山海經·南山經 Classic of the Southern Mountains

The first range of the Southern Mountains is called Mount Que. Its first peak is Mount Zhaoyao, which overlooks the Western Sea. It has many cassia trees and much gold and jade. There is a plant here shaped like garlic chives with blue-green flowers, called zhuyu; eating it keeps you from hunger. There is a tree here shaped like the paper mulberry with black grain, whose flowers shine in all four directions, called migu; wearing it keeps you from getting lost. There is a beast here shaped like a yu monkey with white ears, which goes on all fours and also walks upright like a person, called the xingxing; eating it makes you a fast runner. The Liji River rises here and flows west into the sea. In it is much yupei; wearing it keeps you free of worm sickness.

Three hundred li further east is Mount Tangting, with many yan trees, many white apes, much rock crystal and much yellow gold.

Three hundred and eighty li further east is Mount Yuanyi. There are many strange beasts on it and many strange fish in its waters; it has much white jade, many venomous snakes, many strange snakes and many strange trees. It cannot be climbed.

Three hundred and seventy li further east is Mount Niuyang. On its sunny south side is much red metal, on its shady north side much white metal. There is a beast here shaped like a horse with a white head, striped like a tiger and with a red tail; its voice is like singing, and it is called the lushu. Wearing it brings many descendants. The Guai River rises here and flows east into the Xianyi River. In it are many black turtles, shaped like turtles but with a bird's head and a viper's tail, called xuangui; their voice is like wood being split. Wearing one keeps you from going deaf, and it can be used to treat calluses.

Three hundred li further east is Mount Di, with much water and no plants or trees. There is a fish here shaped like an ox that lives on the hillsides; it has a snake's tail and wings, with its feathers under its flanks, and its voice is like that of the liu ox. It is called the lu. It dies in winter and comes back to life in summer. Eating it prevents swellings.

Four hundred li further east is Mount Chanyuan, with much water and no plants or trees; it cannot be climbed. There is a beast here shaped like a wildcat with a mane, called the lei. It is both male and female, and whoever eats it will not be jealous.

Three hundred li further east is Mount Ji. On its south side is much jade, on its north side many strange trees. There is a beast here shaped like a sheep, with nine tails, four ears and its eyes on its back, called the boyi. Wearing it frees you from fear. There is a bird here shaped like a rooster with three heads, six eyes, six feet and three wings, called the changfu; eating it keeps you from sleeping.

Three hundred li further east is Mount Qingqiu (Green Hill). On its south side is much jade, on its north side much blue pigment. There is a beast here shaped like a fox with nine tails; its voice is like a baby's, and it can eat people. Whoever eats it is safe from gu poison. There is a bird here shaped like a dove whose voice sounds like scolding, called the guanguan; wearing it keeps you from being deluded. The Ying River rises here and flows south into the Jiyi Marsh. In it are many chiru, shaped like fish with human faces; their voice is like a mandarin duck's, and eating them prevents scabies.

Three hundred and fifty li further east is Mount Jiwei. Its tail end crouches over the Eastern Sea, and it has much sand and stone. The Fang River rises here and flows south into the Yu; in it is much white jade.

In all, the first range of Mount Que, from Mount Zhaoyao to Mount Jiwei, has ten mountains and runs 2,950 li. Their gods all have birds' bodies and dragons' heads. Their rite uses a furred animal: one zhang jade tablet is buried, the sacrificial grain is glutinous rice, with one bi jade disc and rice, and white rushes make the mat.

The first peak of the second range of the Southern Mountains is Mount Ju. To the west it overlooks Liuhuang, to the north it looks toward Zhupi, and to the east toward Changyou. The Ying River rises here and flows southwest into the Red River; in it is much white jade and much cinnabar grit. There is a beast here shaped like a piglet, with spurs, whose voice is like a barking dog, called the lili; when it appears, its county will have much earthwork. There is a bird here shaped like a kite with human hands; its voice is like a quail's, and it is called the zhu, naming itself with its cry. When it appears, many officials in its county will be sent into exile.

Four hundred and fifty li to the southeast is Mount Changyou, with no plants or trees and much water. There is a beast here shaped like a yu monkey with four ears, called the changyou; its voice is like moaning, and when it appears the commanderies and counties will have great floods.

Three hundred and forty li further east is Mount Yaoguang. On its south side is much jade, on its north side much metal. There is a beast here shaped like a person with a pig's bristles; it lives in caves and sleeps through the winter, and it is called the huahuai. Its voice is like wood being chopped, and when it appears, its county will have great forced labour.

Three hundred and fifty li further east is Mount Yu. Below it is much water and above it much rain; it has no plants or trees and many venomous snakes.

Three hundred and seventy li further east is Mount Qufu, with no plants or trees and much metal and jade.

Four hundred li further east is Mount Gouyu, with no plants or trees and much metal and jade.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Fuyu, which looks north toward Juqu and east toward Zhupi. There is a beast here shaped like a tiger with an ox's tail, whose voice is like a barking dog, called the zhi; it eats people. The Tiao River rises on its north side and flows north into Juqu. In it are many ji fish.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Cheng, which is square and rises in three tiers. On top is much metal and jade, below it much blue pigment. The 𨴯 River rises here and flows south into the Hushao; in it is much yellow gold.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Kuaiji, which is square. On top is much metal and jade, below it much fu stone. The Shao River rises here and flows south into the 湨.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Yi. It has no plants or trees and much sand and stone. The 湨 River rises here and flows south into the Lietu.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Pugou. On top is much metal and jade, below it many plants and trees; it has no birds or beasts and no water.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Xianyin, with no plants or trees and no water.

Four hundred li further east is Mount Xun. On its south side is much metal, on its north side much jade. There is a beast here shaped like a sheep but with no mouth, which cannot be killed, called the huan. The Xun River rises here and flows south into the E Marsh; in it are many purple snails.

Four hundred li further east is Mount Hushao. On top are many catalpa and nan trees, below it many thorn bushes and wolfberry. The Pang River rises here and flows east into the sea.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Ouwu, with no plants or trees and much sand and stone. The Lu River rises here and flows south into the Pang River.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Luwu. On top there are no plants or trees, but much metal and stone. The Zegeng River rises here and flows south into the Pang River. In the water is a beast called the gudiao, shaped like an eagle with horns; its voice is like a baby's, and it eats people.

Five hundred li to the east is Mount Qiwu, with no plants or trees, many bo stones and no jade. It stands by the Eastern Sea and looks toward the hills; its light now appears, now disappears. This is the resting place of the sun.

In all, the second range of the Southern Mountains, from Mount Ju to Mount Qiwu, has seventeen mountains and runs 7,200 li. Their gods all have dragons' bodies and birds' heads. Their sacrifice: a furred animal and one bi jade disc are buried, and the sacrificial grain is glutinous rice.

The first peak of the third range of the Southern Mountains is Mount Tianyu. Below it is much water; it cannot be climbed.

Five hundred li to the east is Mount Daoguo. On top is much metal and jade; below it are many rhinoceroses, wild buffalo and elephants. There is a bird here shaped like a jiao bird, with a white head, three feet and a human face, called the quru; its call is its own name. The Yin River rises here and flows south into the sea. In it are tiger-jiao, with a fish's body and a snake's tail, whose voice is like a mandarin duck's; whoever eats them will not have swellings, and they can cure haemorrhoids.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Danxue (Cinnabar Cave). On top is much metal and jade. The Dan River rises here and flows south into the Bohai. There is a bird here shaped like a rooster, of five colours and patterned, called the fenghuang. The pattern on its head reads 'virtue', on its wings 'righteousness', on its back 'ritual', on its breast 'humaneness' and on its belly 'trust'. This bird eats and drinks naturally, sings and dances by itself, and when it appears the world is at peace.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Fashuang, with no plants or trees, much water and many white apes. The Fan River rises here and flows south into the Bohai.

Four hundred li further east one reaches the tail of Mount Mao. To its south is a valley called Yuyi, with many strange birds; the south wind comes from here.

Four hundred li further east one reaches the head of Mount Fei. On top is much metal and jade; there is no water, and below it are many venomous snakes.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Yangjia, with no plants or trees and much water.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Guanxiang. On top are many trees but no plants; there are many strange birds and no beasts.

Five hundred li further east is Mount Ji. On top is much metal, below it much red pigment. The Black River rises here and flows south into the sea. In it are tuan fish, shaped like a crucian carp but with a pig's bristles; their voice is like a piglet's, and when they appear the world will have a great drought.

Four hundred li further east is Mount Lingqiu, with no plants or trees and much fire. To its south is a valley called Zhonggu, from which the northeast wind comes. There is a bird here shaped like an owl, with a human face, four eyes and ears, called the yong; its call is its own name, and when it appears the world will have a great drought.

Three hundred and seventy li further east is Mount Lunzhe. On top is much metal and jade, below it much blue pigment. There is a tree here shaped like the paper mulberry with red grain; its sap is like lacquer and tastes like malt sugar. Whoever eats it will not be hungry, and it relieves weariness. It is called baigao, and it can be used to dye jade the colour of blood.

Five hundred and eighty li further east is Mount Yugao, with many strange beasts and many great snakes.

Five hundred and eighty li further east is Mount Nanyu. On top is much metal and jade, below it much water. There is a cave here: water goes in and comes out of it, coming out in summer and closing in winter. The Zuo River rises here and flows southeast into the sea. There are fenghuang and yuanchu birds.

In all, the third range of the Southern Mountains, from Mount Tianyu to Mount Nanyu, has fourteen mountains and runs 6,530 li. Their gods all have dragons' bodies and human faces. In every sacrifice to them a white dog is offered in prayer, and the sacrificial grain is glutinous rice.

The above is the record of the mountains of the Southern Classic: forty mountains, great and small, running 16,380 li.