Chapter 14 of the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Classic of the Great Wilderness: East)

The Classic of the Great Wilderness of the East (大荒東經 Dàhuāng dōngjīng) is the fourteenth book of the Classic of Mountains and Seas and the first of the four "Classics of the Great Wilderness" (大荒經). More mythological than its predecessors, it describes the easternmost reaches where the sun and moon rise, inhabited by descendants of Emperor Jun and the Yellow Emperor: the kingdom of Shaohao, the great mulberry tree Fusang from which the ten suns ascend, the sea gods, the battle of the Winged Dragon against Chiyou, and the thunder beast Kui. The Chinese text is presented with its pinyin transcription, followed by the French translation and notes.

大荒東經 — The Great Wilderness of the East

東dōng海hǎi之zhī外wài大dà壑hè, 少shǎo昊hào之zhī國guó. 少shǎo昊hào孺rú帝dì顓zhuān頊xū於yú此cǐ, 棄qì其qí琴qín瑟sè. 有yǒu甘gān山shān者zhě, 甘gān水shuǐ出chū焉yān, 生shēng甘gān淵yuān.

Beyond the Eastern Sea lies a great abyss: it is the kingdom of Shaohao (少昊). There, Shaohao raised the child-emperor Zhuanxu (顓頊) and abandoned his lute and zither. There stands Mount Gan (甘山), from which flows the Gan River (甘水), forming the Gan Abyss (甘淵).

大dà荒huāng東dōng南nán隅yú有yǒu山shān, 名míng皮pí母mǔ地dì丘qiū.

In the southeast corner of the Great Wilderness stands a mountain named Pimu Diqiu (皮母地丘).

東dōng海hǎi之zhī外wài, 大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng, 有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē大dà言yán, 日rì月yuè所suǒ出chū.

Beyond the Eastern Sea, at the heart of the Great Wilderness, rises a mountain called Dayan (大言, "Great Speech"), from which the sun and moon emerge.

有yǒu波bō谷gǔ山shān者zhě, 有yǒu大dà人rén之zhī國guó. 有yǒu大dà人rén之zhī市shì, 名míng曰yuē大dà人rén之zhī堂táng. 有yǒu一yī大dà人rén踆cūn其qí上shàng, 張zhāng其qí兩liǎng耳ěr.

There is the Mount of the Wave Valley (波谷山), where the Land of the Giants (大人之國) lies. There is a Giant’s Market (大人之堂). A giant squats atop it, spreading his two ears wide.

有yǒu小xiǎo人rén國guó, 名míng靖jìng人rén.

There is the Land of the Small People (小人國), called Jingren (靖人).

神shén, 人rén面miàn獸shòu身shēn, 名míng曰yuē犁lí𩵀líng之zhī尸shī.

There is a god with a human face and a beast’s body, called the Corpse of Liyu (犁𩵀之尸).

有yǒu潏jué山shān, 楊yáng水shuǐ出chū焉yān.

There is Mount Jue (潏山), from which the Yang River (楊水) flows.

有yǒu蒍wěi國guó, 黍shǔ食shí, 使shǐ四sì鳥niǎo: 虎hǔ, 豹bào, 熊xióng, 羆pí.

There is the land of Wei (蒍國); its people eat millet and are served by four beasts: the tiger, leopard, bear, and brown bear.

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng, 有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē合hé虛xū, 日rì月yuè所suǒ出chū.

At the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain called Hexu (合虛), from which the sun and moon emerge.

有yǒu中zhōng容róng之zhī國guó. 帝dì俊jùn生shēng中zhōng容róng, 中zhōng容róng人rén食shí獸shòu, 木mù實shí, 使shǐ四sì鳥niǎo: 豹bào, 虎hǔ, 熊xióng, 羆pí.

There is the land of Zhongrong (中容之國). Emperor Jun (帝俊) fathered Zhongrong; the people of Zhongrong eat the flesh of beasts and the fruits of trees, and are served by four beasts: the leopard, tiger, bear, and brown bear.

有yǒu東dōng口kǒu之zhī山shān. 有yǒu君jūn子zi之zhī國guó, 其qí人rén衣yī冠guān帶dài劍jiàn.

There is Mount Dongkou (東口之山). There is the Land of the Noble Ones (君子之國), whose people wear clothes, hats, belts, and swords.

有yǒu司sī幽yōu之zhī國guó. 帝dì俊jùn生shēng晏yàn龍lóng, 晏yàn龍lóng生shēng司sī幽yōu, 司sī幽yōu生shēng思sī士shì, 不bù妻qī; 思sī女nǚ, 不bù夫fū. 食shí黍shǔ, 食shí獸shòu, 是shì使shǐ四sì鳥niǎo.

There is the land of Siyou (司幽之國). Emperor Jun fathered Yanlong (晏龍), Yanlong fathered Siyou, Siyou fathered Sishi (思士), who takes no wife, and Sinü (思女), who takes no husband. They eat millet and meat and are served by four beasts.

有yǒu大dà阿ā之zhī山shān者zhě.

There is Mount Da'a (大阿之山).

大dà荒huāng中zhōng有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē明míng星xīng, 日rì月yuè所suǒ出chū.

At the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain called Mingxing (明星, "Bright Star"), from which the sun and moon emerge.

有yǒu白bái民mín之zhī國guó. 帝dì俊jùn生shēng帝dì鴻hóng, 帝dì鴻hóng生shēng白bái民mín, 白bái民mín銷xiāo姓xìng, 黍shǔ食shí, 使shǐ四sì鳥niǎo: 虎hǔ, 豹bào, 熊xióng, 羆pí.

There is the land of the White People (白民之國). Emperor Jun fathered Emperor Hong (帝鴻), Emperor Hong fathered the White People of the Xiao clan (銷姓); they eat millet and are served by four beasts: the tiger, leopard, bear, and brown bear.

有yǒu青qīng丘qiū之zhī國guó, 有yǒu狐hú, 九jiǔ尾wěi.

There is the land of Qingqiu (青丘之國); there dwells a nine-tailed fox.

有yǒu柔róu僕pú民mín, 是shì維wéi嬴yíng土tǔ之zhī國guó.

There are the Gentle Servants (柔僕民): the land of Fertile Soil (嬴土).

有yǒu黑hēi齒chǐ之zhī國guó. 帝dì俊jùn生shēng黑hēi齒chǐ, 姜jiāng姓xìng, 黍shǔ食shí, 使shǐ四sì鳥niǎo.

There is the land of the Black Teeth (黑齒之國). Emperor Jun fathered Heichi (黑齒) of the Jiang clan (姜); they eat millet and are served by four beasts.

有yǒu夏xià州zhōu之zhī國guó. 有yǒu蓋gài余yú之zhī國guó.

There is the land of Xiazhou (夏州之國). There is the land of Gaiyu (蓋余之國).

有yǒu神shén人rén, 八bā首shǒu人rén面miàn, 虎hǔ身shēn十shí尾wěi, 名míng曰yuē天tiān吳wú.

There is a divine being with eight human heads, a tiger’s body, and ten tails, called Tianwu (天吳).

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng, 有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē鞠jū陵líng于yú天tiān, 東dōng極jí, 離lí瞀mào, 日rì月yuè所suǒ出chū. 名míng曰yuē折zhé丹dān, 東dōng方fāng曰yuē折zhé, 來lái風fēng曰yuē俊jùn, 處chù東dōng極jí以yǐ出chū入rù風fēng.

At the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain called Juling-yutian (鞠陵于天), the Utmost East, Limou (離瞀), from which the sun and moon emerge. There dwells a god called Zhedan (折丹); in the east he is called Zhe (折), the incoming wind is named Jun (俊); he stands at the Utmost East to send forth and call back the winds.

東dōng海hǎi之zhī渚zhǔ中zhōng, 有yǒu神shén, 人rén面miàn鳥niǎo身shēn, 珥ěr兩liǎng黃huáng蛇shé, 踐jiàn兩liǎng黃huáng蛇shé, 名míng曰yuē禺yú䝞hào. 黃huáng帝dì生shēng禺yú𧴆hào, 禺yú𧴆hào生shēng禺yú京jīng, 禺yú京jīng處chù北běi海hǎi, 禺yú𧴆hào處chù東dōng海hǎi, 是shì惟wéi海hǎi神shén.

In the islets of the Eastern Sea dwells a god with a human face, a bird’s body, two yellow snakes as earrings and two yellow snakes underfoot, called Yuhao (禺䝞). The Yellow Emperor (黃帝) fathered Yuhao; Yuhao fathered Yujing (禺京). Yujing dwells in the Northern Sea, Yuhao in the Eastern Sea: they are the gods of the seas.

有yǒu招zhāo搖yáo山shān, 融róng水shuǐ出chū焉yān. 有yǒu國guó曰yuē玄xuán股gǔ, 黍shǔ食shí, 使shǐ四sì鳥niǎo.

There is Mount Zhaoyao (招搖山), from which the Rong River (融水) flows. There is a land called Xuangu (玄股, the Black Thighs); its people eat millet and are served by four birds.

有yǒu困kùn民mín國guó, 勾gōu姓xìng而ér食shí. 有yǒu人rén曰yuē王wáng亥hài, 兩liǎng手shǒu操cāo鳥niǎo, 方fāng食shí其qí頭tóu. 王wáng亥hài託tuō于yú有yǒu易yì, 河hé伯bó僕pú牛niú. 有yǒu易yì殺shā王wáng亥hài, 取qǔ僕pú牛niú. 河hé念niàn有yǒu易yì, 有yǒu易yì潛qián出chū, 為wèi國guó於yú獸shòu, 方fāng食shí之zhī, 名míng曰yuē搖yáo民mín. 帝dì舜shùn生shēng戲xì, 戲xì生shēng搖yáo民mín.

There is the land of Kunmin (困民國), of the Gou clan (勾), which eats millet. There is a man named Wang Hai (王亥), who holds a bird in each hand and eats its head. Wang Hai took refuge with the Youyi (有易) and entrusted his oxen to the River Earl (河伯). The Youyi killed Wang Hai and took his oxen. The River Earl pitied the Youyi; the Youyi secretly escaped and established a land among the beasts, feeding on them: they are called the Yaomin (搖民). Emperor Shun fathered Xi (戲), and Xi fathered the Yaomin.

海hǎi內nèi有yǒu兩liǎng人rén, 名míng曰yuē女nǚ丑chǒu. 女nǚ丑chǒu有yǒu大dà蟹xiè.

Within the seas live two people named Nüchou (女丑). Nüchou possesses a giant crab.

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng, 有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē孽niè搖yáo頵yūn羝dī, 上shàng有yǒu扶fú木mù, 柱zhù三sān百bǎi里lǐ, 其qí葉yè如rú芥jiè. 有yǒu谷gǔ曰yuē溫wēn源yuán谷gǔ, 湯tāng谷gǔ上shàng有yǒu扶fú木mù. 一yī日rī方fāng至zhì, 一yī日rī方fāng出chū, 皆jiē載zài於yú烏wū.

At the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain called Nieyao-Yundi (孽搖頵羝); at its summit grows the Fumu tree (扶木, the Fusang mulberry), whose trunk rises three hundred li and whose leaves resemble mustard greens. There is a valley called Wenyuan (溫源谷, the Warm Springs Valley), the Scalding Valley (湯谷), above which also grows the Fumu tree. When one sun arrives, another departs, each carried by a crow (烏).

有yǒu神shén, 人rén面miàn, 犬quǎn耳ěr, 獸shòu身shēn, 珥ěr兩liǎng青qīng蛇shé, 名míng曰yuē奢shē比bǐ尸shī.

There is a god with a human face, dog’s ears, and a beast’s body, wearing two green snakes as earrings, called the Corpse of Shebi (奢比尸).

有yǒu五wǔ彩cǎi之zhī鳥niǎo, 相xiāng鄉xiāng棄qì沙shā, 惟wéi帝dì俊jùn下xià友yǒu, 帝dì下xià兩liǎng壇tán, 彩cǎi鳥niǎo是shì司sī.

There are birds of five colors who, facing each other, dance with fluttering wings; they are the friends of Emperor Jun (帝俊) below. The Emperor has two altars here below, and these colorful birds guard them.

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng, 有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē猗yī天tiān蘇sū門mén, 日rì月yuè所suǒ生shēng, 有yǒu壎xūn民mín之zhī國guó.

At the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain called Yitian-Sumen (猗天蘇門), where the sun and moon are born. There is the land of Xunmin (壎民之國).

有yǒu綦qí山shān. 又yòu有yǒu搖yáo山shān. 有yǒu䰝zèng山shān. 又yòu有yǒu門mén戶hù山shān. 又yòu有yǒu盛shèng山shān. 又yòu有yǒu待dài山shān. 有yǒu五wǔ彩cǎi之zhī鳥niǎo.

There is Mount Qi (綦山). Then Mount Yao (搖山). Mount Zeng (䰝山). Then Mount Menhu (門戶山). Then Mount Sheng (盛山). Then Mount Dai (待山). There are birds of five colors.

東dōng荒huāng之zhī中zhōng, 有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē壑hè明míng俊jùn疾jí, 日rì月yuè所suǒ出chū. 有yǒu中zhōng容róng之zhī國guó.

At the heart of the Eastern Wilderness rises a mountain called Heming-Junji (壑明俊疾), from which the sun and moon emerge. There is the land of Zhongrong (中容之國).

東dōng北běi海hǎi外wài, 又yòu有yǒu三sān青qīng馬mǎ, 三sān騅zhuī, 甘gān華huá. 爰yuán有yǒu遺yí玉yù, 三sān青qīng鳥niǎo, 三sān騅zhuī, 視shì肉ròu, 甘gān華huá, 甘gān柤zhā, 百bǎi穀gǔ所suǒ在zài.

Beyond the northeastern sea, there are also three azure-green horses, three piebald horses (騅), and the Sweet Blossom (甘華). There is the jade Yiyu (遺玉), three azure birds, three piebald horses, the Flesh-vision (視肉), the Sweet Blossom, the Sweet Jujube (甘柤), and the place where the hundred grains grow.

有yǒu女nǏ和hé月yuè母mǔ之zhī國guó. 有yǒu人rén名míng曰yuē𪂧wǎn, 北běi方fāng曰yuē𪂧wǎn, 來lái之zhī風fēng曰yuē𤟇yǎn, 是shì處chù東dōng極jí隅yú以yǐ止zhǐ日rì月yuè, 使shǐ無wú相xiāng間jiān出chū沒méi, 司sī其qí短duǎn長cháng.

There is the land of the Moon Mother Nühe (女和月母之國). There is a figure named Yuan (𪂧); in the north he is called Yuan, and the incoming wind is named Yan (𤟇). He stands at the corner of the Utmost East to halt the sun and moon, ensuring they do not rise or set out of turn, regulating their short or long courses.

大dà荒huāng東dōng北běi隅yú中zhōng, 有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē凶xiōng犁lí土tǔ丘qiū. 應yīng龍lóng處chù南nán極jí, 殺shā蚩chī尤yóu與yǔ夸kuā父fù, 不bù得dé復fù上shàng. 故gù下xià數shù旱hàn, 旱hàn而ér為wèi應yīng龍lóng之zhī狀zhuàng, 乃nǎi得dé大dà雨yǔ.

At the heart of the northeast corner of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain called Xiongli Tuqiu (凶犁土丘). The Winged Dragon (應龍, Yinglong) dwells at the Utmost South: he slew Chiyou (蚩尤) and Kuafu (夸父) and could no longer ascend to the heavens. Hence, the lower world suffers frequent droughts; in times of drought, people mimic the form of the Winged Dragon, and great rains are obtained.

東dōng海hǎi中zhōng有yǒu流liú波bō山shān, 入rù海hǎi七qī千qiān里lǐ. 其qí上shàng有yǒu獸shòu, 狀zhuàng如rú牛niú, 蒼cāng身shēn而ér無wú角jiǎo, 一yī足zú, 出chū入rù水shuǐ則zé必bì風fēng雨yǔ, 其qí光guāng如rú日rì月yuè, 其qí聲shēng如rú雷léi, 其qí名míng曰yuē夔kuí. 黃huáng帝dì得dé之zhī, 以yǐ其qí皮pí為wèi鼓gǔ, 橛jué以yǐ雷léi獸shòu之zhī骨gǔ, 聲shēng聞wén五wǔ百bǎi里lǐ, 以yǐ威wēi天tiān下xià.

In the midst of the Eastern Sea stands the Mount of Flowing Waves (流波山), extending seven thousand li into the sea. Upon it lives a beast resembling an ox, gray-bodied and hornless, with a single foot; whenever it enters or leaves the water, wind and rain inevitably follow. Its light is like the sun and moon, its voice like thunder. It is called Kui (夔). The Yellow Emperor (黃帝) captured it, made its hide into a drum, and struck it with the bone of the thunder beast; the sound carried five hundred li, and he thereby overawed the world.

Notes

The "Classics of the Great Wilderness" (大荒經). Books XIV to XVII form a distinct section, likely the oldest and most mythological of the entire Classic of Mountains and Seas. They depict the extreme margins of the world (大荒, the "Great Wilderness" or "Great Wild Expanse"), organized around the points where the sun and moon rise (in the east) and set (in the west), and populated by divine genealogies.

The lineages of Emperor Jun (帝俊). The chapter is structured by lineages: Emperor Jun, the Yellow Emperor (黃帝), and Shaohao (少昊) father numerous peoples (Zhongrong, Siyou, Heichi, Baimin…). Jun, a solar figure unique to the Shanhaijing, is often linked to the ancestor of the Shang.

The mulberry tree Fusang (扶木 / 扶桑). In the far east, the cosmic tree bears the ten suns, which ascend to the sky one by one, each carried by a crow (烏): this is the great myth of dawn, complementing that of the setting sun in the west.

Yinglong, Chiyou, and Kui. The Winged Dragon (應龍) who slew Chiyou (蚩尤) and Kuafu during the Yellow Emperor’s war, and the one-footed Kui (夔) whose hide the Yellow Emperor made into a war drum, tie the book to the grand cycle of the cosmic and political founding of the world.

Wang Hai (王亥). The tale of Wang Hai, his oxen, and the Youyi is a precious fragment of the legend of the Shang ancestors, corroborated by oracle bone inscriptions.

Uncertain identifications. Many names of gods, mountains, and beings (犁𩵀, 禺䝞, 𪂧…) lack secure equivalents; they are transcribed in pinyin with their characters, and rendered in French following traditional glosses (Guo Pu, Hao Yixing).

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