Chapter 18 of the Classic of Mountains and Seas (海内经)

The Classic of Regions within the Seas (海內經 Hǎinèijīng) is the eighteenth and final book of the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Often considered one of the oldest, it gathers the great divine genealogies (of the Yellow Emperor, Emperor Jun, and Emperor Yan), a catalog of the inventors of civilization (the boat, the chariot, the bow, music, and ox-drawn plowing), and concludes with the most famous of Chinese myths: the Great Flood and the deeds of Gun and Yu, who fixed the Nine Provinces. The Chinese text is presented with its pinyin transcription, followed by the French translation and notes.

海內經: Regions within the Seas

東dōng海hǎi之zhī內nèi，北běi海hǎi之zhī隅yú，有yǒu國guó名míng曰yuē朝cháo鮮xiān、天tiān毒dú，其qí人rén水shuǐ居jū，偎wēi人rén愛ài人rén。

Within the Eastern Sea, in a corner of the Northern Sea, there are lands named Joseon (朝鮮, Korea) and Tiandu (天毒, India); their people live by the water and cherish one another with affection.

西xī海hǎi之zhī內nèi，流liú沙shā之zhī中zhōng，有yǒu國guó名míng曰yuē壑hè市shì。

Within the Western Sea, in the midst of the Flowing Sands, there is a land named Heshi (壑市).

西xī海hǎi之zhī內nèi，流liú沙shā之zhī西xī，有yǒu國guó名míng曰yuē沮jǔ葉yè。

Within the Western Sea, west of the Flowing Sands, there is a land named Juye (沮葉).

流liú沙shā之zhī西xī，有yǒu鳥niǎo山shān者zhě，三sān水shuǐ出chū焉yān。爰yuán有yǒu黃huáng金jīn、璿xuán瑰guī、丹dān貨huò、銀yín鐵tiě，皆jiē流liú于yú此cǐ中zhōng。又yòu有yǒu淮huái山shān，好hǎo水shuǐ出chū焉yān。

West of the Flowing Sands rises the Bird Mountain (鳥山), from which three rivers flow. There are gold, xuangui jade (璿瑰), cinnabar (丹貨), silver, and iron, all carried in these waters. There is also the Huai Mountain (淮山), from which the Hao River (好水) flows.

流liú沙shā之zhī東dōng，黑hēi水shuǐ之zhī西xī，有yǒu朝cháo雲yún之zhī國guó、司sī彘zhì之zhī國guó。黃huáng帝dì妻qī雷léi祖zǔ，生shēng昌chāng意yì，昌chāng意yì降jiàng處chù若ruò水shuǐ，生shēng韓hán流liú。韓hán流liú擢zhuó首shǒu、謹jǐn耳ěr、人rén面miàn、豕shǐ喙huì、麟lín身shēn、渠qú股gǔ、豚tún止zhǐ，取qǔ淖nào子zi曰yuē阿ā女nǚ，生shēng帝dì顓zhuān頊xū。

East of the Flowing Sands and west of the Black Water are the Land of Morning Clouds (朝雲之國) and the Land of Swine-herders (司彘之國). The Yellow Emperor took Leizu (雷祖) as his wife, who bore Changyi (昌意); Changyi descended to dwell by the Ruo River (若水) and fathered Hanliu (韓流). Hanliu had an elongated head, small ears, a human face, a pig’s snout, a body like a kylin, joined thighs, and pig’s feet; he took a girl of the Nao clan (淖), named Anü (阿女), who bore the Emperor Zhuanxu (顓頊).

流liú沙shā之zhī東dōng，黑hēi水shuǐ之zhī間jiān，有yǒu山shān名míng不bù死sǐ之zhī山shān。

East of the Flowing Sands, in the midst of the Black Water, stands the Mountain of Immortality (不死之山).

華huá山shān青qīng水shuǐ之zhī東dōng，有yǒu山shān名míng曰yuē肇zhào山shān，有yǒu人rén名míng曰yuē柏bǎi高gāo，柏bǎi高gāo上shàng下xià於yú此cǐ，至zhì于yú天tiān。

East of Mount Hua (華山) and the Blue Water (青水) stands a mountain named Zhaoshan (肇山); there is a man named Baigao (柏高) who ascends and descends by this mountain to the heavens.

西xī南nán黑hēi水shuǐ之zhī間jiān，有yǒu都dōu廣guǎng之zhī野yě，后hòu稷jì葬zàng焉yān。爰yuán有yǒu膏gāo菽shū、膏gāo稻dào、膏gāo黍shǔ、膏gāo稷jì，百bǎi穀gǔ自zì生shēng，冬dōng夏xià播bō琴qín。鸞luán鳥niǎo自zì歌gē，鳳fèng鳥niǎo自zì儛wǔ，靈líng壽shòu實shí華huá，草cǎo木mù所suǒ聚jù。爰yuán有yǒu百bǎi獸shòu，相xiāng群qún爰yuán處chù。此cǐ草cǎo也yě，冬dōng夏xià不bù死sǐ。

In the southwest, in the midst of the Black Water, lies the Plain of Duguang (都廣之野), where Houji (后稷) is buried. There are fat beans, fat rice, fat millet, and fat panic grass; the hundred grains grow of their own accord, and one sows them in winter and summer to the sound of the qin (lute). The luan bird sings of its own accord, the phoenix dances of its own accord; the Tree of Spiritual Longevity (靈壽) bears fruit and flowers there, and grasses and trees gather. There are the hundred beasts that live together in herds. These grasses do not die in winter or summer.

南nán海hǎi之zhī內nèi，黑hēi水shuǐ、青qīng水shuǐ之zhī間jiān，有yǒu木mù名míng曰yuē若ruò木mù，若ruò水shuǐ出chū焉yān。

Within the Southern Sea, between the Black Water and the Blue Water, stands a tree named Ruomu (若木), from which the Ruo River (若水) flows.

有yǒu禺yú中zhōng之zhī國guó。有yǒu列liè襄xiāng之zhī國guó。有yǒu靈líng山shān，有yǒu赤chì蛇shé在zài木mù上shàng，名míng曰yuē蝡rú蛇shé，木mù食shí。

There is the Land of Yuzhong (禺中之國). There is the Land of Liexiang (列襄之國). There is the Spirit Mountain (靈山); a red serpent dwells on a tree, named the Ruan Serpent (蝡蛇), which feeds on the wood.

有yǒu鹽yán長cháng之zhī國guó。有yǒu人rén焉yān鳥niǎo首shǒu，名míng曰yuē鳥niǎo氏shì。

There is the Land of Yanchang (鹽長之國). There are people there with bird heads, called the Niaoshi (鳥氏).

有yǒu九jiǔ丘qiū，以yǐ水shuǐ絡luò之zhī：名míng曰yuē陶táo唐táng之zhī丘qiū、有yǒu叔shū得dé之zhī丘qiū、孟mèng盈yíng之zhī丘qiū、昆kūn吾wú之zhī丘qiū、黑hēi白bái之zhī丘qiū、赤chì望wàng之zhī丘qiū、參cān衛wèi之zhī丘qiū、武wǔ夫fū之zhī丘qiū、神shén民mín之zhī丘qiū。有yǒu木mù，青qīng葉yè紫zǐ莖jīng，玄xuán華huá黃huáng實shí，名míng曰yuē建jiàn木mù，百bǎi仞rèn無wú枝zhī，有yǒu九jiǔ欘zhú，下xià有yǒu九jiǔ枸gǒu，其qí實shí如rú麻má，其qí葉yè如rú芒máng，大dà皞hào爰yuán過guò，黃huáng帝dì所suǒ為wèi。

There are nine hills, encircled by water: the Hill of Taotang (陶唐之丘), the Hill of Shude (叔得之丘), the Hill of Mengying (孟盈之丘), the Hill of Kunwu (昆吾之丘), the Hill of Black-and-White (黑白之丘), the Hill of Red Prospect (赤望之丘), the Hill of Canwei (參衛之丘), the Hill of Wufu (武夫之丘), and the Hill of Divine People (神民之丘). There is a tree with green leaves and purple stems, black flowers and yellow fruit, named Jianmu (建木, the Upright Tree); it is a hundred fathoms tall with no branches, bearing nine forks above and nine roots below; its fruit resembles hemp, its leaves thorns. The Great Hao (大皞) passed by it, and it was fashioned by the Yellow Emperor.

有yǒu窫yà窳yǔ，龍lóng首shǒu，是shì食shí人rén。有yǒu青qīng獸shòu，人rén面miàn，名míng曰yuē猩xīng猩xīng。

There is the Yayu (窫窳), with a dragon’s head, which devours men. There is a blue-green beast with a human face, called the Xingxing (猩猩).

西xī南nán有yǒu巴bā國guó。大dà皞hào生shēng咸xián鳥niǎo，咸xián鳥niǎo生shēng乘chéng釐lí，乘chéng釐lí生shēng後hòu照zhào，後hòu照zhào是shì始shǐ為wèi巴bā人rén。

In the southwest is the land of Ba (巴國). The Great Hao (大皞) begot Xianniao (咸鳥), Xianniao begot Chengli (乘釐), Chengli begot Houzhao (後照), and Houzhao was the first ancestor of the Ba people (巴人).

有yǒu國guó名míng曰yuē流liú黃huáng辛xīn氏shì，其qí域yù中zhōng方fāng三sān百bǎi里lǐ，其qí出chū是shì塵chén土tǔ。有yǒu巴bā遂suì山shān，澠shéng水shuǐ出chū焉yān。

There is a land named Liuhuang-Xinshi (流黃辛氏), whose central territory is three hundred li square, from which dust issues. There is the Basui Mountain (巴遂山), from which the Sheng River (澠水) flows.

又yòu有yǒu朱zhū卷juǎn之zhī國guó。有yǒu黑hēi蛇shé，青qīng首shǒu，食shí象xiàng。

There is also the land of Zhujuan (朱卷之國). There is a black serpent with a blue-green head that devours elephants.

南nán方fāng有yǒu贛gàn巨jù人rén，人rén面miàn長cháng臂bì，黑hēi身shēn有yǒu毛máo，反fǎn踵zhǒng，見jiàn人rén笑xiào亦yì笑xiào，唇chún蔽bì其qí面miàn，因yīn即jí逃táo也yě。

In the south dwells the giant of Gan (贛巨人), with a human face and long arms, a black hairy body, and heels turned backward; when he sees a person laugh, he laughs too, his lips covering his face, then immediately flees.

又yòu有yǒu黑hēi人rén，虎hǔ首shǒu鳥niǎo足zú，兩liǎng手shǒu持chí蛇shé，方fāng啗dàn之zhī。

There are also black people with tiger heads and bird feet, who hold a serpent in each hand and devour them.

有yǒu羸léi民mín，鳥niǎo足zú。有yǒu封fēng豕shǐ。

There are the Leimin (羸民), with bird feet. There is the great boar (封豕).

有yǒu人rén曰yuē苗miáo民mín。有yǒu神shén焉yān，人rén首shǒu蛇shé身shēn，長cháng如rú轅yuán，左zuǒ右yòu有yǒu首shǒu，衣yī紫zǐ衣yī，冠guān旃zhān冠guān，名míng曰yuē延yán維wéi，人rén主zhǔ得dé而ér饗xiǎng食shí之zhī，伯bó天tiān下xià。

There is a people called the Miaomin (苗民). There is a deity there with a human head and serpent body, as long as a cart shaft, with a head on each side, clad in purple and wearing a red felt cap, named Yanwei (延維). The ruler who obtains him and offers him a feast becomes hegemon over the world.

有yǒu鸞luán鳥niǎo自zì歌gē，鳳fèng鳥niǎo自zì儛wǔ。鳳fèng鳥niǎo首shǒu文wén曰yuē德dé，翼yì文wén曰yuē順shùn，膺yīng文wén曰yuē仁rén，背bèi文wén曰yuē義yì，見jiàn則zé天tiān下xià和hé。

There is the luan bird that sings of its own accord, and the phoenix that dances of its own accord. On the phoenix’s head are markings that say “Virtue” (德), on its wings “Compliance” (順), on its breast “Benevolence” (仁), on its back “Righteousness” (義); when it appears, the world is in harmony.

又yòu有yǒu青qīng獸shòu如rú菟tú，名míng曰yuē𡹤zhà狗gǒu。有yǒu翠cuì鳥niǎo。有yǒu孔kǒng鳥niǎo。

There is also a blue-green beast like a hare, called the zha dog (𡹤狗). There is the cui bird (翠鳥, kingfisher). There is the kong bird (孔鳥, peacock).

南nán海hǎi之zhī內nèi有yǒu衡héng山shān。有yǒu菌jūn山shān。有yǒu桂guì山shān。有yǒu山shān名míng三sān天tiān子zi之zhī都dōu。

Within the Southern Sea are Mount Heng (衡山). There is Mount Jun (菌山). There is Mount Gui (桂山). There is a mountain named the Three Terraces of the Son of Heaven (三天子之都).

南nán方fāng蒼cāng梧wú之zhī丘qiū，蒼cāng梧wú之zhī淵yuān，其qí中zhōng有yǒu九jiǔ嶷yí山shān，舜shùn之zhī所suǒ葬zàng，在zài長cháng沙shā零líng陵líng界jiè中zhōng。

In the south are the Cangwu Hill (蒼梧之丘) and the Cangwu Abyss (蒼梧之淵), within which stands Mount Jiuyi (九嶷山), where Shun was buried, in the territory of Changsha-Lingling (長沙零陵).

北běi海hǎi之zhī內nèi，有yǒu蛇shé山shān者zhě，蛇shé水shuǐ出chū焉yān，東dōng入rù于yú海hǎi。有yǒu五wǔ彩cǎi之zhī鳥niǎo，飛fēi蔽bì一yī鄉xiāng，名míng曰yuē翳yì鳥niǎo。又yòu有yǒu不bù距jù之zhī山shān，巧qiǎo倕chuí葬zàng其qí西xī。

Within the Northern Sea stands the Serpent Mountain (蛇山), from which the Serpent River (蛇水) flows eastward into the sea. There is a five-colored bird whose flight darkens an entire district, called the Yi bird (翳鳥). There is also the Mountain of No Resistance (不距之山), west of which the artisan Qiaochui (巧倕) was buried.

北běi海hǎi之zhī內nèi，有yǒu反fǎn縛fù盜dào械xiè、帶dài戈gē常cháng倍bèi之zhī佐zuǒ，名míng曰yuē相xiāng顧gù之zhī尸shī。

Within the Northern Sea there is a being bound with thieves’ fetters, wearing a halberd and always in a posture of rebellion, called the corpse of Xianggu (相顧之尸).

伯bó夷yí父fù生shēng西xī岳yuè，西xī岳yuè生shēng先xiān龍lóng，先xiān龍lóng是shì始shǐ生shēng氐dī羌qiāng，氐dī羌qiāng乞qǐ姓xìng。

Boyifu (伯夷父) begot the Western Peak (西岳), the Western Peak begot Xianlong (先龍), and Xianlong was the first ancestor of the Di-Qiang (氐羌), of the Qi clan (乞).

北běi海hǎi之zhī內nèi，有yǒu山shān，名míng曰yuē幽yōu都dōu之zhī山shān，黑hēi水shuǐ出chū焉yān。其qí上shàng有yǒu玄xuán鳥niǎo、玄xuán蛇shé、玄xuán豹bào、玄xuán虎hǔ、玄xuán狐hú蓬péng尾wěi。有yǒu大dà玄xuán之zhī山shān。有yǒu玄xuán丘qiū之zhī民mín。有yǒu大dà幽yōu之zhī國guó。有yǒu赤chì脛jìng之zhī民mín。

Within the Northern Sea stands a mountain named the Mountain of Obscure Capital (幽都之山), from which the Black Water flows. On its summit dwell the Black Bird, the Black Serpent, the Black Leopard, the Black Tiger, and the Black Fox with a bushy tail. There is the Great Obscure Mountain (大玄之山). There are the people of Obscure Mound (玄丘之民). There is the Great Obscure Land (大幽之國). There are the Red-Shinned people (赤脛之民).

有yǒu釘dīng靈líng之zhī國guó，其qí民mín從cóng膝xī已yǐ下xià有yǒu毛máo，馬mǎ蹄tí善shàn走zǒu。

There is the land of Dingling (釘靈之國), whose people have hair below their knees and horse hooves, and run swiftly.

炎yán帝dì之zhī孫sūn伯bó陵líng，伯bó陵líng同tóng吳wú權quán之zhī妻qī阿ā女nǚ緣yuán婦fù，緣yuán婦fù孕yùn三sān年nián，是shì生shēng鼓gǔ、延yán、殳shū。始shǐ為wèi侯hóu，鼓gǔ、延yán是shì始shǐ為wèi鍾zhōng，為wèi樂lè風fēng。

Bolin (伯陵), grandson of the Emperor Yan (炎帝), joined in union with Anü Yuanfu (阿女緣婦), wife of Wuquan (吳權); Yuanfu was pregnant for three years and gave birth to Gu (鼓), Yan (延), and Shu (殳). Shu was the first to make the target (侯), and Gu and Yan were the first to make the bell (鍾) and compose the airs of music.

黃huáng帝dì生shēng駱luò明míng，駱luò明míng生shēng白bái馬mǎ，白bái馬mǎ是shì為wèi鯀gǔn。

The Yellow Emperor begot Luoming (駱明), Luoming begot the White Horse (白馬), and the White Horse became Gun (鯀, father of Yu).

帝dì俊jùn生shēng禺yú號hào，禺yú號hào生shēng淫yín梁liáng，淫yín梁liáng生shēng番pān禺yú，是shì始shǐ為wèi舟zhōu。番pān禺yú生shēng奚xī仲zhòng，奚xī仲zhòng生shēng吉jí光guāng，吉jí光guāng是shì始shǐ以yǐ木mù為wèi車chē。

The Emperor Jun begot Yuhao (禺號), Yuhao begot Yinliang (淫梁), Yinliang begot Panyu (番禺), who was the first to make the boat. Panyu begot Xizhong (奚仲), Xizhong begot Jiguang (吉光), and Jiguang was the first to make the wooden chariot.

少shǎo皞hào生shēng般bān，般bān是shì始shǐ為wèi弓gōng矢shǐ。

Shaohao (少皞) begot Ban (般), and Ban was the first to make the bow and arrow.

帝dì俊jùn賜cì羿yì彤tóng弓gōng素sù矰zēng，以yǐ扶fú下xià國guó，羿yì是shì始shǐ去qù恤xù下xià地dì之zhī百bǎi艱jiān。

The Emperor Jun gave the archer Yi (羿) a vermilion bow and white arrows, to aid the lands below; thus Yi was the first to rid the lower world of its hundred calamities.

帝dì俊jùn生shēng晏yàn龍lóng，晏yàn龍lóng是shì為wèi琴qín瑟sè。

The Emperor Jun begot Yanlong (晏龍), and Yanlong made the lute and the cithara (琴瑟).

帝dì俊jùn有yǒu子zi八bā人rén，是shì始shǐ為wèi歌gē儛wǔ。

The Emperor Jun had eight sons, who were the first to create song and dance.

帝dì俊jùn生shēng三sān身shēn，三sān身shēn生shēng義yì均jūn，義yì均jūn是shì始shǐ為wèi巧qiǎo倕chuí，是shì始shǐ作zuò下xià民mín百bǎi巧qiǎo。后hòu稷jì是shì播bō百bǎi穀gǔ。稷jì之zhī孫sūn曰yuē叔shū均jūn，是shì始shǐ作zuò牛niú耕gēng。大dà比bǐ赤chì陰yīn，是shì始shǐ為wèi國guó。禹yǔ鯀gǔn是shì始shǐ布bù土tǔ，均jūn定dìng九jiǔ州zhōu。

The Emperor Jun begot Sanshen (三身, “Three-Bodies”), Sanshen begot Yijun (義均); Yijun was the first Qiaochui (巧倕, the skilled artisan), inventor of the hundred crafts for the people. Houji (后稷) sowed the hundred grains. Shujun (叔均), Houji’s grandson, invented ox-drawn plowing. Dabi-Chiyin (大比赤陰) was the first to establish a state. Yu and Gun (禹鯀) were the first to spread the earth (to dam the waters) and delimit the Nine Provinces (九州).

炎yán帝dì之zhī妻qī，赤chì水shuǐ之zhī子zi聽tīng訞yāo生shēng炎yán居jū，炎yán居jū生shēng節jié並bìng，節jié並bìng生shēng戲xì器qì，戲xì器qì生shēng祝zhù融róng，祝zhù融róng降jiàng處chù于yú江jiāng水shuǐ，生shēng共gòng工gōng，共gòng工gōng生shēng術shù器qì，術shù器qì首shǒu方fāng顛diān，是shì復fù土tǔ穰ráng，以yǐ處chù江jiāng水shuǐ。共gòng工gōng生shēng后hòu土tǔ，后hòu土tǔ生shēng噎yē鳴míng，噎yē鳴míng生shēng歲suì十shí有yǒu二èr。

The wife of the Emperor Yan (炎帝), Tingyao (聽訞), daughter of the Red Waters, bore Yanjü (炎居); Yanjü begot Jiebing (節並), Jiebing begot Xigi (戲器), Xigi begot Zhurong (祝融); Zhurong descended to dwell by the River (江水) and begot Gonggong (共工); Gonggong begot Shuqi (術器), who had a square flat head and turned the fertile soil to dwell by the River. Gonggong begot Houtu (后土), Houtu begot Yeming (噎鳴), and Yeming begot the twelve (months) of the year.

洪hóng水shuǐ滔tāo天tiān。鯀gǔn竊qiè帝dì之zhī息xī壤rǎng以yǐ堙yīn洪hóng水shuǐ，不bù待dài帝dì命mìng。帝dì令lìng祝zhù融róng殺shā鯀gǔn于yú羽yǔ郊jiāo。鯀gǔn復fù生shēng禹yǔ。帝dì乃nǎi命mìng禹yǔ卒zú布bù土tǔ以yǐ定dìng九jiǔ州zhōu。

The Great Flood submerged the heavens. Gun (鯀) stole the “breathing earth” (息壤) of the Sovereign to dam the flood, without waiting for the Sovereign’s command. The Sovereign ordered Zhurong to kill Gun at the borders of Yu (羽郊). From Gun was reborn Yu (禹). The Sovereign then ordered Yu to complete the spreading of the earth to fix the Nine Provinces.

Notes

The Book of Origins. The Classic of Regions within the Seas (海內經), the last in the collection, may be its oldest core. It abandons simple topography to unfold the genealogies of great divine ancestors and lay the foundations of civilization: it is a true cosmogony and a mythical history of beginnings.

The Inventors of Civilization. A series of entries attributes to descendants of Emperor Jun or the Yellow Emperor the invention of foundational techniques: Panyu the boat, Jiguang the chariot, Ban the bow and arrows, Yanlong the qin zither, Qiaochui the hundred crafts, and Shujun ox-drawn plowing. This “roll call of first acts” makes the book a mythical archaeology of Chinese culture.

The Flood: Gun and Yu (鯀・禹). The collection closes with the great founding myth: Gun steals the “breathing earth” (息壤) of the Sovereign to dam the waters, is put to death, and from his body is reborn Yu, who completes the work and delimits the Nine Provinces (九州). This is the foundational act of world order and empire.

Jianmu (建木) and the Great Hao. The Upright Tree, the axis mundi by which spirits and the god Taihao (大皞) pass, reappears here at the center of the nine hills: a cosmic pillar linking heaven and earth.

An Opening onto the World. From its first entry, the text names Joseon (Korea) and Tiandu (India), placing its mythical geography within a real horizon.

Uncertain Identifications. Many names of gods, ancestors, and places (𡹤狗, 延維, 聽訞…) have no assured equivalents; they are transcribed in pinyin with the characters, and the French renderings follow traditional glosses (Guo Pu, Hao Yixing). Thus ends the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

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