Wényáoyú

文鰩魚Wenyaoyu

The auspicious winged carp of Mount Taiqi in the Shan Hai Jing: flying by night, eating it cures madness and its sighting foretells great harvest.《山海经》记载泰器山瑞鱼：状如鲤鱼，鱼身鸟翼，食之已狂，见则天下大穰。

Wings羽翼

Bird wings on fish鱼躯生有鸟翼

魚身而鳥翼

Head头部

White head, red beak生有白头赤喙

赤喙

Cure疗效

Cures madness食其肉可疗狂

食之已狂

Omen征兆

Abundant harvest见则天下丰收

見則天下大穰

Woodblock print from Gujin Tushu Jicheng showing Wenyaoyu, a winged flying fish leaping over ocean waves赤喙Red beak and white head白首赤喙赤喙Red beak and white head白首赤喙魚身而鳥翼Bird wings on fish鱼身鸟翼魚身而鳥翼Bird wings on fish鱼身鸟翼蒼文而白首Azure carp scales青苍鳞甲蒼文而白首Azure carp scales青苍鳞甲狀如鯉魚Fish tail plumage鲤形鱼尾狀如鯉魚Fish tail plumage鲤形鱼尾
是多文鰩魚，狀如鯉魚

Here abound Wenyao fish, shaped like carps.

山海經·西山經
Wenyao Yu Tu 文鰩魚圖, the winged flying carp portending bountiful harvests. Gujin Tushu Jicheng 古今圖書集成, Animal Kingdom, juan 390, woodblock print, 1726清·陈梦雷等编《古今图书集成·禽虫典》卷三百九十“文鰩鱼图”，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 · Shan Hai Jing · Wikisource

是多文鰩魚，狀如鯉魚，魚身而鳥翼，蒼文而白首，赤喙，常從西海遊于東海，以夜飛。其音如鸞雞，其味酸甘，食之已狂，見則天下大穰。
Here abound Wenyao fish, shaped like carps, with a fish body and bird wings, azure markings and a white head, and a red beak. They often swim from the Western Sea to the Eastern Sea, taking flight by night. Their voice is like a luan bird; their taste is sweet and sour; eating them cures madness; when they appear, all under heaven enjoys a rich harvest.

Comparing the Books典籍对比

The Shan Hai Jing celebrates Wenyaoyu as an auspicious winged fish whose nocturnal flight across seas brings bountiful harvests and mental clarity.

The story来历与故事

The winged carp of Mount Taiqi in the Shan Hai Jing: swimming from west to east by night, eating its flesh cures madness while its appearance portends abundant harvests.

The Nocturnal Flying Fish of Mount Taiqi泰器异鱼：其名文鰩

Wenyaoyu is a winged carp swimming between seas.《西山经》记载泰器之山观水多文鰩鱼，常从西海游于东海以夜飞。

In the Classic of the Western Mountains, Wenyaoyu dwells in the Guan River descending from Mount Taiqi.

The text observes that these creatures swim from the Western Sea to the Eastern Sea, taking flight through night skies.

Carp Body, Avian Wings, and Bounteous Harvest鱼身鸟翼：天下大穰

It has bird wings and a red beak; it cures madness and heralds harvest.经文记其状如鲤鱼，鱼身而鸟翼，食之已狂，见则天下大穰。

The Shan Hai Jing details that Wenyaoyu possesses the form of a carp with blue-grey patterning, a white head, red beak, and feathered bird wings.

Its flesh tastes sour and sweet, curing mania and frenzy; its appearance across the land brings widespread agricultural abundance.

The Gujin Tushu Jicheng Woodblock Print清代图谱：惊波文鰩

Woodblock prints illustrate it as a winged carp flying above waves.《古今图书集成》画其为一尾双翼开展、翻飞于波涛浪花间的神异鲤鱼。

The 1726 imperial encyclopedia Gujin Tushu Jicheng depicts Wenyaoyu as a winged fish leaping with spread plumage above rippling waves.

The woodblock print illustrates its curved dorsal fin, scalloped bird wings, and distinct circular eye looking forward.

Record档案

Record Card档案卡

TypeAuspicious Flying Fish (winged carp of Mount Taiqi)
Also known asWényáoyú 文鰩魚; Wenyao Fish (文鰩)
HabitatMount Taiqi (泰器之山) in the Western Mountains, where Guan waters flow toward drifting sands
EffectCures mental confusion, and its sighting foretells great harvest (食之已狂，見則天下大穰)
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
Dragons & SerpentsAuspiciousShan Hai JingWinged有翼

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Wenyaoyu look like in the Shan Hai Jing?

The classic describes it as a carp-shaped fish with bird wings, azure markings, a white head, and a red beak.

What medicinal property is attributed to Wenyaoyu?

Ancient texts record that its taste is sweet and sour, and eating its flesh cures madness ('eating it cures madness').

What omen is associated with Wenyaoyu?

The Shan Hai Jing states that its sighting foretells universal agricultural abundance ('seen, all under heaven enjoys rich harvest').

One more?再看一只？

Draw another creature随机抽一只怪