Shùsī

數斯Shusi

The human-footed owl of Mount Gaotu from the Shan Hai Jing: shaped like a raptor with human feet, eating it cures goiter and neck swellings.《山海经》记载皋涂山神禽数斯：状如鸱鸮而生有人足，食之已瘿，善疗颈部瘿瘤。

Body身形

Like an owl神态沉凝宛若鸱鸟

其狀如鴟

Legs足爪

Human feet下生灵动人足

人足

Name名号

Named Shusi呼啸群峰自名数斯

名曰數斯

Cure食效

Cures goiter服用可消颈颔气瘿

食之已癭

Woodblock print from Gujin Tushu Jicheng showing the owl-like raptor Shusi with distinctive human feet perched on rock, inscribed 'Shusi Tu'其狀如鴟Owl head鸱鸮头面其狀如鴟Owl head鸱鸮头面羽軀Raptor torso丰厚羽躯羽軀Raptor torso丰厚羽躯人足Human feet人类双足人足Human feet人类双足鸱尾Owl tail短阔鸱尾鸱尾Owl tail短阔鸱尾
西南三百八十里，曰塗途之山

Three hundred and eighty li southwest lies Mount Tutu.

山海經·西山經
數斯圖, 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》“數斯图”，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·西山經 · 山海經·西山經 · Wikisource

西南三百八十里，曰塗途之山。有鳥焉，其狀如鴟而人足，名曰數斯，食之已癭。
There is a bird here shaped like an owl with human feet, named Shusi; consuming it cures goiter.

山海經·西山經 · 山海經·西山經 · Wikisource

西南三百八十里，曰塗途之山。有鳥焉，其狀如鴟而人足，名曰數斯，食之已癭。
There is a bird here shaped like an owl with human feet, named Shusi; consuming it cures goiter.

Comparing the Books典籍对比

The Classic of the Western Mountains describes the Shusi of Mount Gaotu: an owl-like raptor possessing human feet whose flesh was anciently renowned for dissolving neck goiter.

The story来历与故事

A benevolent medicinal raptor recorded in western mountain lore: built with the hooked beak, keen nocturnal eyes, and silent plumage of an owl, resting upon articulate five-toed human feet. In early Chinese mountain medicine, its meat was treasured as a miraculous remedy for dissolving stubborn neck goiters.

The Human-Footed Owl of Mount Gaotu皋涂之山与食之已瘿

The Shan Hai Jing records in the Classic of the Western Mountains that southwest《山海经·西山经》记载，西南三百八十里曰皋涂之山，其山阳多丹粟，阴多银与黄金，其

The Shan Hai Jing records in the Classic of the Western Mountains that southwestward lies Mount Gaotu, a rich mountain bearing cinnabar millet and silver deposits. Nesting among the cinnamon groves is the Shusi, a raptor identical to an owl in head and plumage, but standing upon distinct human feet.

Beyond this striking physical juxtaposition, ancient naturalists prized the bird for its targeted medical property: 'eating it cures goiter' ('shi zhi yi ying'). In remote inland valleys, iodine deficiencies frequently caused severe thyroid swellings ('ying'); the mountain people discovered that consuming the Shusi provided immediate relief, dissolving the tumors and restoring ease to the throat.

Endemic Goiter and Ancient Empirical Therapeutics上古地方病防治与朴素食疗经验

Modern medical historians regard the entry on Shusi as a prime example of ancien现代科技史与医学界学者指出，《山海经》中“食之已瘿”的精准记录，体现了华夏先民对

Modern medical historians regard the entry on Shusi as a prime example of ancient empirical therapeutics encoded into mythological memory. Mountain dwellers observed that predatory birds consuming marine fossils or mineral-rich reptiles concentrated vital trace elements that combated glandular swellings.

In subsequent imperial encyclopedias, Shusi stood as an enduring symbol of nature's hidden healing bounty, perched vigilantly upon the rocks of classical woodblock prints.

Record档案

Record Card档案卡

TypeMedicinal Avian (human-footed owl curing goiter)
Also known asHuman-Footed Owl; Goiter-Curing Fowl
Earliest sourceShan Hai Jing 山海經 (Classic of the Western Mountains)
Healing PowerConsuming its flesh completely cures and disperses neck goiters and swellings ('yi ying')
HabitatDwells upon Mount Gaotu overlooking southern streams and cinnabar millet fields
SymbolismEarly prototype of classical Chinese curative mountain pharmacopeia
Earliest source山海經·西山經
Source books山海經·西山經
Image sourceChen Menglei 陳夢雷 (ed.) · Wikimedia Commons
LicensePublic domain
Divine BirdsAuspiciousShan Hai JingBird-bodied鸟身

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Shusi in Chinese mythology?

The Shusi is an owl-like bird from the Shan Hai Jing that has human feet. Consuming its meat cures goiter and throat swellings.

Where does the Shusi live?

According to the Shan Hai Jing, the Shusi dwells on Mount Gaotu among cinnamon trees and cinnabar millet fields.

What medical condition is 'ying'?

'Ying' (瘿) refers to goiter, thyroid gland tumors, or nodules in the neck caused by environmental iodine deficiencies.

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