Bó

駮Bo

The tiger-eating equine beast of Mount Zhongqu from the Shan Hai Jing: horse-bodied with a single horn, tiger claws, and drum-like cry, keeping it wards off weapons.《山海经》记载中曲山神兽駮:状如白马而黑尾一角,生有虎牙利爪,音如鼓声,食虎豹,可以御兵。

Form形貌

Like a horse身形若神骏马

其狀如馬

Horn独角

Single horn额顶峥嵘独角

一角

Voice叫声

Like drumbeats巨吼激荡如鼓

音如鼓音

Power神威

Preys on tigers, wards war啖食虎豹御兵

是食虎豹

Woodblock print from Gujin Tushu Jicheng showing the horned chimeric steed Bo with feline claws and white torso pacing, inscribed 'Bo Tu'一角Single horn额头独角一角Single horn额头独角其狀如馬Horse body骏马躯体其狀如馬Horse body骏马躯体虎牙爪Tiger claws & teeth虎牙利爪虎牙爪Tiger claws & teeth虎牙利爪黑尾Black tail乌黑马尾黑尾Black tail乌黑马尾
有獸焉,其名曰駮

There is a beast here; its name is Bo.

山海經·西山經
駮圖, Gujin Tushu Jicheng 古今圖書集成, Qin Chong Dian (Section on Birds and Animals), woodblock print, 1726清·陈梦雷等编《古今图书集成·禽虫典》“駮图”,雍正四年(1726)铜活字印本 · Public domain公有领域

Highlighted words: anatomy part · feature · form type — tap to jump标色词:形态部位 · 特征 · 形态类别,点击可跳转

The texts原文

Original Text & Translation原文与译文

山海經·西山經 · 山海經·西山經 · Wikisource

中曲之山,有獸焉,其狀如馬而白身黑尾,一角,虎牙爪,音如鼓音,其名曰駮,是食虎豹,可以禦兵。
There is a beast here shaped like a horse with a white body and black tail, a single horn, tiger teeth and claws, and a voice like a drum, named Bo; it eats tigers and leopards, and keeping it wards off weapons.

山海經·西山經 · 山海經·西山經 · Wikisource

中曲之山,有獸焉,其狀如馬而白身黑尾,一角,虎牙爪,音如鼓音,其名曰駮,是食虎豹,可以禦兵。
There is a beast here shaped like a horse with a white body and black tail, a single horn, tiger teeth and claws, and a voice like a drum, named Bo; it eats tigers and leopards, and keeping it wards off weapons.

Comparing the Books典籍对比

The Classic of the Western Mountains portrays the Bo as an apex predatory equine whose tiger-eating strength and drum-like roar provide divine immunity from weapon wounds.

The story来历与故事

A formidable chimeric sovereign of Chinese martial lore: possessing the regal body of a snowy stallion, a solitary horn, and the ravenous fangs and talons of an apex tiger. Roaring like a booming war drum, it preys on tigers and leopards, granting warriors immunity from bladed weapons.

The Apex Predator of Mount Zhongqu中曲之山与食虎之兽

In the Classic of the Western Mountains, the Shan Hai Jing describes Mount Zhong《山海经·西山经》记载,中曲之山阳多玉而阴多雄黄金石。神兽駮盘踞此山险隘,其状如

In the Classic of the Western Mountains, the Shan Hai Jing describes Mount Zhongqu, a mountain blessed with white jade and minerals. Across its pine slopes strides the Bo, a fearsome quadruped with the build of a noble horse, a white pelt, an ink-black tail, and a solitary horn rising from its skull.

The Bo's cry resonates through canyons like the rolling beat of a battle drum ('yin ru gu yin'). Fearless in combat, it tracks, ambushes, and devours the fiercest terrestrial predators, feeding habitually upon tigers and leopards. For this reason, ancient generals treasured its image on battle standards to ward off weapon wounds ('keyi yu bing').

From Imperial Bestiaries to Mythic War Mount历代战旗徽记与辟兵崇拜

The fame of the Bo spread widely beyond the Shan Hai Jing. In the philosophical 駮的威名在先秦诸子中代代传诵。《管子·小问篇》便载有齐桓公骑马出行、林中猛虎伏地

The fame of the Bo spread widely beyond the Shan Hai Jing. In the philosophical text Guanzi, Duke Huan of Qi is recorded encountering a tiger that cowered in panic, mistaking the duke's dappled steed for the tiger-eating Bo. This legend permanently sealed the creature's standing as the natural nemesis of wild predators.

Throughout the Han and Tang dynasties, court armorers and chariot makers carved the Bo onto breastplates and martial flags, invoking its indomitable ferocity to protect soldiers against enemy arrows and blades.

Record档案

Record Card档案卡

TypePredatory Equine (tiger-eating warrior beast)
Also known asTiger-Eating Steed; Horned Chimeric Stallion
Earliest sourceShan Hai Jing 山海經 (Classic of the Western Mountains) & Guanzi 管子
PreyHunts and devours apex terrestrial carnivores, including tigers and leopards
PowerRepels bladed weapons and military harm; emblem of martial invulnerability
Earliest source山海經·西山經
Source books山海經·西山經
Image sourceChen Menglei 陳夢雷 (ed.) · Wikimedia Commons
LicensePublic domain

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bo in Chinese mythology?

The Bo is a chimeric horse-like beast from the Shan Hai Jing with a horn, tiger teeth, and claws. It roars like a drum, eats tigers and leopards, and protects warriors from weapon wounds.

Why does the Bo eat tigers and leopards?

Endowed with apex predatory adaptations—formidable feline claws and slashing teeth on an equine frame—classical lore positioned it as the natural superior to big cats.

Where is the Bo recorded in the classics?

Beyond the Shan Hai Jing on Mount Zhongqu, the Bo appears prominently in the Guanzi, where Duke Huan of Qi discusses its power to terrify wild tigers.