山海經·海外北經 Classic of Regions Beyond the Northern Seas

The lands beyond the seas, from the northeastern corner to the northwestern corner.

The Country of Wuqi (The Unopening) lies east of the Long-legged People. Its people do not produce progeny.

The deity of Mount Zhong is named Zhuyin (Illuminating the Gloom). When he opens his eyes it is day, when he closes them it is night. When he blows his breath it is winter, and when he exhales it is summer. He neither drinks, nor eats, nor breathes; when he does breathe, it produces the wind. His body is a thousand li in length. He dwells to the east of Wuqi. In appearance, he has a human face, a serpent's body, and is scarlet in color; he dwells beneath Mount Zhong.

The Country of the One-Eyed (Yimu) lies to its east. They dwell with a single eye set in the center of their face.

The Country of Rouli lies east of the One-Eyed. As people, they have one hand and one foot, with inverted knees and bent feet curled upwards. Another account calls it the Country of Liuli, where people's feet are bent backwards.

A minister of Gonggong was named Xiangliu; he had nine heads, with which he grazed across nine mountains. Wherever Xiangliu reached, the land collapsed into marshes and ravines. Yu slew Xiangliu, but his blood was foul and stinking, making it impossible to sow the seeds of the five grains. Yu dug and excavated the soil, but three times it was piled three ren high and three times it sank down; therefore he turned it into the Terraces of the Various Thearchs. It lies north of Kunlun and east of Rouli. As for Xiangliu, he has nine heads with human faces, and a serpent's body of azure green. Archery is forbidden toward the north, in awe of the Terrace of Gonggong. The Terrace lies to its east; it is square on four sides, and at each corner is a serpent, tiger-colored, with its head facing toward the south.

The Country of the Deep-Eyed (Shenmu) lies to its east. Its people have sunken eyes and raise one hand. Another account says it lies east of the Terrace of Gonggong.

The Country of the Bowelless (Wuchang) lies east of the Deep-Eyed. Its people are tall and have no intestines.

The Country of the Nie'er (Ear-Holding) lies east of the Bowelless Country. They control two patterned tigers, and their people hold up their long ears with both hands. They dwell on islands suspended in the sea, amid odd creatures that enter and leave the water. The two tigers are to their east.

Kuafu raced in pursuit of the sun, chasing it until he reached its setting glow. Thirsty and craving drink, he drank from the Yellow River and the Wei River. The River and the Wei were not enough, so he ran north to drink from the Great Marsh. Before he could reach it, he died of thirst along the road. He discarded his wooden staff, which transformed into the Deng Forest.

The Country of Kuafu lies east of Nie'er. Its people are gigantic; their right hand grasps a green serpent and their left hand grasps a yellow serpent. The Deng Forest lies to its east, consisting of two great trees. Another name for it is Bofu.

Mount Jishi, piled up by Yu, lies to its east, where the Yellow River enters.

The Country of Juying (Goiter-Clutchers) lies to its east. They hold up their goiters with one hand. Another name is the Country of Liying.

The Xun Tree is a thousand li long; it lies south of Juying, growing northwest along the Yellow River.

The Country of Qizhong (Tiptoeing People) lies south of Juying. Their people walk propped up on both feet. Another name is Fanzhong (Inverted Heels).

The Wilderness of Ousi (Vomiting Silk) lies east of Fanzhong. A woman kneels leaning against a tree, spitting out silk.

The Three Branchless Mulberries lie east of Ousi; the trees are a hundred ren tall and have no branches.

The Fan Forest spans three hundred li square; it lies east of the Three Mulberries, encircled below by river islands.

On Mount Wuyu, Thearch Zhuanxu was buried on the sunny south side, and his nine consorts were buried on the shaded north side. Another account says that here dwell brown bears, grizzly bears, patterned tigers, Lizhu birds, bojiu owls, and shirou (flesh-lingots).

Flat Hill (Pingqiu) lies east of the Three Mulberries. There are discarded jade, azure birds, shirou, willows, sweet hawthorns, and sweet flowering trees; it is where the hundred fruits grow. Two mountains flank a high gorge, with two great mounds nestled between them, named Flat Hill.

Within the Northern Sea there is a beast whose form resembles a horse, named the Taotu. There is a beast here named the Bo; it resembles a white horse with serrated teeth, and preys upon tigers and leopards. There is a plain white beast resembling a horse, named the Qiongqiong. There is an azure beast resembling a tiger, named the Luoluo.

In the north is Yuqiang; he has a human face and a bird's body, wears two green serpents as earrings, and treads upon two green serpents.