Tiānmǎ
The winged canine beast of Mount Macheng in the Shan Hai Jing: white-bodied with a black head, it takes flight upon seeing people.《山海经》记载马成山神兽天马：状如白犬而黑头，见人则飞，其鸣自訆。
Head头首
Black canine head长有青墨犬吻
黑頭
Body身形
White canine form躯体纯素皎洁
其狀如白犬
Wings飞翼
Takes flight on sight遇客振翼凌虚
見人則飛
Voice鸣声
Calls its own name啸叫如呼己号
其鳴自訆
有獸焉，其名曰天馬There is a beast here; its name is Tianma.
山海經·北山經
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
Unlike the famous Han dynasty Ferghana horses later celebrated as 'heavenly horses', the Shan Hai Jing Tianma is a winged white canine possessing flight and autonomous cries.
The story来历与故事
The winged white hound of Mount Macheng in the Shan Hai Jing: white-bodied with a black head, it takes flight upon seeing people and calls its own name.
Tianma is a winged white canine dwelling on Mount Macheng.《北山经》记载马成之山多文石金玉，其中有兽名曰天马。
In the Classic of the Northern Mountains, Tianma dwells upon Mount Macheng, two hundred li northeast of Mount Jing.
Amidst mineral-rich ridges where the bird Qiuju also thrives, this winged canine soars above mountain crags.
It has a white hound body, black head, and flies when seeing people.经文记其状如白犬而黑头，见人则飞，其鸣自訆。
The Shan Hai Jing describes Tianma as resembling a white hound with a distinct black head, unlike later equine legends.
Whenever it encounters human travelers it takes flight through the skies ('jian ren ze fei'), calling out its own name in clarion barks.
Woodblock prints illustrate it galloping through the air with flank wings.《古今图书集成》画其为一头昂首展翼、如犬飞奔于云野间的神兽。
The 1726 imperial encyclopedia Gujin Tushu Jicheng portrays Tianma galloping through the sky with feathered flank flames and arched tail.
The woodblock print illustrates its elongated canine muzzle, curling tail plumes, and buoyant flying stride.
Record档案
| Type | Auspicious Beast (winged white hound of Mount Macheng) |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Tiānmǎ 天馬; Heavenly Horse (classical canine form) |
| Habitat | Mount Macheng (馬成之山) in the Northern Mountains, rich in patterned stone, gold and jade |
| Behavior | Takes flight through the air whenever encountering humans (見人則飛) |
| Earliest source | 山海經·北山經 |
| Source books | 山海經·北山經 |
| Image source | Chen Menglei 陳夢雷 (ed.) · Wikimedia Commons |
| License | Public domain |
The classic describes Tianma as a beast shaped like a white hound with a black head ('shaped like a white dog with a black head').
In later dynasties 'Tianma' referred to prized Central Asian Ferghana steeds, whereas the ancient Shan Hai Jing records an indigenous winged canine creature.
The Shan Hai Jing specifies that its cry calls its own name ('its cry calls itself'), resounding like its name Tianma.
One more?再看一只？
Draw another creature随机抽一只怪
