Féiyí
The two-bodied serpent of Mount Hunxi in the Shan Hai Jing: with one head and two bodies, its appearance brings severe drought across the realm.《山海经》记载浑夕山异蛇肥遗：一首而分化两身，见则其国大旱。
Head头首
One serpent head独生灵蛇面额
一首
Body身形
Two snake bodies分化双条蛇干
兩身
Peril灾异
Causes severe drought现世赤地千里
見則其國大旱
Kind类别
Two-bodied serpent奇形分体神虺
有蛇一首兩身
名曰肥遺Its name is Feiyi.
山海經·北山經
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
The Shan Hai Jing documents two creatures named Feiyi: a four-winged bird on Mount Taihua and this famous one-headed two-bodied drought snake on Mount Hunxi.
The story来历与故事
The two-bodied drought serpent of Mount Hunxi in the Shan Hai Jing: bearing one head and two bodies, its sighting heralds severe arid drought.
Feiyi is a two-bodied serpent dwelling on Mount Hunxi.《北山经》记载浑夕之山无草木多铜玉，其中有蛇名曰肥遗。
In the Classic of the Northern Mountains, Feiyi inhabits Mount Hunxi, one hundred and eighty li north of Mount Zhuhuai.
The mountain is barren of vegetation yet rich in copper and jade, where the Xiao River flows northwest into the sea.
It has one head, two bodies, and portends severe drought.经文记其一首两身，见则其国大旱。
The Shan Hai Jing describes Feiyi as a unique serpent bearing a single head that divides into two independent slithering bodies.
Ancient chronicles regarded its appearance as a dread omen of prolonged drought ('jian ze qi guo da han') capable of scorching fields.
Woodblock prints illustrate its two banded bodies slithering in parallel.《古今图书集成》画其为一头一首两身、并躯滑行于山崖之异蛇。
The 1726 imperial encyclopedia Gujin Tushu Jicheng depicts Feiyi descending along a mountain slope with its twin scaly bodies parallel.
The woodblock print illustrates its broad viper head, banded diamond scales, and title cartouche reading Feiyi Tu in the upper left.
Record档案
| Type | Calamitous Serpent (one-headed two-bodied drought serpent of Mount Hunxi) |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Féiyí 肥遺; Feiyi Serpent (肥遺之蛇) |
| Habitat | Mount Hunxi (渾夕之山) in the Northern Mountains, devoid of flora and rich in copper and jade |
| Omen | Severe universal drought across the entire realm (見則其國大旱) |
| Earliest source | 山海經·北山經 |
| Source books | 山海經·北山經 |
| Image source | Chen Menglei 陳夢雷 (ed.) · Wikimedia Commons |
| License | Public domain |
The classic describes Feiyi as a serpent possessing one head and two bodies ('a serpent with one head and two bodies').
Ancient texts state that whenever Feiyi is seen, the surrounding country will suffer severe drought ('when seen, its country suffers great drought').
Yes: the Classic of the Western Mountains records a six-legged, four-winged bird also called Feiyi on Mount Taihua that likewise causes drought.
