The Classic of the Southern Mountains (南山经 Nánshānjīng) opens the Classic of Mountains and Seas. It describes, from west to east, three mountain ranges populated by extraordinary plants, minerals, beasts, and birds, and concludes each range with the ritual due to its deities. The Chinese text is presented with its pinyin transcription (hover over or read the annotated characters), followed by the French translation and notes.
First Classic of the Southern Mountains — 南山经
南山經之首曰䧿山. 其首曰招搖之山, 臨于西海之上, 多桂, 多金玉. 有草焉, 其狀如韭而青花, 其名曰祝餘, 食之不飢. 有木焉, 其狀如穀而黑理, 其花四照, 其名曰迷穀, 佩之不迷. 有獸焉, 其狀如禺而白耳, 伏行人走, 其名曰狌狌, 食之善走. 麗𪊨之水出焉, 而西流注于海, 其中多育沛, 佩之無瘕疾.
The first of the Southern Mountains is called Mount Què (䧿山). Its head is Mount Zhaoyao (招搖), which overlooks the Western Sea. It abounds in cinnamon trees, gold, and jade. There grows a herb whose appearance resembles leeks but with blue flowers; it is called zhuyu (祝餘), and whoever eats it never feels hungry again. There stands a tree whose appearance resembles the paper mulberry, with black veins and flowers that illuminate the four directions; it is called migu (迷穀), and whoever carries it will not get lost. There lives a beast whose appearance resembles a monkey but with white ears; it walks either crouching or running like a man; it is called xingxing (狌狌), and whoever eats it becomes a good runner. The Liji River (麗𪊨) flows out from here and runs west to empty into the sea; it abounds in yupei (育沛), and whoever carries it will suffer no abdominal swellings.
又東三百里, 曰堂庭之山, 多棪木, 多白猿, 多水玉, 多黃金.
Three hundred li further east is Mount Tangting (堂庭). It abounds in yan trees (棪), white gibbons, rock crystal (shuiyu 水玉), and gold.
又東三百八十里, 曰猨翼之山, 其中多怪獸, 水多怪魚, 多白玉, 多腹虫, 多怪蛇, 多怪木, 不可以上.
Three hundred eighty li further east is Mount Yuanyi (猨翼). It abounds in strange beasts; its waters teem with strange fish; it has much white jade, many vipers (fuchong 腹虫), many strange snakes, and strange trees. One cannot climb it.
又東三百七十里, 曰杻陽之山, 其陽多赤金, 其陰多白金. 有獸焉, 其狀如馬而白首, 其文如虎而赤尾, 其音如謠, 其名曰鹿蜀, 佩之宜子孫. 怪水出焉, 而東流注于憲翼之水. 其中多玄龜, 其狀如龜而鳥首虺尾, 其名曰旋龜, 其音如判木, 佩之不聾, 可以為底.
Three hundred seventy li further east is Mount Niuyang (杻陽). Its southern slope abounds in red gold (copper), its northern slope in white gold (silver). There lives a beast whose appearance resembles a horse, with a white head, tiger stripes, and a red tail; its voice is like a song; it is called lushu (鹿蜀), and whoever carries it will have many descendants. The Guai River (怪水) flows out from here and runs east to empty into the Xianyi River (憲翼). It abounds in black turtles whose appearance resembles a turtle but with a bird’s head and a serpent’s tail; they are called xuangui (旋龜); their cry is like the cracking of split wood; whoever carries them will not go deaf, and they can be used to treat calluses.
東三百里, 祗山, 多水, 無草木. 有魚焉, 其狀如牛, 陵居, 蛇尾有翼, 其羽在魼下, 其音如留牛, 其名曰鯥, 冬死而夏生, 食之無腫疾.
Three hundred li to the east is Mount Zhi (祗山). It abounds in water and has no grass or trees. There lives a fish whose appearance resembles an ox; it dwells on mounds, has a serpent’s tail with wings, and its feathers are under its sides; its voice is like that of a liuniu (留牛); it is called lu (鯥); it dies in winter and is reborn in summer; whoever eats it suffers no swellings.
又東四百里, 曰亶爰之山, 多水, 無草木, 不可以上. 有獸焉, 其狀如狸而有髦, 其名曰類, 自為牝牡, 食者不妬.
Four hundred li further east is Mount Danyuan (亶爰). It abounds in water, has no grass or trees, and cannot be climbed. There lives a beast whose appearance resembles a wildcat but with a mane; it is called lei (類); it is both male and female; whoever eats it will feel no jealousy.
又東三百里, 曰基山, 其陽多玉, 其陰多怪木. 有獸焉, 其狀如羊, 九尾四耳, 其目在背, 其名曰猼訑, 佩之不畏. 有鳥焉, 其狀如雞而三首六目, 六足三翼, 其名曰𪁺𩿧, 食之無臥.
Three hundred li further east is Mount Ji (基山). Its southern slope abounds in jade, its northern slope in strange trees. There lives a beast whose appearance resembles a sheep, with nine tails, four ears, and eyes on its back; it is called bochi (猼訑); whoever carries it will feel no fear. There lives a bird whose appearance resembles a rooster but with three heads, six eyes, six feet, and three wings; it is called changfu (𪁺𩿧); whoever eats it will need little sleep.
又東三百里, 曰青丘之山, 其陽多玉, 其陰多青䨼. 有獸焉, 其狀如狐而九尾, 其音如嬰兒, 能食人, 食者不蠱. 有鳥焉, 其狀如鳩, 其音若呵, 名曰灌灌, 佩之不惑. 英水出焉, 南流注于即翼之澤. 其中多赤鱬, 其狀如魚而人面, 其音如鴛鴦, 食之不疥.
Three hundred li further east is Mount Qingqiu (青丘). Its southern slope abounds in jade, its northern slope in green ore (qīnghù 青䨼). There lives a beast whose appearance resembles a fox but with nine tails; its voice is like that of an infant; it can devour humans; whoever eats it is protected from gu (蠱) spells. There lives a bird whose appearance resembles a turtledove; its voice is like a reprimand; it is called guanguan (灌灌); whoever carries it will not be misled. The Ying River (英水) flows out from here and runs south to empty into the Jiyi Marsh (即翼). It abounds in chiru (赤鱬), fish with the body of a fish and the face of a human; their cry is like that of mandarin ducks; whoever eats them will not suffer from scabies.
又東三百五十里, 曰箕尾之山, 其尾踆于東海, 多沙石. 汸水出焉, 而南流注于淯, 其中多白玉.
Three hundred fifty li further east is Mount Jiwei (箕尾). Its tail dips into the Eastern Sea; it abounds in sand and stones. The Fang River (汸水) flows out from here and runs south to empty into the Yu River (淯); it abounds in white jade.
凡䧿山之首, 自招搖之山, 以至箕尾之山, 凡十山, 二千九百五十里. 其神狀皆鳥身而龍首, 其祠之禮: 毛用一璋玉瘞, 糈用稌米, 一壁, 稻米, 白菅為席.
In all, from Mount Zhaoyao to Mount Jiwei, the main chain of Mount Què comprises ten mountains, spanning two thousand nine hundred fifty li. Their deities all have the body of a bird and the head of a dragon. The ritual for their worship: for the offering of fur, a jade tablet (zhang 璋) is buried; as sacred grain, glutinous rice (tu 稌) is used; a jade disc (bi 璧) is added; and a mat of white jian grass and rice is laid out.
Second Classic of the Southern Mountains — 南次二经
《南次二經》之首, 曰柜山, 西臨流黃, 北望諸毗, 東望長右. 英水出焉, 西南流注于赤水, 其中多白玉, 多丹粟. 有獸焉, 其狀如豚, 有距, 其音如狗吠, 其名曰狸力, 見則其縣多土功. 有鳥焉, 其狀如鴟而人手, 其音如痺, 其名曰鴸, 其鳴自號也, 見則其縣多放士.
The first mountain of the Second Classic of the South is called Mount Ju (柜山). To the west it borders the Liuhuang (流黃), to the north it overlooks Zhubi (諸毗), and to the east it faces Changyou (長右). The Ying River (英水) flows out from here and runs southwest to empty into the Red River (赤水); it abounds in white jade and cinnabar grains. There lives a beast whose appearance resembles a piglet, with spurs; its voice is like a dog’s bark; it is called lili (狸力); wherever it appears, the district undertakes great earthworks. There lives a bird whose appearance resembles a kite but with human hands; its voice is like the chirp of a quail; it is called zhu (鴸); its cry announces its own name; wherever it appears, the district exiles many scholars.
東南四百五十里, 曰長右之山, 無草木, 多水. 有獸焉, 其狀如禺而四耳, 其名長右, 其音如吟, 見則郡縣大水.
Four hundred fifty li southeast is Mount Changyou (長右). It has no grass or trees but abounds in water. There lives a beast whose appearance resembles a monkey but with four ears; it is called changyou (長右); its voice is like a lament; when it appears, prefectures and districts suffer great floods.
又東三百四十里 曰堯光之山, 其陽多玉, 其陰多金. 有獸焉, 其狀如人而彘鬣, 穴居而冬蟄, 其名曰猾褢, 其音如斲木, 見則縣有大繇.
Three hundred forty li further east is Mount Yaoguang (堯光). Its southern slope abounds in jade, its northern slope in metal. There lives a beast whose appearance resembles a man but with a boar’s bristles; it dwells in burrows and hibernates in winter; it is called huahuai (猾褢); its voice is like chopping wood; when it appears, the district faces heavy corvée labor.
又東三百五十里, 曰羽山, 其下多水, 其上多雨, 無草木, 多蝮虫.
Three hundred fifty li further east is Mount Yu (羽山). The lower part abounds in water, the upper in rain; it has no grass or trees and abounds in vipers (fuchong 蝮虫).
又東三百七十里, 曰瞿父之山, 無草木, 多金玉.
Three hundred seventy li further east is Mount Qufu (瞿父). It has no grass or trees and abounds in gold and jade.
又東四百里, 曰句餘之山, 無草木, 多金玉.
Four hundred li further east is Mount Gouyu (句餘). It has no grass or trees and abounds in gold and jade.
又東五百里, 曰浮玉之山, 北望具區, 東望諸毗. 有獸焉, 其狀如虎而牛尾, 其音如吠犬, 其名曰彘, 是食人. 苕水出于其陰, 北流注于具區. 其中多鮆魚.
Five hundred li further east is Mount Fuyu (浮玉). To the north it overlooks Juqu (具區), and to the east it faces Zhubi (諸毗). There lives a beast whose appearance resembles a tiger but with an ox’s tail; its voice is like a dog’s bark; it is called zhi (彘); it devours humans. The Tiao River (苕水) flows out from its northern side and runs north to empty into Juqu. It abounds in ji fish (鮆).
又東五百里, 曰成山, 四方而三壇, 其上多金玉, 其下多青䨼. 𨴯水出焉, 而南流注于虖勺, 其中多黃金.
Five hundred li further east is Mount Cheng (成山), square with three tiers. Its summit abounds in gold and jade, its base in green ore (qīnghù). The Shi River (𨴯水) flows out from here and runs south to empty into the Hushao (虖勺); it abounds in gold.
又東五百里, 曰會稽之山, 四方, 其上多金玉, 其下多砆石. 勺水出焉, 而南流注于湨.
Five hundred li further east is Mount Kuaiji (會稽), square in shape. Its summit abounds in gold and jade, its base in fu stones (砆). The Shao River (勺水) flows out from here and runs south to empty into the Ju (湨).
又東五百里, 曰夷山, 無草木, 多沙石, 湨水出焉, 而南流注于列塗.
Five hundred li further east is Mount Yi (夷山). It has no grass or trees and abounds in sand and stones. The Ju River (湨水) flows out from here and runs south to empty into the Lietu (列塗).
又東五百里, 曰僕勾之山, 其上多金玉, 其下多草木, 無鳥獸, 無水.
Five hundred li further east is Mount Pugou (僕勾). Its summit abounds in gold and jade, its base in grass and trees. It has no birds, beasts, or water.
又東五百里, 曰咸陰之山, 無草木, 無水.
Five hundred li further east is Mount Xianyin (咸陰). It has no grass or trees and no water.
又東四百里, 曰洵山, 其陽多金, 其陰多玉. 有獸焉, 其狀如羊而無口, 不可殺也, 其名曰䍺. 洵水出焉, 而南流注于閼之澤, 其中多芘蠃.
Four hundred li further east is Mount Xun (洵山). Its southern slope abounds in gold, its northern slope in jade. There lives a beast whose appearance resembles a sheep but with no mouth; it cannot be killed; it is called huan (䍺). The Xun River (洵水) flows out from here and runs south to empty into the E Marsh (閼); it abounds in bi snails (芘蠃).
又東四百里, 曰虖勺之山, 其上多梓柟, 其下多荊杞. 滂水出焉, 而東流注于海.
Four hundred li further east is Mount Hushao (虖勺). Its summit abounds in catalpas (zi 梓) and nanmu (柟), its base in jing (荊) and gouqi (杞) shrubs. The Pang River (滂水) flows out from here and runs east to empty into the sea.
又東五百里, 曰區吳之山, 無草木, 多砂石. 鹿水出焉, 而南流注于滂水.
Five hundred li further east is Mount Quwu (區吳). It has no grass or trees and abounds in sand and stones. The Lu River (鹿水) flows out from here and runs south to empty into the Pang (滂水).
又東五百里, 曰鹿吳之山, 上無草木, 多金石. 澤更之水出焉, 而南流注于滂水. 水有獸焉, 名曰蠱雕, 其狀如雕而有角, 其音如嬰兒之音, 是食人.
Five hundred li further east is Mount Luwu (鹿吳). Its summit has no grass or trees and abounds in gold and stones. The Zegeng River (澤更) flows out from here and runs south to empty into the Pang. In its waters lives a beast called gudiao (蠱雕), whose appearance resembles an eagle but with horns; its voice is like an infant’s wails; it devours humans.
東五百里, 曰漆吳之山, 無草木, 多博石, 無玉. 處于海, 東望丘山, 其光載出載入, 是惟日次.
Five hundred li to the east is Mount Qiwu (漆吳). It has no grass or trees, abounds in bo stones (博石), but has no jade. It stands by the sea; looking east toward Mount Qiu (丘山), one sees a light that appears and disappears: this is where the sun lodges.
凡《南次二經》之首, 自柜山至于漆吳之山, 凡十七山, 七千二百里. 其神狀皆龍身而鳥首. 其祠: 毛用一璧瘞, 糈用稌.
In all, from Mount Ju to Mount Qiwu, the Second Classic of the South comprises seventeen mountains, spanning seven thousand two hundred li. Their deities all have the body of a dragon and the head of a bird. For their worship: for the offering of fur, a jade disc (bi 璧) is buried; as sacred grain, glutinous rice (tu 稌) is used.
Third Classic of the Southern Mountains — 南次三经
《南次三經》之首, 曰天虞之山, 其下多水, 不可以上.
The first mountain of the Third Classic of the South is called Mount Tianyu (天虞). Its lower part abounds in water; it cannot be climbed.
東五百里, 曰禱過之山, 其上多金玉, 其下多犀, 兕, 多象. 有鳥焉, 其狀如鵁, 而白首, 三足, 人面, 其名曰瞿如, 其鳴自號也. 泿水出焉, 而南流注于海. 其中有虎蛟, 其狀魚身而蛇尾, 其音如鴛鴦, 食者不腫, 可以已痔.
Five hundred li to the east is Mount Daoguo (禱過). Its summit abounds in gold and jade; its base abounds in rhinoceroses (xi 犀), wild buffaloes (si 兕), and elephants. There lives a bird whose appearance resembles a jiao (鵁) but with a white head, three feet, and a human face; it is called quru (瞿如); its cry announces its own name. The Yin River (泿水) flows out from here and runs south to empty into the sea. It contains the hujiao (虎蛟), with the body of a fish and the tail of a serpent; its voice is like that of mandarin ducks; whoever eats it suffers no swellings and can be cured of hemorrhoids.
又東五百里, 曰丹穴之山, 其上多金玉. 丹水出焉, 而南流注于渤海. 有鳥焉, 其狀如雞, 五采而文, 名曰鳳皇, 首文曰德, 翼文曰義, 背文曰禮, 膺文曰
