Mèngjí

孟極Mengji

The white-bodied leopard of Mount Shizhe from the Shan Hai Jing: shaped like a leopard with a patterned forehead and white coat, skilled at concealment.《山海经》记载石者之山灵兽孟极：状如豹而文题白身，善伏，其鸣自呼。

Body身形

Like a leopard矫健修长犹如猎豹

其狀如豹

Head首额

Patterned forehead额首布列玄妙文采

文題

Coat毛色

White body通体皎洁覆雪白毛

白身

Nature潜伏

Skilled at ambush神出鬼没极善潜伏

是善伏

Woodblock print from Gujin Tushu Jicheng showing the agile white leopard Mengji crouching low upon rocky crags, inscribed 'Mengji Tu'文題Patterned brow额生斑纹文題Patterned brow额生斑纹白身Snow-white body雪白豹躯白身Snow-white body雪白豹躯善伏Crouching paws潜伏利爪善伏Crouching paws潜伏利爪自呼Calling tail & jaw长尾潜伏自呼Calling tail & jaw长尾潜伏
有獸焉，其名曰孟極

There is a beast here; its name is Mengji.

山海經·北山經
孟極圖, 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》“孟極图”，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·北山經 · 山海經·北山經 · Wikisource

石者之山，有獸焉，其狀如豹，而文題白身，名曰孟極，是善伏，其鳴自詨。
There is a beast here shaped like a leopard with patterned markings on its forehead and a white body, named Mengji; it is skilled at concealment, and its cry calls its own name.

山海經·北山經 · 山海經·北山經 · Wikisource

石者之山，有獸焉，其狀如豹，而文題白身，名曰孟極，是善伏，其鳴自詨。
There is a beast here shaped like a leopard with patterned markings on its forehead and a white body, named Mengji; it is skilled at concealment, and its cry calls its own name.

Comparing the Books典籍对比

The Classic of the Northern Mountains documents the Mengji on Mount Shizhe: a white leopard with patterned brows celebrated as ancient China's supreme master of tactical stealth.

The story来历与故事

The sovereign ghost of the snowy northern peaks: a feline built with the sinuous grace of an alpine leopard, cloaked in a pristine white coat accented only by intricate patterned rosettes upon its brow. Revered as nature’s ultimate master of camouflage, it melts seamlessly into snowy rocks to await passing prey.

The Snow Phantom of Mount Shizhe石者之山与文题白身

The Shan Hai Jing records in the Classic of the Northern Mountains that two hund《山海经·北山经》记载，又北二百八十里曰石者之山，其上无草木，多瑶碧。神兽孟极便

The Shan Hai Jing records in the Classic of the Northern Mountains that two hundred and eighty li northward lies Mount Shizhe, a crag stripped of vegetation but glowing with emerald jade. Here rules the Mengji, a white feline with a leopard’s anatomy whose brow is marked with elegant natural glyphs ('wen ti').

The animal's defining tactical virtue is concealment: 'it is skilled at crouching and hiding' ('shi shan fu'). Ancient hunters marveled that even on bare scree, the Mengji could flatten its body against the stones, remaining utterly invisible until it leapt with lightning agility, calling its own name ('qi ming zi hu').

Tactical Concealment in Ancient Martial Philosophy善伏潜隐与古代兵家拟态

In ancient Chinese martial strategy, 'shan fu' (mastery of concealment) was cele在华夏古代兵家哲学与用兵韬略中，“善伏”历来被奉为神机莫测的用兵精要。历代武略学

In ancient Chinese martial strategy, 'shan fu' (mastery of concealment) was celebrated as a cardinal virtue of the commander. Strategists compared elite reconnaissance troops and ambush divisions to the Mengji, urging armies to remain as invisible as the white leopard before striking decisive blows.

In modern nature writing and fantasy creature design, Mengji is celebrated alongside the snow leopard as the noble spirit of western high peaks, renowned for its silent elegance.

Record档案

Record Card档案卡

TypeStealth Beast (white-bodied ambush leopard)
Also known asWhite Ambush Leopard; Pattern-Browed Feline
Earliest sourceShan Hai Jing 山海經 (Classic of the Northern Mountains)
SkillsMaster of camouflage and stealthy ambush ('shan fu'); dissolves into snowy terrain
HabitatDwells upon barren Mount Shizhe above the rushing Ci River
Earliest source山海經·北山經
Source books山海經·北山經
Image sourceChen Menglei 陳夢雷 (ed.) · Wikimedia Commons
LicensePublic domain
Fierce BeastsGuardianAuspiciousShan Hai JingBeast-bodied兽身

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mengji in Chinese mythology?

The Mengji is a leopard-like beast from the Shan Hai Jing with a white body and patterned forehead. It is famous for its supreme skill at ambush and concealment ('shan fu').

Where does the Mengji dwell?

According to the Shan Hai Jing, it lives on Mount Shizhe, a northern mountain devoid of plants but rich in jade and jasper.

What does 'wen ti' mean?

'Wen ti' (文题) means having distinctive decorative or patterned markings on the forehead ('ti').

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