("nine" is not an exact number but symbolizes a great many). These dragon sons each have their own characteristics and are endowed with different meanings and symbols. They are often used as amulets or lucky charms. These dragon sons are not only recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas but also widely circulated in Chinese culture. They are often used for various decorations and amulets, symbolizing protection, strength, wisdom, and good fortune.

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