Chapter 16 of the Classic of Mountains and Seas (大荒西经)

The Classic of the Great Western Wilderness (大荒西經 Dàhuāng xījīng) is the sixteenth book of the Classic of Mountains and Seas and the third of the « Classics of the Great Wilderness » (大荒經). It is one of the richest in myths: here we find the entrails of Nüwa transformed into gods, Changxi bathing the twelve moons, the separation of Heaven and Earth by Zhong and Li, the ten sorcerers of the Mountain of Spirits, the Queen Mother of the West at Kunlun, and the ascent of Qi of the Xia bringing back celestial music. The Chinese text is presented with its pinyin transcription, followed by the English translation and notes.

大荒西經 — The Great Western Wilderness

西xī北běi海hǎi之zhī外wài，大dà荒huāng之zhī隅yú，有yǒu山shān而ér不bù合hé，名míng曰yuē不bù周zhōu負fù子zi。有yǒu兩liǎng黃huáng獸shòu守shǒu之zhī。有yǒu水shuǐ曰yuē寒hán暑shǔ之zhī水shuǐ，水shuǐ西xī有yǒu濕shī山shān，水shuǐ東dōng有yǒu幕mù山shān。有yǒu禹yǔ攻gōng共gòng工gōng國guó山shān。

Beyond the northwestern sea, in a corner of the Great Wilderness, rises a mountain that does not close up, named Buzhou-Fuzi (不周負子). Two yellow beasts guard it. There is a river named the Waters of Cold-and-Heat (寒暑之水); west of the river is Mount Shi (濕山), to the east Mount Mu (幕山). There is the mountain of the country that Yu attacked, that of Gonggong (禹攻共工國山).

有yǒu國guó名míng曰yuē淑shū士shì，顓zhuān頊xū之zhī子zi。

There is a country named Shushi (淑士), (peopled by) a son of Zhuanxu.

有yǒu神shén十shí人rén，名míng曰yuē女nǚ媧wā之zhī腸cháng，化huà為wèi神shén，處chù栗lì廣guǎng之zhī野yě。橫héng道dào而ér處chù。

There are ten divine beings, named the Entrails of Nüwa (女媧之腸): transformed into gods, they dwell in the plain of Liguang (栗廣之野), standing across the road.

有yǒu人rén名míng曰yuē石shí夷yí，來lái風fēng曰yuē韋wéi，處chù西xī北běi隅yú以yǐ司sī日rì月yuè之zhī長cháng短duǎn。

There is a figure named Shiyi (石夷); the wind that comes is named Wei (韋). He stands at the northwestern corner to regulate the long or short (course) of the sun and the moon.

有yǒu五wǔ彩cǎi之zhī鳥niǎo，有yǒu冠guān，名míng曰yuē狂kuáng鳥niǎo。

There is a bird of five colors, with a crest, named the Kuang bird (狂鳥).

有yǒu大dà澤zé之zhī長cháng山shān。有yǒu白bái民mín之zhī國guó。

There is the Long Mountain of the Great Marsh (大澤之長山). There is the country of the White-people (白民之國).

西xī北běi海hǎi之zhī外wài，赤chì水shuǐ之zhī東dōng，有yǒu長cháng脛jìng之zhī國guó。

Beyond the northwestern sea, east of the Red Water, lies the country of the Long-shanks (長脛之國).

有yǒu西xī周zhōu之zhī國guó，姬jī姓xìng，食shí穀gǔ。有yǒu人rén方fāng耕gēng，名míng曰yuē叔shū均jūn。帝dì俊jùn生shēng后hòu稷jì，稷jì降jiàng以yǐ百bǎi穀gǔ。稷jì之zhī弟dì曰yuē台tái蠒jiǎn，生shēng叔shū均jūn。叔shū均jūn是shì代dài其qí父fù及jí稷jì播bō百bǎi穀gǔ，始shǐ作zuò耕gēng。有yǒu赤chì國guó妻qī氏shì。有yǒu雙shuāng山shān。

There is the country of the Western Zhou (西周之國), of the Ji (姬) clan, who eat grain. There is a man plowing, named Shujun (叔均). The emperor Jun begot Houji (后稷), who descended (to earth) with the hundred grains. Ji's younger brother was named Taixi (台蠒), who begot Shujun. Shujun, in place of his father and of Houji, sowed the hundred grains and invented plowing. There is the clan of the wife of the Red country (赤國妻氏). There is Mount Shuang (雙山).

西xī海hǎi之zhī外wài，大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu方fāng山shān者zhě，上shàng有yǒu青qīng樹shù，名míng曰yuē柜guì格gé之zhī松sōng，日rì月yuè所suǒ出chū入rù也yě。

Beyond the Western sea, in the heart of the Great Wilderness, rises Square Mountain (方山); at its summit grows a green tree named the Juge pine (柜格之松): it is there that the sun and the moon come out and go in.

西xī北běi海hǎi之zhī外wài，赤chì水shuǐ之zhī西xī，有yǒu先xiān民mín之zhī國guó，食shí穀gǔ，使shǐ四sì鳥niǎo。

Beyond the northwestern sea, west of the Red Water, lies the country of the First-men (先民之國); there they eat grain and are served by four beasts.

有yǒu北běi狄dí之zhī國guó。黃huáng帝dì之zhī孫sūn曰yuē始shǐ均jūn，始shǐ均jūn生shēng北běi狄dí。

There is the country of the Northern Di (北狄之國). A grandson of the Yellow Emperor named Shijun (始均) begot the Northern Di.

有yǒu芒máng山shān。有yǒu桂guì山shān。有yǒu榣yáo山shān。其qí上shàng有yǒu人rén，號hào曰yuē太tài子zi長cháng琴qín。顓zhuān頊xū生shēng老lǎo童tóng，老lǎo童tóng生shēng祝zhù融róng，祝zhù融róng生shēng太tài子zi長cháng琴qín，是shì處chù搖yáo山shān，始shǐ作zuò樂lè風fēng。

There is Mount Mang (芒山). There is Mount Gui (桂山). There is Mount Yao (榣山). At its summit lives a man called Prince Changqin (太子長琴). Zhuanxu begot Laotong (老童), Laotong begot Zhurong (祝融), Zhurong begot Prince Changqin, who dwells on Mount Yao: he was the first to create musical airs.

有yǒu五wǔ彩cǎi鳥niǎo三sān名míng：一yī曰yuē皇huáng鳥niǎo，一yī曰yuē鸞luán鳥niǎo，一yī曰yuē鳳fèng鳥niǎo。

There are three names for the birds of five colors: one is the Huang bird (皇鳥), one the luan bird (鸞鳥), one the phoenix bird (鳳鳥).

有yǒu蟲chóng狀zhuàng如rú菟tú，胸xiōng以yǐ後hòu者zhě裸luǒ不bù見jiàn，青qīng如rú猨yuán狀zhuàng。

There is an insect resembling a hare (菟); from the chest, the rear is bare and invisible, green like a monkey.

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē豐fēng沮jǔ玉yù門mén，日rì月yuè所suǒ入rù。

In the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain named Fengju-Yumen (豐沮玉門), where the sun and the moon enter.

有yǒu靈líng山shān，巫wū咸xián、巫wū即jí、巫wū肦fén、巫wū彭péng、巫wū姑gū、巫wū真zhēn、巫wū禮lǐ、巫wū抵dǐ、巫wū謝xiè、巫wū羅luó十shí巫wū，從cóng此cǐ升shēng降jiàng，百bǎi藥yào爰yuán在zài。

There is the Mountain of Spirits (靈山): Wuxian (巫咸), Wuji (巫即), Wuban (巫肦), Wupeng (巫彭), Wugu (巫姑), Wuzhen (巫真), Wuli (巫禮), Wudi (巫抵), Wuxie (巫謝) and Wuluo (巫羅) — ten sorcerers — ascend and descend there (between heaven and earth); it is there that the hundred remedies are found.

西xī有yǒu王wáng母mǔ之zhī山shān、壑hè山shān、海hǎi山shān。有yǒu沃wò之zhī國guó，沃wò民mín是shì處chù。沃wò之zhī野yě，鳳fèng鳥niǎo之zhī卵luǎn是shì食shí，甘gān露lù是shì飲yǐn。凡fán其qí所suǒ欲yù，其qí味wèi盡jǐn存cún。爰yuán有yǒu甘gān華huá、甘gān柤zhā、白bái柳liǔ、視shì肉ròu、三sān騅zhuī、琁xuán瑰guī、瑤yáo碧bì、白bái木mù、琅láng玕gān、白bái丹dān、青qīng丹dān，多duō銀yín鐵tiě。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是shì處chù，是shì謂wèi沃wò之zhī野yě。

To the west lie the Mountain of the Queen Mother (王母之山), Mount He (壑山) and the Mountain of the Sea (海山). There is the Fertile country (沃之國), where the people of Wo (沃民) dwell. In the Fertile plain (沃之野), one feeds on the eggs of the phoenix and drinks the sweet dew; whatever one desires, one finds all its savor there. There one finds the « sweet-flowering » (甘華), the sweet jujube (甘柤), the white willow (白柳), the Shirou (視肉), the Sanzhui (三騅), the jades Xuangui (琁瑰), Yaobi (瑤碧), the white tree (白木), the Langgan (琅玕), the white cinnabar (白丹), the green cinnabar (青丹), and silver and iron in abundance. The luan bird sings of itself, the phoenix dances of itself; the hundred kinds of beasts live there together in herds: this is what is called the Fertile plain.

有yǒu三sān青qīng鳥niǎo，赤chì首shǒu黑hēi目mù，一yī名míng曰yuē大dà鵹lí，一yī名míng少shǎo鵹lí，一yī名míng曰yuē青qīng鳥niǎo。

There are three blue birds, with red heads and black eyes: one is named Dali (大鵹), one Shaoli (少鵹), one the blue bird (青鳥).

有yǒu軒xuān轅yuán之zhī臺tái，射shè者zhě不bù敢gǎn西xī嚮xiàng射shè，畏wèi軒xuān轅yuán之zhī臺tái。

There is the terrace of Xuanyuan (軒轅之臺); the archer dares not shoot toward the west, for fear of the terrace of Xuanyuan.

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu龍lóng山shān，日rì月yuè所suǒ入rù。有yǒu三sān澤zé水shuǐ，名míng曰yuē三sān淖nào，昆kūn吾wú之zhī所suǒ食shí也yě。

In the heart of the Great Wilderness rises Dragon Mountain (龍山), where the sun and the moon enter. There are three expanses of marsh-water named the Three Lakes (三淖): it is there that Kunwu (昆吾) fed.

有yǒu人rén衣yī青qīng，以yǐ袂mèi蔽bì面miàn，名míng曰yuē女nǚ丑chǒu之zhī尸shī。

There is a figure clad in green, who covers his face with his sleeve, named the corpse of Nüchou (女丑之尸).

有yǒu女nǚ子zi之zhī國guó。

There is the country of Women (女子之國).

有yǒu桃táo山shān。有yǒu䖟mǎng山shān。有yǒu桂guì山shān。有yǒu于yú土tǔ山shān。

There is Mount Tao (桃山). There is Mount Meng (䖟山). There is Mount Gui (桂山). There is Mount Yutu (于土山).

有yǒu丈zhàng夫fū之zhī國guó。

There is the country of Men (丈夫之國).

有yǒu弇yǎn州zhōu之zhī山shān，五wǔ彩cǎi之zhī鳥niǎo仰yǎng天tiān，名míng曰yuē鳴míng鳥niǎo。爰yuán有yǒu百bǎi樂lè歌gē儛wǔ之zhī風fēng。

There is Mount Yanzhou (弇州之山); a bird of five colors raises its head toward the sky, named the Singing bird (鳴鳥). There are the airs of the hundred musics, songs and dances.

有yǒu軒xuān轅yuán之zhī國guó。江jiāng山shān之zhī南nán棲qī為wèi吉jí，不bù壽shòu者zhě乃nǎi八bā百bǎi歲suì。

There is the country of Xuanyuan (軒轅之國). To settle south of the mountains of the River there is auspicious; those who die young still live eight hundred years.

西xī海hǎi陼zhǔ中zhōng，有yǒu神shén人rén面miàn鳥niǎo身shēn，珥ěr兩liǎng青qīng蛇shé，踐jiàn兩liǎng赤chì蛇shé，名míng曰yuē弇yǎn茲zī。

Among the islets of the Western sea dwells a god with a human face and the body of a bird, with two green serpents for ear-pendants and two red serpents under his feet, named Yanzi (弇茲).

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē日rì月yuè山shān，天tiān樞shū也yě。吳wú姖jù天tiān門mén，日rì月yuè所suǒ入rù。有yǒu神shén人rén面miàn無wú臂bì，兩liǎng足zú反fǎn屬shǔ于yú頭tóu上shàng，名míng曰yuē噓xū。顓zhuān頊xū生shēng老lǎo童tóng，老lǎo童tóng生shēng重zhòng及jí黎lí，帝dì令lìng重zhòng獻xiàn上shàng天tiān，令lìng黎lí卭qióng下xià地dì，下xià地dì是shì生shēng噎yē，處chù於yú西xī極jí，以yǐ行xíng日rì月yuè星xīng辰chén之zhī行xíng次cì。

In the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain named the Mountain of the Sun-and-Moon (日月山), pivot of the sky (天樞). The Celestial Gate of Wuju (吳姖天門) is the place where the sun and the moon enter. There is a god with a human face and without arms, whose two feet are turned back over his head, named Xu (噓). Zhuanxu begot Laotong (老童), Laotong begot Zhong (重) and Li (黎); the Sovereign ordered Zhong to raise the sky and Li to lower the earth. On the earth below was born Ye (噎), who stands at the far west to regulate the march of the sun, the moon and the stars.

有yǒu人rén反fǎn臂bì，名míng曰yuē天tiān虞yú。

There is a figure with reversed arms, named Tianyu (天虞).

有yǒu女nǚ子zi方fāng浴yù月yuè。帝dì俊jùn妻qī常cháng羲xī，生shēng月yuè十shí有yǒu二èr，此cǐ始shǐ浴yù之zhī。

There is a woman bathing the moon. She is Changxi (常羲), wife of the emperor Jun, who gave birth to twelve moons: it is here that she began to bathe them.

有yǒu玄xuán丹dān之zhī山shān。有yǒu五wǔ色sè之zhī鳥niǎo，人rén面miàn有yǒu髮fà。爰yuán有yǒu青qīng鴍wén、黃huáng鷔áo，青qīng鳥niǎo、黃huáng鳥niǎo，其qí所suǒ集jí者zhě其qí國guó亡wáng。

There is Mount Xuandan (玄丹之山). There is a bird of five colors, with a human face and endowed with hair. There one finds the Qingwen (青鴍), the Huang'ao (黃鷔), the blue bird and the yellow bird: the country where they gather perishes.

有yǒu池chí名míng孟mèng翼yì之zhī攻gōng顓zhuān頊xū之zhī池chí。

There is a pool named the Pool where Mengyi attacked Zhuanxu (孟翼之攻顓頊之池).

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu山shān，名míng曰yuē鏖áo鏊ào鉅jù，日rì月yuè所suǒ入rù者zhě。

In the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain named Aoaoju (鏖鏊鉅), where the sun and the moon enter.

有yǒu獸shòu，左zuǒ右yòu有yǒu首shǒu，名míng曰yuē屏píng蓬péng。

There is a beast that has one head on the left and one on the right, named Pingpeng (屏蓬).

有yǒu巫wū山shān者zhě。有yǒu壑hè山shān者zhě。有yǒu金jīn門mén之zhī山shān，有yǒu人rén名míng曰yuē黃huáng姖jù之zhī尸shī。有yǒu比bǐ翼yì之zhī鳥niǎo。有yǒu白bái鳥niǎo青qīng翼yì，黃huáng尾wěi，玄xuán喙huì。有yǒu赤chì犬quǎn，名míng曰yuē天tiān犬quǎn，其qí所suǒ下xià者zhě有yǒu兵bīng。

There is the Mountain of Sorcerers (巫山). There is Mount He (壑山). There is the Mountain of the Golden Gate (金門之山), where a figure stands named the corpse of Huangju (黃姖之尸). There is the Biyi bird (比翼, with twinned wings). There is a white bird with green wings, yellow tail and black beak. There is a red dog named the Celestial Dog (天犬): wherever it descends, there is war.

西xī海hǎi之zhī南nán，流liú沙shā之zhī濱bīn，赤chì水shuǐ之zhī後hòu，黑hēi水shuǐ之zhī前qián，有yǒu大dà山shān，名míng曰yuē崑kūn崙lún之zhī丘qiū。有yǒu神shén，人rén面miàn虎hǔ身shēn，有yǒu文wén有yǒu尾wěi，皆jiē白bái，處chù之zhī。其qí下xià有yǒu弱ruò水shuǐ之zhī淵yuān環huán之zhī，其qí外wài有yǒu炎yán火huǒ之zhī山shān，投tóu物wù輒zhé然rán。有yǒu人rén戴dài勝shèng，虎hǔ齒chǐ，有yǒu豹bào尾wěi，穴xué處chù，名míng曰yuē西xī王wáng母mǔ。此cǐ山shān萬wàn物wù盡jǐn有yǒu。

South of the Western sea, on the bank of the Shifting Sands, behind the Red Water and before the Black Water, rises a great mountain named the hill of Kunlun (崑崙之丘). There is a god with a human face and the body of a tiger, with a striped coat and a tail, all white, who dwells there. At its foot the abyss of the Weak Waters (弱水之淵) surrounds it, beyond which lies the Mountain of Blazing Fire (炎火之山), where any object thrown there bursts into flame at once. There is a being crowned with the sheng ornament (勝), with tiger's teeth and a leopard's tail, living in a cavern, named the Queen Mother of the West (西王母). This mountain holds all the things of the world.

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē常cháng陽yáng之zhī山shān，日rì月yuè所suǒ入rù。

In the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain named the Mountain of the Perpetual-Sun (常陽之山), where the sun and the moon enter.

有yǒu寒hán荒huāng之zhī國guó。有yǒu二èr人rén女nǚ祭jì、女nǚ薎miè。

There is the country of Hanhuang (寒荒之國). There are two persons, Nüji (女祭) and Nümie (女薎).

有yǒu壽shòu麻má之zhī國guó。南nán岳yuè娶qǔ州zhōu山shān女nǚ，名míng曰yuē女nǚ虔qián。女nǚ虔qián生shēng季jì格gé，季jì格gé生shēng壽shòu麻má。壽shòu麻má正zhèng立lì無wú景jǐng，疾jí呼hū無wú嚮xiàng。爰yuán有yǒu大dà暑shǔ，不bù可kě以yǐ往wǎng。

There is the country of Shouma (壽麻之國). The Southern Peak (南岳) married the daughter of Mount Zhou, named Nüqian (女虔). Nüqian begot Jige (季格), Jige begot Shouma (壽麻). Shouma, standing upright, casts no shadow, and his piercing cry makes no echo. There reigns an extreme heat: one cannot go there.

有yǒu人rén無wú首shǒu，操cāo戈gē盾dùn立lì，名míng曰yuē夏xià耕gēng之zhī尸shī。故gù成chéng湯tāng伐fá夏xià桀jié于yú章zhāng山shān，克kè之zhī，斬zhǎn耕gēng厥jué前qián。耕gēng既jì立lì，無wú首shǒu，走zǒu厥jué咎jiù，乃nǎi降jiàng于yú巫wū山shān。

There is a being without a head, who stands holding halberd and shield, named the corpse of Xiageng (夏耕之尸). Formerly, Cheng Tang (成湯) attacked Jie of the Xia (夏桀) at Mount Zhang (章山) and defeated him; he beheaded Geng in his presence. Geng, remaining standing without a head, fled to escape his fault, and descended to the Mountain of Sorcerers (巫山).

有yǒu人rén名míng曰yuē吳wú回huí，奇qí左zuǒ，是shì無wú右yòu臂bì。

There is a figure named Wuhui (吳回), singular on his left side: he has no right arm.

有yǒu蓋gài山shān之zhī國guó，有yǒu樹shù，赤chì皮pí支zhī幹gàn，青qīng葉yè，名míng曰yuē朱zhū木mù。

There is the country of Mount Gai (蓋山之國); there is a tree with red bark and branches and green leaves, named Zhumu (朱木).

有yǒu一yī臂bì民mín。

There is the people of the One-armed (一臂民, « with a single arm »).

大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē大dà荒huāng之zhī山shān，日rì月yuè所suǒ入rù。有yǒu人rén焉yān三sān面miàn，是shì顓zhuān頊xū之zhī子zi，三sān面miàn一yī臂bì，三sān面miàn之zhī人rén不bù死sǐ，是shì謂wèi大dà荒huāng之zhī野yě。

In the heart of the Great Wilderness rises a mountain named the Mountain of the Great Wilderness (大荒之山), where the sun and the moon enter. There is there a being with three faces, son of Zhuanxu: with three faces and a single arm, the three-faced beings do not die. This is what is called the plain of the Great Wilderness.

西xī南nán海hǎi之zhī外wài，赤chì水shuǐ之zhī南nán，流liú沙shā之zhī西xī，有yǒu人rén珥ěr兩liǎng青qīng蛇shé，乘chéng兩liǎng龍lóng，名míng曰yuē夏xià后hòu開kāi。開kāi上shàng三sān嬪pín于yú天tiān，得dé九jiǔ辯biàn與yǔ九jiǔ歌gē以yǐ下xià。此cǐ天tiān穆mù之zhī野yě，高gāo二èr千qiān仞rèn，開kāi焉yān得dé始shǐ歌gē九jiǔ招zhāo。

Beyond the southwestern sea, south of the Red Water and west of the Shifting Sands, there is a being adorned with two green serpents, mounted on two dragons, named Xiahou Kai (夏后開). Kai ascended three times to heaven to be received there, and brought back the Nine Modulations (九辯) and the Nine Songs (九歌). It is here, in the plain of Tianmu (天穆之野), two thousand ren high, that Kai began to sing the Nine Modulations (九招).

有yǒu互hù人rén之zhī國guó。炎yán帝dì之zhī孫sūn，名míng曰yuē靈líng恝jiá，靈líng恝jiá生shēng互hù人rén，是shì能néng上shàng下xià于yú天tiān。

There is the country of the Huren (互人之國). A grandson of the emperor Yan (炎帝), named Lingjia (靈恝), begot the Huren, who can ascend and descend from heaven.

有yǒu魚yú偏piān枯kū，名míng曰yuē魚yú婦fù。顓zhuān頊xū死sǐ即jí復fù蘇sū。風fēng道dào北běi來lái，天tiān乃nǎi大dà水shuǐ泉quán，蛇shé乃nǎi化huà為wèi魚yú，是shì謂wèi魚yú婦fù。顓zhuān頊xū死sǐ即jí復fù蘇sū。

There is a half-dried fish, named the Woman-fish (魚婦). When Zhuanxu died, he revived at once. When the wind blows from the north and the sky sends forth great waters, the serpent changes into a fish: this is what is called the Woman-fish. When Zhuanxu died, he revived at once.

有yǒu青qīng鳥niǎo，身shēn黃huáng，赤chì足zú，六liù首shǒu，名míng曰yuē𪇆chù鳥niǎo。

There is a blue bird, with a yellow body, red feet and six heads, named the Chu bird (𪇆鳥).

有yǒu大dà巫wū山shān。有yǒu金jīn之zhī山shān。西xī南nán，大dà荒huāng之zhī中zhōng隅yú，有yǒu徧biàn勾gōu、常cháng羊yáng之zhī山shān。

There is the Great Mountain of Sorcerers (大巫山). There is the Mountain of Gold (金之山). To the southwest, in the central corner of the Great Wilderness, lie the mountains Biangou (徧勾) and Changyang (常羊).

按àn：夏xià后hòu開kāi即jí啟qǐ，避bì漢hàn景jǐng帝dì諱huì云yún。

Note: « Xiahou Kai » (夏后開) designates Qi (啟); one writes Kai to avoid the taboo (on the personal name) of Emperor Jing of the Han (漢景帝, whose name was Qi).

Notes

Nüwa (女媧) and cosmogony. The « ten gods born from the entrails of Nüwa » attest to an archaic cult of the creator goddess who repaired the sky. The motif of the separation of Heaven and Earth by Zhong (重) and Li (黎), by order of the Sovereign, is one of the great Chinese cosmogonic myths.

Changxi (常羲) and the twelve moons. Complementary counterpart of Xihe (mother of the ten suns, book XV), Changxi, another wife of the emperor Jun, gives birth to the twelve moons and bathes them: a solar/lunar symmetry in the east and the west, foundation of the mythical calendar.

The Queen Mother of the West (西王母). The chapter offers her most archaic and savage description: tiger's teeth, leopard's tail, crowned with the sheng, living in a cavern at Kunlun, surrounded by the Weak Waters and the Mountain of Fire. Far indeed from the refined goddess of later eras.

The ten sorcerers (十巫). At the Mountain of Spirits (靈山), ten named shamans ascend and descend between heaven and earth in quest of the hundred remedies: one of the most precious testimonies on shamanism and mythical pharmacopoeia.

Qi of the Xia (夏后開/啟). King Qi, having ascended to heaven to bring back the « Nine Songs » and the « Nine Modulations », is here named Kai (開) to avoid the taboo on the name of Emperor Jing of the Han; a final note specifies this — a trace of the Han transmission of the text.

Uncertain identifications. Many names of gods, mountains and beings (弇茲, 鏖鏊鉅, 𪇆…) 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.