Chapter 5 of the Classic of Mountains and Seas (part 3)

The Classic of the Central Mountains (中山经 Zhōngshānjīng), presented in three sections, concludes here. This final part covers the two ranges 中次十一经 and 中次十二经 (regions of Han and Dongting Lake), followed by the final colophons of the Five Classics of the Mountains (五藏山经), including the words of Yu the Great. It also introduces the Two Daughters of the Emperor of Dongting Mountain. The Chinese text is presented with its pinyin transcription, followed by a French translation and notes.

Eleventh Classic of the Centre — 中次十一经 (Jingshan Range)

《中zhōng次cì一yī十shí一yī山shān經jīng》荊jīng山shān之zhī首shǒu, 曰yuē翼yì望wàng之zhī山shān. 湍tuān水shuǐ出chū焉yān, 東dōng流liú注zhù于yú濟jì. 貺kuàng水shuǐ出chū焉yān, 東dōng南nán流liú注zhù于yú漢hàn, 其qí中zhōng多duō蛟jiāo. 其qí上shàng多duō松sōng柏bǎi, 其qí下xià多duō漆qī梓zǐ, 其qí陽yáng多duō赤chì金jīn, 其qí陰yīn多duō珉mín.

The Eleventh Classic of the Centre, the Jingshan Range. Its first mountain is called Mount Yiwang (翼望). The Tuan River (湍水) flows from it eastward into the Ji River (濟); the Kuang River (貺水) flows from it southeastward into the Han River (漢), and abounds in jiao dragons (蛟). Its summit abounds in pines and cypresses, its base in lacquer trees and catalpas; its southern slope in red gold, its northern slope in fine jade (min 珉).

又yòu東dōng北běi一yī百bǎi五wǔ十shí里lǐ, 曰yuē朝cháo歌gē之zhī山shān. 潕wǔ水shuǐ出chū焉yān, 東dōng南nán流liú注zhù于yú榮róng, 其qí中zhōng多duō人rén魚yú. 其qí上shàng多duō梓zǐ柟nán, 其qí獸shòu多duō麢líng麋mí. 有yǒu草cǎo焉yān, 名míng曰yuē莽mǎng草cǎo, 可kě以yǐ毒dú魚yú.

One hundred and fifty li northeast lies Mount Zhaoge (朝歌). The Wu River (潕水) flows from it southeast into the Rong River (榮); it abounds in human-faced fish (人魚). Its summit abounds in catalpas and nanmu, and its beasts mostly in gorals and elk. There is a herb there called mangcao (莽草), which can be used to poison fish.

又yòu東dōng南nán二èr百bǎi里lǐ, 曰yuē帝dì囷qūn之zhī山shān, 其qí陽yáng多duō㻬tū琈fú之zhī玉yù, 其qí陰yīn多duō鐵tiě. 帝dì囷qūn之zhī水shuǐ出chū于yú其qí上shàng, 潛qián于yú其qí下xià, 多duō鳴míng蛇shé.

Two hundred li southeast lies Mount Diqun (帝囷). Its southern slope abounds in jade tufu (㻬琈之玉), its northern slope in iron. The Diqun River (帝囷水) rises at its summit and sinks at its base; it abounds in sounding snakes (鳴蛇).

又yòu東dōng南nán五wǔ十shí里lǐ, 曰yuē視shì山shān, 其qí上shàng多duō韭jiǔ. 有yǒu井jǐng焉yān, 名míng曰yuē天tiān井jǐng, 夏xià有yǒu水shuǐ, 冬dōng竭jié. 其qí上shàng多duō桑sāng, 多duō美měi堊è, 金jīn玉yù.

Fifty li southeast lies Mount Shi (視山). Its summit abounds in leeks. There is a well there called the Heavenly Well (天井), which has water in summer and dries up in winter. Its summit abounds in mulberries, fine chalk (美堊), gold, and jade.

又yòu東dōng南nán二èr百bǎi里lǐ, 曰yuē前qián山shān, 其qí木mù多duō櫧zhū, 多duō柏bǎi, 其qí陽yáng多duō金jīn, 其qí陰yīn多duō赭zhě.

Two hundred li southeast lies Mount Qian (前山). Its trees, especially zhu oaks (櫧) and cypresses; its southern slope abounds in gold, its northern slope in ochre.

又yòu東dōng南nán三sān百bǎi里lǐ, 曰yuē豐fēng山shān. 有yǒu獸shòu焉yān, 其qí狀zhuàng如rú蝯yuán, 赤chì目mù, 赤chì喙huì, 黃huáng身shēn, 名míng曰yuē雍yōng和hé, 見jiàn則zé國guó有yǒu大dà恐kǒng. 神shén耕gēng父fù處chù之zhī, 常cháng遊yóu清qīng泠líng之zhī淵yuān, 出chū入rù有yǒu光guāng, 見jiàn則zé其qí國guó為wèi敗bài. 有yǒu九jiǔ鐘zhōng焉yān, 是shì知zhī霜shuāng鳴míng. 其qí上shàng多duō金jīn, 其qí下xià多duō穀gǔ柞zuò杻niǔ橿jiāng.

Three hundred li southeast lies Mount Feng (豐山). There is a beast there resembling a gibbon, with red eyes, a red beak, and a yellow body, called Yonghe (雍和); when it appears, the country suffers great terror. The divine farmer Fu (神耕父) dwells there; he constantly roams the Qingling Abyss (清泠之淵), glowing when he enters and exits, and when he appears, the country is ruined. There are nine bells there that ring when frost is near. Its summit abounds in gold, its base in mallow, chaste trees, and paper mulberries.

又yòu東dōng北běi八bā百bǎi里lǐ, 曰yuē兔tù床chuáng之zhī山shān, 其qí陽yáng多duō鐵tiě, 其qí木mù多duō藷shǔ藇xù, 其qí草cǎo多duō雞jī穀gǔ, 其qí本běn如rú雞jī卵luǎn, 其qí味wèi酸suān甘gān, 食shí者zhě利lì於yú人rén.

Eight hundred li northeast lies Mount Tuchuang (兔床). Its southern slope abounds in iron; its trees, especially the yam (shuyu 藷藇); its grasses, especially the jigu herb (雞穀), whose root resembles a chicken egg and has a sweet-sour taste; those who eat it benefit greatly.

又yòu東dōng六liù十shí里lǐ, 曰yuē皮pí山shān, 多duō堊è, 多duō赭zhě, 其qí木mù多duō松sōng柏bǎi.

Sixty li east lies Mount Pi (皮山). It abounds in chalk (堊) and ochre (赭); its trees are mostly pines and cypresses.

又yòu東dōng六liù十shí里lǐ, 曰yuē瑤yáo碧bì之zhī山shān, 其qí木mù多duō梓zǐ柟nán, 其qí陰yīn多duō青qīng䨼hù, 其qí陽yáng多duō白bái金jīn. 有yǒu鳥niǎo焉yān, 其qí狀zhuàng如rú雉zhì, 恒héng食shí蜚fēi, 名míng曰yuē鴆zhèn.

Sixty li east lies Mount Yaobi (瑤碧). Its trees are mostly catalpas and nanmu; its northern slope abounds in green ore (青䨼), its southern slope in silver. There is a bird there resembling a pheasant, which constantly eats flying insects (蜚), called zhen (鴆).

又yòu東dōng四sì十shí里lǐ, 曰yuē支zhī離lí之zhī山shān, 濟jì水shuǐ出chū焉yān, 南nán流liú注zhù于yú漢hàn. 有yǒu鳥niǎo焉yān, 其qí名míng曰yuē嬰yīng勺sháo, 其qí狀zhuàng如rú鵲què, 赤chì目mù, 赤chì喙huì, 白bái身shēn, 其qí尾wěi若ruò勺sháo, 其qí鳴míng自zì呼hū. 多duō㸲zuò牛niú, 多duō羬qián羊yáng.

Forty li east lies Mount Zhili (支離). The Ji River (濟水) flows from it south into the Han River. There is a bird there called Yingshao (嬰勺), resembling a magpie, with red eyes, a red beak, a white body, and a tail like a spoon; its cry calls out its own name. It abounds in zuoniu cattle and qianyang sheep.

又yòu東dōng北běi五wǔ十shí里lǐ, 曰yuē祑zhì𥮐kòu之zhī山shān, 其qí上shàng多duō松sōng柏bǎi机jī柏bǎi.

Fifty li northeast lies Mount Zhikou (祑𥮐). Its summit abounds in pines, cypresses, and ji cypresses (机柏).

又yòu西xī北běi一yī百bǎi里lǐ, 曰yuē堇jǐn理lǐ之zhī山shān, 其qí上shàng多duō松sōng柏bǎi, 多duō美měi梓zǐ, 其qí陰yīn多duō丹dān䨼hù, 多duō金jīn, 其qí獸shòu多duō豹bào虎hǔ. 有yǒu鳥niǎo焉yān, 其qí