《山海經》Vol. 18

This passage from the Classic of Mountains and Seas: Inner Seas primarily documents various extraordinary nations and geographical features surrounding ancient China. At the junction of the Eastern Sea and Northern Sea lies a country called Joseon (Korea), as well as a place named Tianzhu (ancient India), where people dwell by the water, revere Dao (the Way) and De (Virtue), and use gold and silver currency. Buddhism (Futu) originated here. During the fourth year of the Taixing era in the Jin Dynasty, the king of Tianzhu once came to pay tribute. The people of these lands are known for their benevolence.

Within the Western Sea region, amidst the shifting sands, there is a country called "□ City" (pronounced "Chi"), and further west lies the kingdom of "Fan Ye." West of the shifting sands stands Bird Mountain, where three rivers originate. The mountain abounds with treasures such as gold, fine jade (Xuangui), cinnabar, and silver. There is also Mount Huai, renowned for its pristine waters. East of the shifting sands and west of the Black River lie the kingdoms of Chaoyun and Sizhi. Legend holds that Leizu (daughter of the Xiling clan), the wife of the Yellow Emperor, gave birth to Changyi here. Changyi was later exiled to the Ruo River, where he fathered Hanliu (later known as Emperor Zhuanxu). Hanliu had a peculiar appearance: a long neck, small ears, a human face with a pig-like snout, the body of a qilin, and feet resembling cartwheels. He united with Naozi and gave birth to Tuixu.

Between the shifting sands and the Black River stands the Mountain of Immortality (also called Fuqiu). East of Mount Hua and the Qing River, Zhaoshan is home to the immortal Bogao, who could freely traverse between heaven and earth. Between the Southwestern Sea and the Black River lies another Mountain of Immortality (also known as Fuwu Mountain). These records reflect the ancient imagination of distant, exotic lands, blending geographical knowledge with myth and legend. The mention of the "Mountain of Immortality" may allude to the ancient pursuit of longevity and immortality as an ideal realm.

By the eastern green waters stands a mountain called Zhaoshan, where dwells a man named Bogao. Legend says Bogao could freely ascend and descend this mountain, reaching directly to the celestial court (this forty-character passage may contain duplicate records). Where the southwestern black waters meet the Southern Sea lies a vast plain called the Wilderness of Duguang, where Houji, the agricultural deity of the Zhou dynasty, is buried (this three-hundred-mile region is said to be the center of heaven and earth, and also the birthplace of the goddess Sunü. The line from "Li Sao" – "crossing the Wilderness of Duguang to reach the Cypress Mountain" – refers to this place).

This land produces excellent beans, rice, millet, and jizi grain (these grains are plump and smooth as oil; the "Outer Traditions" records that sorghum and beans are particularly abundant). Crops grow naturally here, suitable for sowing in both winter and summer ("sowing the qin" means planting, a local dialect term). Here, luan birds sing spontaneously, phoenixes dance unprompted, the lingzhi trees (a bamboo-like plant with jointed branches) bear abundant fruit, vegetation grows lush and thick, and all manner of beasts dwell together. The plants here remain evergreen through all seasons, never withering.

Between the black and green waters within the Southern Sea grows a divine tree called the Ruomu (with red leaves and a blue trunk), where the Ruo River flows. This region includes the lands of Yuzhong and Liexiang. On the spiritual mountains dwell red snakes coiled around trees, called ruǎn snakes (these snakes eat only leaves, never preying on birds or beasts; their name is pronounced like the word for "soft"). There is also the country of Jianzhang, whose people have bird-like heads and are called the Bird Clan (present-day cultivation texts still record these avian people).

Here also stand nine hills encircled by waters: the Hill of Taotang (named after Emperor Yao's title), the Hill of Shude, the Hill of Mengying, the Hill of Kunwu (this mountain is rich in metal; Master Yin once said, "Kunwu produces metal"), the Hill of Black and White, the Hill of Chiwang, the Hill of Canwei, the Hill of Wufu (all these are scenic hills), and finally the Hill of Shenji (meaning "where deities dwell"). Here grows a divine tree with blue leaves, purple stems, black blossoms, and yellow fruit, called the Jianmu. This tree stands a hundred ren tall without visible branches, its crown bearing nine twisting short limbs ("zhu" refers to these curved short branches), while its roots form nine coiled knots below (the "Huainanzi" states that great trees naturally develop coiled roots). Its fruit resembles hemp seeds in appearance.

This passage describes various extraordinary creatures and geographical phenomena recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing). In ancient times, there was a plant with leaves resembling awn grass (similar to the pear-leaved crabapple tree), beneath which the legendary Fuxi was said to have passed.

During the reign of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi), there existed a monstrous creature named Yayu, with a dragon’s head and a penchant for devouring humans. Another creature, a green beast with a human face called the "Xingxing," could speak human language. In the southwest lay the state of Ba (in present-day Sichuan), which recorded the lineage of its ancestors: Taihao (Great Brightness) begot Xianyan, Xianyan begot Shengli, Shengli begot Houzhao, and Houzhao became the progenitor of the Ba people.

The state of Liuhuang Xinshi (also known as Fengshi) boasted a magnificent city spanning three hundred li in circumference. Mount Basui was the source of the Mianshui River. In the state of Zhujuan, there lived black snakes with green heads, capable of swallowing elephants (the legendary "Ba Snake"). In the south, there were creatures called Gan Giants (or Xiao Yang), with human faces, long arms, and bodies covered in black fur, even their heels were hairy. They would laugh when humans laughed, and their lips could cover their faces, allowing them to evade danger.

There were also black-skinned beings with tiger bodies and bird-like feet, clutching snakes in their hands as if about to eat them. A bird named Ying had hooves resembling those of a pig (legend says the archer Houyi once shot a giant boar). In the lands inhabited by the Sanmiao people, there was a deity with a human head and a serpentine body as thick as a chariot shaft (the marsh deity). It had two heads—one on each side—and wore purple robes with a red hat. Its name was Yanwei (also called Wei Snake). If a ruler encountered and worshipped it, they could dominate the world (legend holds that Duke Huan of Qi saw it in a marsh before becoming a hegemon).

Luan birds danced and sang freely, while the phoenix bore the character "Shun" (obedience) on its head, "Ren" (benevolence) on its chest, and "Yi" (righteousness) on its back. Their appearance signified peace under heaven. There was also a green beast resembling a rabbit, called the Jun Bao, alongside kingfishers and peacocks.

Within the South Sea stood Mount Heng (the Southern Sacred Mountain), where grew the Jun Gui, a type of cinnamon resembling bamboo. The Three Son of Heaven Barrier Mountain lay to the south, and in the depths of the Cangwu Abyss stood the Nine Doubts Mountain, the burial place of Emperor Shun, located in the region of Changsha and Lingling.

In the southern region of Lingling's Yingdao County lies the Jiuyi Mountain (now within Ningyuan County, Hunan), where nine streams flow through the area, leading ancient people to collectively name this territory Cangwu.

Within the bounds of the North Sea (a legendary northern water body in ancient lore) stands Snake Mountain, from which the Snake River originates, flowing eastward into the great ocean. Here resides a divine bird of variegated colors that, when flying in flocks, can obscure entire villages (during the seventh year of Emperor Xuan of Han's Yuankang era, tens of thousands of these multicolored birds once flew over the county town). This bird is called the Yi Bird (a phoenix-like creature; the line "harnessing jade serpents and riding Yi Birds" from Li Sao refers to it). Nearby lies Buju Mountain, where the tomb of the master craftsman Chui (a renowned artisan from Emperor Yao's era) is located on its western slope.

Within the North Sea dwells a figure bound with hands tied behind his back, wearing fetters and holding a spear, known as the Corpse of Mutual Gaze (similar to punished deities like Wei, the Minister of Erfu). Boyi Fu begot Xi Xianlong, whose descendants became the Huqiang tribe (Boyi served as Emperor Zhuanxu's teacher, and the present-day Huqiang people are his descendants). This clan takes "Qi" as their surname.

The North Sea contains Youdu Mountain, where the Black River originates. The mountain teems with various black creatures: black birds, black snakes, black leopards, black tigers (the black tiger is called Shu), and black foxes with bushy tails. There also stands Mount Taixuan, inhabited by the completely black people of Xuanqiu. Here lies the Great Dark Nation (whose residents live in caves without clothing) and the Red-Shanked People with crimson legs below the knees. Furthermore, there exists the Nailing Spirit Nation, whose people have horsehair and hooves below their knees, making them exceptionally fleet-footed (legend says they can kick their own ankles with their hooves, covering three hundred li in a day).

Yandi's grandson Boling had an illicit affair with Wuquan's wife, A'nu Yuanfu (here "tong" indicates an improper relationship). Yuanfu created bell and chime music (according to Shiben, Wu Ju invented the chime while Chui crafted the bell), establishing a new musical tradition. Huangdi begot Luo Ming, who in turn fathered the White Horse, who was none other than Gun (Yu the Great's father. Another version states Huangdi begot Changyi, who fathered Zhuanxu, who then begot Gun). Emperor Jun begot Yu Hao, who fathered Yinliang, who in turn begot Panyu.

This passage records the significant figures of antiquity and their inventions. Gong Gu and Huo Di were the first to create boats, while Xi Zhong and Ji Guang, descendants of Fan Yu, jointly invented wooden carts. Ban, a descendant of Shao Hao, developed the bow and arrow. Later, the Heavenly Emperor Jun bestowed upon Yi a red bow and white arrows, empowering him to use archery to relieve human suffering.

Yan Long invented the qin and se musical instruments, while the eight sons of Heavenly Emperor Jun pioneered the art of song and dance. Yi Jun (also known as Qiao Chui) began crafting various ingenious tools for the people. Hou Ji taught humanity to sow the hundred grains, and his grandson Shu Jun invented ox-drawn plowing. Yu the Great and his father Gun worked to control the floods and demarcate the Nine Provinces.

Among the lineage of the Flame Emperor (Yan Di), Zhu Rong (the Fire God) was sent to the Jiang River region, where his descendants such as Gong Gong and Shu Qi engaged in water and soil management. Gong Gong's son Hou Tu fathered Ye Ming, whose twelve sons were each named after the twelve months. The text particularly mentions Gun's theft of the Heavenly Emperor's self-growing "breathing earth" (Xirang) to stem the floods—though this endeavor ultimately failed.

This passage recounts the mythical tale of Yu the Great's flood control in ancient times. During an era when floodwaters raged without bounds ("the surging deluge knew no limits"), Gun (Yu's father) presumptuously used "breathing earth" (a magical soil that could expand on its own) to dam the waters. However, since Gun had not obtained the Heavenly Emperor's permission, the enraged deity commanded Zhu Rong, the Fire God, to execute Gun beyond Mount Yu.

Remarkably, Gun's corpse showed no signs of decay three years after death. When split open with a Wu dagger, it transformed into a yellow dragon (some versions say a yellow bear, where "huangneng" refers to the dragon). Later, the Heavenly Emperor ordered Yu to complete the flood control mission. Adopting a channeling method instead of blockage, Yu ultimately pacified the waters across the Nine Provinces. The text also mentions an incident during Emperor Yuan of Han's reign when land in Xu County of Linhuai spontaneously rose ("the earth swelled six li in length and ten feet in height"), considered a phenomenon similar to the breathing earth.

This account contains several key elements: the miraculous properties of breathing earth, the lesson from Gun's failed flood control, the father-to-son transmission of purpose, and ancient interpretations of natural anomalies. The phrase "spreading earth to stabilize the Nine Provinces" reflects the crucial connection between Yu's flood control and the demarcation of China's territorial divisions.