《山海經》Vol. 9

Book Nine of the Classic of Mountains and Seas records wondrous sights beyond the eastern seas. In the region stretching from the southeastern to northeastern corners stands a hill called "Diu Hill" (also known as Jie Hill or the Hundred Fruits Place). This hill produces precious remnant jade, azure steeds, the legendary regenerating "vision meat" (Shirou), as well as willows and sweet pear trees. It also grows sweet blossom grass and sweet fruit trees. Situated in the Eastern Sea, this hill is nestled between two mountains.

To the north lies the Land of the Giants, where the people are exceptionally tall and often sit carving boats. Further north resides Shebi the Corpse (the name of a deity), who has the body of a beast, a human face, and large ears adorned with two green snakes. Some also call it Ganyu the Corpse.

The Land of the Gentlemen lies even further north. Its people dress neatly, wear swords, and feed on wild beasts, accompanied by two striped tigers. They are courteous and averse to conflict. Here grows the dusk-blooming dawn-withering Xunhua grass. North of this land, one can witness double-headed rainbows (Hongdidong).

In the Valley of the Rising Sun dwells the water deity Tianwu, who possesses eight heads, a human face, eight feet, and eight tails (the Great Wilderness: Eastern Classic records ten tails). His body is bluish-yellow, and he resides between two rivers.

Further north is the Land of Green Hills, where the people eat the five grains and wear silk garments. Here lives a peculiar fox with four legs but nine tails. According to the Bamboo Annals of Ji Commandery, Bozhuzi once obtained such a nine-tailed fox in the Eastern Sea and Sanshou.

Finally, it is recorded that the Heavenly Emperor commanded the swift-footed Jianhai to measure the earth. From the easternmost to the westernmost point, he walked a total of 501,098,000 steps. He held counting rods in his right hand and pointed north of the Land of Green Hills with his left. Some say this was an order from Yu the Great. Another reference from the Poetic Mysteries of the Divine Mists states that the distance between heaven and earth spans 230,000,000 li east to west, 215,000,000 li north to south, and 150,000,000 li between heaven and earth.

The Land of Black Teeth lies over four thousand li northeast of the ancient Wo country (Japan), reachable by traveling southeast. The journey by boat takes a full year. The people there have jet-black teeth and subsist mainly on rice, though they also consume snakes. They are often accompanied by a red serpent and a green serpent. Some accounts place this kingdom north of the Land of Jianhai.

The inhabitants have dark complexions and primarily cultivate rice, excelling in the art of serpent taming. Among the serpents, a red one dwells near the Valley of Hot Springs (Tanggu, where scalding waters flow). Above this valley grows the Fusang Divine Tree—a mythical tree where the ten suns bathe—located north of the Land of Black Teeth. The Fusang rises from the water, its massive branches hosting nine suns on the lower boughs while a single sun perches atop the highest branch.

(Historical context: Ancient myths recount how ten suns once appeared simultaneously, scorching the earth, prompting Emperor Yao to command the divine archer Yi to shoot down nine of them. The description "nine suns on the lower branches, one on the upper" metaphorically reflects this celestial anomaly, illustrating how the ten suns originally took turns in an aberrant cycle.)

Further north lies the Land of Yushiqie (Yushi refers to the rain god Pingyi). Its people have dark skin, each holding a serpent in both hands, with a green serpent dangling from the left ear and a red one from the right.

The Classic of Mountains and Seas records a series of extraordinary nations and deities in the eastern regions with distinctive physical features:

North of the ten suns lies a country whose inhabitants have pitch-black bodies with human faces, each holding a black turtle in their hands. Further north is the Dark-Thigh Nation (Xuangu), named for its people whose legs are entirely black below the thighs. They wear clothing made of fish skin, feed on waterfowl, and are always accompanied by two birds flanking them when traveling. An alternative account places this nation north of the Rain-Master Concubine Nation.

The Hairy Folk (Maomin) are covered entirely in hair. Similar records exist about a large island two thousand li southeast of modern Linhai Prefecture—where short-statured people dwell, their bodies covered in bristle-like hair resembling that of boars. They live in dugout dwellings and wear no clothing. During the Yongjia era of the Jin dynasty, officials reportedly encountered such people at sea.

The Laboring Folk (Laomin) have dark skin and subsist on wild fruits and grass seeds. Their land is home to a species of two-headed birds. Some texts alternatively call them the "Slaughter Folk." Meanwhile, the Bao people have completely black faces, hands, and feet.

Goumang, the Wood Deity of the East (who governs spring), manifests with a bird's body and human face, always riding two dragons. He serves as the assistant deity to Lingweiyang, one of the Five Directional Thearchs. The philosopher Mozi recorded that Duke Mu of Qin, due to his virtuous conduct, was granted nineteen additional years of lifespan by the Supreme Deity through Goumang's intervention.

The text further describes other marvels: The Gentlemen's Nation (Junzi) upholds righteousness and benevolence, consuming fragrant xunhua grass while commanding striped tigers. The water deity Tianwu (Valley Spirit) possesses eight heads, ten tails, a human face, and a tiger's body, dwelling between two great rivers. The auspicious nine-tailed fox appears carrying documents in its mouth—an omen documented as early as King Wen of Zhou's era.

The passage concludes with colophons noting the Han dynasty Jianping era officials who collated the text, including titles like Grand Master of Ceremonies subordinate Wang and Palace Attendant Imperial Household Grandee Gong. These geographical accounts, rich in mythological elements, reflect ancient cosmological imaginations of distant lands.

Yu the Great commanded Jian Hai to survey the earth, journeying eastward from north of Qingqiu Mountain (a mythical peak in the Eastern Sea) to the farthest reaches, then westward to the borders of Bin (an ancient western frontier). He measured the four directions of heaven and earth on foot, thereby manifesting his divine virtue (De).

The legend of ten suns rising together tells of a time when scorching heat withered all plants. The divine archer Yi drew his bowstring and shot down the golden crows (mythical birds within the suns) — a feat that resonated with cosmic forces and aligned with celestial will.

Records of the Hairy Folk describe a land where some mourned seabirds, while the beauty Xishi witnessed startled deer. Certain tribes prized cave-dwelling nudity, others honored clothed dignity, yet who among them could truly discern right from wrong?

Accounts of the Black-Teeth Kingdom, the Rain Master’s Consort, the Dark-Thigh Nation, and the Toiling People note: Near Yanggu Mountain lies a land where teeth are stained black; the Rain Master’s (deity of precipitation) concubine adorned her ears with serpents; the Dark-Thigh people subsisted on birds; the Toiling Folk bore blackened toes.

The visage of Goumang (Spring Deity) in the east: A divine being with a human face and avian body, clad in white robes, delivered the Heavenly Emperor’s decree granting Duke Mu of Qin longevity. Heaven shows no partiality — only virtuous deeds yield blessings.

(From Classic of Mountains and Seas, Volume IX, documenting Yu the Great’s cosmic measurements, Yi’s solar feats, and fantastical foreign customs, reflecting ancient cosmological imagination and moral philosophy.)