Book Fifteen of the Classic of Mountains and Seas (大荒南经)

The Classic of the Great Wilderness: South (大荒南經 Dàhuāng nánjīng) is the fifteenth book of the Classic of Mountains and Seas and the second of the four «Classics of the Great Wilderness» (大荒經). It traverses the southern marches, lands of the divine lineages of Emperor Jun, of Shun and of Zhuanxu: there are found the land of the Three-Bodied, the sorcerers of Zhi who live without sowing or weaving, the goddess Xihe bathing the ten suns, and the maple born of Chiyou's fetters. The Chinese text is given with its pinyin transcription, followed by the English translation and notes.

大荒南經 — The Great Wilderness of the South

南nán海hǎi之zhī外wài，赤chì水shuǐ之zhī西xī，流liú沙shā之zhī東dōng，有yǒu獸shòu，左zuǒ右yòu有yǒu首shǒu，名míng曰yuē䟣chù踢tī。有yǒu三sān青qīng獸shòu相xiāng并bìng，名míng曰yuē雙shuāng雙shuāng。

Beyond the southern sea, west of the Red Water and east of the Shifting Sands, there is a beast with one head on the left and one on the right, named Chuti (䟣踢). There are three blue-green beasts coupled together, named Shuangshuang (雙雙).

有yǒu阿ā山shān者zhě。南nán海hǎi之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu氾fàn天tiān之zhī山shān，赤chì水shuǐ窮qióng焉yān。赤chì水shuǐ之zhī東dōng，有yǒu蒼cāng梧wú之zhī野yě，舜shùn與yǔ叔shū均jūn之zhī所suǒ葬zàng也yě。爰yuán有yǒu文wén貝bèi、離lí俞yú、𩿨chī久jiǔ、鷹yīng、賈jiǎ、委wěi維wéi、熊xióng、羆pí、象xiàng、虎hǔ、豹bào、狼láng、視shì肉ròu。

There is Mount A (阿山). In the midst of the southern sea rises Mount Fantian (氾天之山), where the Red Water ends. East of the Red Water lies the plain of Cangwu (蒼梧之野), where Shun and Shujun (叔均) were buried. There are found veined shells, the Liyu bird (離俞), the Jiujiu (𩿨久), the eagle (鷹), the Jia (賈), the Weiwei snake (委維), the bear, the brown bear, the elephant, the tiger, the leopard, the wolf and the Shirou (視肉).

有yǒu滎xíng山shān，滎xíng水shuǐ出chū焉yān。黑hēi水shuǐ之zhī南nán，有yǒu玄xuán蛇shé，食shí麈zhǔ。

There is Mount Ying (滎山), from which issues the Ying River (滎水). South of the Black Water lives a black snake (玄蛇) that devours deer (麈).

有yǒu巫wū山shān者zhě，西xī有yǒu黃huáng鳥niǎo。帝dì藥yào，八bā齋zhāi。黃huáng鳥niǎo於yú巫wū山shān，司sī此cǐ玄xuán蛇shé。

There is the Mountain of the Sorcerers (巫山); to the west is the yellow bird (黃鳥). The Sovereign's remedies (帝藥) are kept there in eight granaries. The yellow bird of the Sorcerers' Mountain watches over that black snake.

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu不bù庭tíng之zhī山shān，榮róng水shuǐ窮qióng焉yān。有yǒu人rén三sān身shēn，帝dì俊jùn妻qī娥é皇huáng，生shēng此cǐ三sān身shēn之zhī國guó，姚yáo姓xìng，黍shǔ食shí，使shǐ四sì鳥niǎo。有yǒu淵yuān四sì方fāng，四sì隅yú皆jiē達dá，北běi屬shǔ黑hēi水shuǐ，南nán屬shǔ大dà荒huāng，北běi旁páng名míng曰yuē少shǎo和hé之zhī淵yuān，南nán旁páng名míng曰yuē從cóng淵yuān，舜shùn之zhī所suǒ浴yù也yě。

At the heart of the Great Wilderness rises Mount Buting (不庭之山), where the Rong River ends (榮水). There are three-bodied men: Emperor Jun's wife, Ehuang (娥皇), bore this land of the Three-Bodied (三身之國), of the Yao clan (姚); they eat millet and are served by four beasts. There is a square abyss, open at its four corners; to the north it joins the Black Water, to the south the Great Wilderness; its northern edge is named the abyss of Shaohe (少和之淵), its southern edge the abyss of Cong (從淵): it is there that Shun bathed.

又yòu有yǒu成chéng山shān，甘gān水shuǐ窮qióng焉yān。有yǒu季jì禺yú之zhī國guó，顓zhuān頊xū之zhī子zi，食shí黍shǔ。有yǒu羽yǔ民mín之zhī國guó，其qí民mín皆jiē生shēng毛máo羽yǔ。有yǒu卵luǎn民mín之zhī國guó，其qí民mín皆jiē生shēng卵luǎn。

There is also Mount Cheng (成山), where the Gan River ends (甘水). There is the land of Jiyu (季禺之國), a son of Zhuanxu, where millet is eaten. There is the land of the Feathered Men (羽民之國), whose inhabitants are all born covered in feathers. There is the land of the Egg Men (卵民之國), whose inhabitants are all born from eggs.

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu不bù姜jiāng之zhī山shān，黑hēi水shuǐ窮qióng焉yān。又yòu有yǒu賈jiǎ山shān，汔qì水shuǐ出chū焉yān。又yòu有yǒu言yán山shān。又yòu有yǒu登dēng備bèi之zhī山shān。有yǒu恝jiá恝jiá之zhī山shān。又yòu有yǒu蒲pú山shān，澧lǐ水shuǐ出chū焉yān。又yòu有yǒu隗kuí山shān，其qí西xī有yǒu丹dān，其qí東dōng有yǒu玉yù。又yòu南nán有yǒu山shān，漂piāo水shuǐ出chū焉yān。有yǒu尾wěi山shān。有yǒu翠cuì山shān。

At the heart of the Great Wilderness rises Mount Bujiang (不姜之山), where the Black Water ends. There is also Mount Jia (賈山), from which issues the Qi River (汔水). Then Mount Yan (言山). Then Mount Dengbei (登備之山). Mount Jiajia (恝恝之山). Then Mount Pu (蒲山), from which issues the Li River (澧水). Then Mount Wei (隗山), to the west of which there is cinnabar and to the east jade. Further south a mountain from which issues the Piao River (漂水). There is Mount Wei (尾山). There is Mount Cui (翠山).

有yǒu盈yíng民mín之zhī國guó，於yú姓xìng，黍shǔ食shí。又yòu有yǒu人rén方fāng食shí木mù葉yè。

There is the land of the Sated Men (盈民之國), of the Yu clan (於), where millet is eaten. There are also people who feed on tree leaves.

有yǒu不bù死sǐ之zhī國guó，阿ā姓xìng，甘gān木mù是shì食shí。

There is the land of the Immortals (不死之國), of the A clan (阿), who feed on the sweet tree (甘木).

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē去qù痓chì。南nán極jí果guǒ，北běi不bù成chéng，去qù痓chì果guǒ。

At the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain named Quchi (去痓). At the south pole (the fruits) ripen, in the north they do not come to term; at Quchi they ripen.

南nán海hǎi渚zhǔ中zhōng，有yǒu神shén，人rén面miàn，珥ěr兩liǎng青qīng蛇shé，踐jiàn兩liǎng赤chì蛇shé，曰yuē不bù廷tíng胡hú余yú。

Amid the islets of the southern sea lives a god with a human face, two green snakes for earrings and two red snakes underfoot, named Butinghuyu (不廷胡余).

有yǒu神shén名míng曰yuē因yīn因yīn乎hū，南nán方fāng曰yuē因yīn乎hū，夸kuā風fēng曰yuē乎hū民mín。處chù南nán極jí以yǐ出chū入rù風fēng。

There is a god named Yinyinhu (因因乎); in the south he is called Yinhu (因乎), and the swelling wind is named Humin (乎民). He stands at the south pole to make the winds go out and come in.

有yǒu襄xiāng山shān。又yòu有yǒu重zhòng陰yīn之zhī山shān。有yǒu人rén食shí獸shòu，曰yuē季jì釐lí。帝dì俊jùn生shēng季jì釐lí，故gù曰yuē季jì釐lí之zhī國guó。有yǒu緡mín淵yuān。少shǎo昊hào生shēng倍bèi伐fá，倍bèi伐fá降jiàng處chù緡mín淵yuān。有yǒu水shuǐ四sì方fāng，名míng曰yuē俊jùn壇tán。

There is Mount Xiang (襄山). Then Mount Chongyin (重陰之山). There is a man who eats the flesh of beasts, named Jili (季釐). Emperor Jun begat Jili: hence the land of Jili (季釐之國). There is the Min abyss (緡淵). Shaohao begat Beifa (倍伐), who descended to dwell at the Min abyss. There is a square expanse of water named the Altar of Jun (俊壇).

有yǒu臷zhì民mín之zhī國guó。帝dì舜shùn生shēng無wú淫yín，降jiàng臷zhì處chù，是shì謂wèi巫wū臷zhì民mín。巫wū臷zhì民mín肦fén姓xìng，食shí穀gǔ，不bù績jī不bù經jīng，服fú也yě；不bù稼jià不bù穡sè，食shí也yě。爰yuán有yǒu歌gē舞wǔ之zhī鳥niǎo，鸞luán鳥niǎo自zì歌gē，鳳fèng鳥niǎo自zì舞wǔ。爰yuán有yǒu百bǎi獸shòu，相xiāng群qún爰yuán處chù。百bǎi穀gǔ所suǒ聚jù。

There is the land of the Zhimin (臷民之國). Emperor Shun begat Wuyin (無淫), who descended to dwell at Zhi: these are the Wuzhimin (巫臷民, «the people of the sorcerers of Zhi»). The Wuzhimin, of the Ban clan (肦), eat grain; they neither spin nor weave, yet they clothe themselves; they neither sow nor reap, yet they feed themselves. There are singing and dancing birds: the luan bird (鸞) sings of itself, the phoenix (鳳) dances of itself. There are the hundred kinds of beasts that live together in herds. It is there that the hundred grains gather.

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē融róng天tiān，海hǎi水shuǐ南nán入rù焉yān。

At the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain named Rongtian (融天), where the sea-water enters from the south.

有yǒu人rén曰yuē鑿záo齒chǐ，羿yì殺shā之zhī。

There is a man named Zuochi (鑿齒, «Drill-Teeth»), whom the archer Yi (羿) slew.

有yǒu蜮yù山shān者zhě，有yǒu蜮yù民mín之zhī國guó，桑sāng姓xìng，食shí黍shǔ，射shè蜮yù是shì食shí。有yǒu人rén方fāng扜yū弓gōng射shè黃huáng蛇shé，名míng曰yuē蜮yù人rén。

There is Mount Yu (蜮山); there is the land of the Yumin (蜮民之國), of the Sang clan (桑), who eat millet and feed on the Yu (蜮, an insect they shoot down with the bow). There is a man drawing his bow to shoot at a yellow snake, named the Yu-man (蜮人).

有yǒu宋sòng山shān者zhě，有yǒu赤chì蛇shé，名míng曰yuē育yù蛇shé。有yǒu木mù生shēng山shān上shàng，名míng曰yuē楓fēng木mù。楓fēng木mù，蚩chī尤yóu所suǒ棄qì其qí桎zhì梏gù，是shì謂wèi楓fēng木mù。

There is Mount Song (宋山); there is a red snake named Yushe (育蛇). On the mountain grows a tree named the maple (楓木). The maple: it is there that Chiyou (蚩尤) cast off his fetters and shackles, which became this maple.

有yǒu人rén方fāng齒chǐ虎hǔ尾wěi，名míng曰yuē祖zǔ狀zhuàng之zhī尸shī。

There is a being with (jutting) teeth and a tiger's tail, named the corpse of Zuzhuang (祖狀之尸).

有yǒu小xiǎo人rén，名míng曰yuē焦jiāo僥yáo之zhī國guó，幾jǐ姓xìng，嘉jiā穀gǔ是shì食shí。

There are dwarfs, named the land of the Jiaoyao (焦僥之國), of the Ji clan (幾), who feed on the fine grains.

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu山shān名míng㱙xiǔ塗tú之zhī山shān，青qīng水shuǐ窮qióng焉yān。有yǒu雲yún雨yǔ之zhī山shān，有yǒu木mù名míng曰yuē欒luán。禹yǔ攻gōng雲yún雨yǔ，有yǒu赤chì石shí焉yān生shēng欒luán，黃huáng本běn，赤chì枝zhī，青qīng葉yè，群qún帝dì焉yān取qǔ藥yào。

At the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain named Xiutu (㱙塗之山), where the Blue Water ends (青水). There is the Mountain of Clouds-and-Rain (雲雨之山); there grows a tree named Luan (欒). Yu (禹) felled (the forest of) Yunyu there; there is a red stone from which the Luan is born, with a yellow trunk, red branches and green leaves: it is there that the gods (群帝) come to gather their remedies.

有yǒu國guó曰yuē顓zhuān頊xū，生shēng伯bó服fú，食shí黍shǔ。有yǒu鼬yòu姓xìng之zhī國guó。有yǒu苕tiáo山shān。又yòu有yǒu宗zōng山shān。又yòu有yǒu姓xìng山shān。又yòu有yǒu壑hè山shān。又yòu有yǒu陳chén州zhōu山shān。又yòu有yǒu東dōng州zhōu山shān。又yòu有yǒu白bái水shuǐ山shān，白bái水shuǐ出chū焉yān，而ér生shēng白bái淵yuān，昆kūn吾wú之zhī師shī所suǒ浴yù也yě。

There is a land named Zhuanxu (顓頊), who begat Bofu (伯服), where millet is eaten. There is the land of the You clan (鼬姓之國). There is Mount Tiao (苕山). Then Mount Zong (宗山). Then Mount Xing (姓山). Then Mount He (壑山). Then Mount Chenzhou (陳州山). Then Mount Dongzhou (東州山). Then the Mountain of the White Waters (白水山), from which issues the Bai River (白水), forming the White abyss (白淵): it is there that the army of Kunwu (昆吾) bathed.

有yǒu人rén名míng曰yuē張zhāng弘hóng，在zài海hǎi上shàng捕bǔ魚yú。海hǎi中zhōng有yǒu張zhāng弘hóng之zhī國guó，食shí魚yú，使shǐ四sì鳥niǎo。

There is a man named Zhanghong (張弘), who fishes on the open sea. In the midst of the sea is the land of Zhanghong (張弘之國), where fish is eaten and where one is served by four beasts.

有yǒu人rén焉yān，鳥niǎo喙huì，有yǒu翼yì，方fāng捕bǔ魚yú於yú海hǎi。大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu人rén名míng曰yuē驩huān頭tóu。鯀gǔn妻qī士shì敬jìng，士shì敬jìng子zi曰yuē炎yán融róng，生shēng驩huān頭tóu。驩huān頭tóu人rén面miàn鳥niǎo喙huì，有yǒu翼yì，食shí海hǎi中zhōng魚yú，杖zhàng翼yì而ér行xíng。維wéi宜yí芑qǐ苣jù，穋lù楊yáng是shì食shí。有yǒu驩huān頭tóu之zhī國guó。

There is a man with a bird's beak and furnished with wings, who fishes for fish in the sea. At the heart of the Great Wilderness there is a man named Huantou (驩頭). Gun (鯀, Yu's father) had for wife Shijing (士敬); Shijing's son was Yanrong (炎融), who begat Huantou. Huantou has a human face and a bird's beak, wings, and feeds on the fishes of the sea; he walks leaning on his wings. He feeds on Qi reeds (芑), on Ju (苣) and on Yang millet (穋楊). There is the land of Huantou (驩頭之國).

帝dì堯yáo、帝dì嚳kù、帝dì舜shùn葬zàng於yú岳yuè山shān。爰yuán有yǒu文wén貝bèi，離lí俞yú、𩿨chī久jiǔ、鷹yīng、賈jiǎ、延yán維wéi、視shì肉ròu、熊xióng、羆pí、虎hǔ、豹bào；朱zhū木mù，赤chì支zhī，青qīng華huá，玄xuán實shí。有yǒu申shēn山shān者zhě。

The emperors Yao (堯), Ku (嚳) and Shun (舜) were buried at Mount Yue (岳山). There are found veined shells, the Liyu bird (離俞), the Jiujiu (𩿨久), the eagle, the Jia (賈), the Yanwei snake (延維), the Shirou (視肉), the bear, the brown bear, the tiger, the leopard; and the Zhumu tree (朱木), with red branches, green flowers and black fruits. There is Mount Shen (申山).

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē天tiān臺tái高gāo山shān，海hǎi水shuǐ入rù焉yān。

At the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain named Tiantai (天臺高山), where the sea-water enters.

東dōng南nán海hǎi之zhī外wài，甘gān水shuǐ之zhī間jiān，有yǒu羲xī和hé之zhī國guó。有yǒu女nǚ子zi名míng曰yuē羲xī和hé，方fāng浴yù日rì於yú甘gān淵yuān。羲xī和hé者zhě，帝dì俊jùn之zhī妻qī，生shēng十shí日rì。

Beyond the southeastern sea, between the waters of the Gan River, lies the land of Xihe (羲和之國). There is a woman named Xihe (羲和), who bathes the suns in the Gan abyss (甘淵). Xihe is the wife of Emperor Jun: she bore the ten suns.

有yǒu蓋gài猶yóu之zhī山shān者zhě，其qí上shàng有yǒu甘gān柤zhā，枝zhī幹gàn皆jiē赤chì，黃huáng葉yè，白bái華huá，黑hēi實shí。東dōng又yòu有yǒu甘gān華huá，枝zhī幹gàn皆jiē赤chì，黃huáng葉yè。有yǒu青qīng馬mǎ。有yǒu赤chì馬mǎ，名míng曰yuē三sān騅zhuī。有yǒu視shì肉ròu。

There is Mount Gaiyou (蓋猶之山); on its summit grows the sweet jujube (甘柤), with branches and trunk all red, yellow leaves, white flowers and black fruits. To the east there is also the «sweet-flowering» (甘華), with red branches and trunk, yellow leaves. There are blue-green horses. There are red horses, named Sanzhui (三騅). There is the Shirou (視肉).

有yǒu小xiǎo人rén名míng曰yuē菌jūn人rén。

There are dwarfs named the Junren (菌人).

有yǒu南nán類lèi之zhī山shān，爰yuán有yǒu遺yí玉yù、青qīng馬mǎ、三sān騅zhuī、視shì肉ròu、甘gān華huá，百bǎi穀gǔ所suǒ在zài。

There is Mount Nanlei (南類之山); there are found the jade Yiyu (遺玉), blue-green horses, the Sanzhui (三騅), the Shirou (視肉), the «sweet-flowering» (甘華), and the place where the hundred grains grow.

Notes

Xihe (羲和), mother of the suns. The most famous passage of the book: Xihe, wife of Emperor Jun, bears the ten suns and bathes them in the Gan abyss. A major solar figure, she would become in later tradition the driver of the Sun's chariot.

The sorcerers of Zhi (巫臷民). A utopian people descended from Shun, who «neither spin nor weave yet clothe themselves, neither sow nor reap yet feed themselves»: a land of spontaneous abundance where the phoenix and the luan sing and dance, a recurring paradisal image of the Great Wilderness.

Divine lineages. Like all the 大荒經, the book is woven of genealogies: Emperor Jun (帝俊), Zhuanxu (顓頊), Shaohao (少昊), Shun beget peoples and lands (Three-Bodied, Jili, Huantou…). Huantou (驩頭), grandson of Gun and a winged fishing figure, links the book to the flood cycle.

Chiyou and the maple (楓木). The red tree born of the fetters cast off by the vanquished Chiyou prolongs, as in the east, the great myth of the Yellow Emperor's war.

Tombs of the emperors. Yao, Ku and Shun rest at Mount Yue; Shun and Shujun at Mount Cangwu: the sacred geography of the South accumulates imperial sepulchres, surrounded by fabulous animals and marvellous trees.

Uncertain identifications. Many names of mountains, beings and animals (䟣踢, 𩿨久, 蜮…) have no assured equivalent; they are transcribed in pinyin with the characters, the English renderings following the traditional glosses (Guo Pu, Hao Yixing).

Chinese text after the Chinese Text Project (ctext.org). Translation and notes: Chine-culture.com.