山海經·海內西經 Classic of Regions Within the Western Seas

The lands within the seas, from the southwestern corner northward.

A minister of Erfu was named Wei; Wei and Erfu murdered Yayu. The Thearch thereupon fettered Wei on Mount Shushu, shackling his right foot, binding both hands behind his back along with his hair, and tethering him to a tree atop the mountain. It lies northwest of Kaiti.

The Great Marsh spans a hundred li square; it is where flocks of birds breed and shed their feathers. It lies north of Mount Yanmen.

Mount Yanmen is where wild geese fly through the passes. It lies north of Gaoliu.

Gaoliu lies north of Dai.

The burial place of Lord Millet (Houji) is encircled by mountains and rivers. It lies west of the Di Country.

The Country of Liuhuang Fengshi spans three hundred li square in its interior. Roads lead out in all four directions, with a mountain in its center. It lies west of Houji's burial place.

The Shifting Sands flow out from Mount Zhong, running west and then south past the Ruins of Kunlun, before flowing southwest into the sea at the Mountain of Black Water.

Countries within the Shifting Sands include Zhunduan and Xirong, lying southeast of the Ruins of Kunlun. Another account says they are commanderies within the seas that are not organized as counties, situated amid the Shifting Sands.

Countries outside the Shifting Sands include Daxia, Shusha, Juyao, and Yuezhi.

The White Jade Mountain of the Western Hu lies east of Daxia, and Cangwu lies southwest of the White Jade Mountain; both are west of the Shifting Sands and southeast of the Ruins of Kunlun. Mount Kunlun lies west of the Western Hu; all lie in the northwest.

The Ruins of Kunlun within the seas lie in the northwest; they are the lower capital of the Heavenly Thearch. The Ruins of Kunlun span eight hundred li square and rise ten thousand ren high. Atop them grows grain trees five xun tall and five girths in circumference. On each side are nine wells with balustrades of jade. On each side are nine gates guarded by the Kaiming Beast; it is the dwelling place of the hundred spirits. Situated upon crags facing eight directions and bordering the Red River, none but the benevolent Yi the Archer could climb its soaring ridges and precipices.

The Red River flows out from its southeastern corner, flowing northeast, then turning southwest to pour into the Southern Sea east of the Fire-Haters (Yanhuo).

The Yellow River emerges from its northeastern corner, flowing along its north side, then southwest into the Bohai Sea, and then emerges beyond the seas, turning west and then north to enter Mount Jishi channeled by Yu.

The Yang River and the Black River emerge from its northwestern corner, flowing east, eastward and then northeast, before emptying south into the sea south of the Feathered People (Yumin).

The Ruo River and the Green River emerge from its southwestern corner, flowing east, then north, then southwest, passing east of the Bifang bird.

The southern abyss of Kunlun is three hundred ren deep. The Kaiming Beast has a body large like a tiger with nine heads, all bearing human faces; it stands facing east atop Kunlun.

West of Kaiming are fenghuang and luan birds; all wear serpents on their heads, tread upon serpents, and carry red serpents upon their breasts.

North of Kaiming are shirou (flesh-lingots), pearl trees, patterned jade trees, yuqi trees, and the tree of immortality. The fenghuang and luan birds all wear shields on their heads. There are also Lizhu, grain trees, cypress trees, Sweet Waters, and the sacred tree Mandui, also called the Ting tree with interlocking shoots.

East of Kaiming are Shaman Peng, Shaman Di, Shaman Yang, Shaman Lü, Shaman Fan, and Shaman Xiang; they flank the corpse of Yayu, all holding the elixir of immortality to ward off death. As for Yayu, he had a serpent body with a human face, and was slain by the minister of Erfu.

On the Fuchang Tree are three-headed men, watching over the langgan gemstone trees.

South of Kaiming is the Tree Bird, which has six heads; there are jiao dragons, vipers, snakes, wei monkeys, leopards, and orderly flocks of birds perched on trees surrounding the pond, along with reciting birds, falcons, and shirou.

Atop Mount Shewu, a person stands facing east holding a wooden cup. Another name is Mount Gui.

The Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) leans against a stool and wears a victory coronet. South of her are three azure birds that forage food for the Queen Mother of the West. She dwells north of the Ruins of Kunlun.