The Classic of Mountains and SeasThis major source of Chinese mythology (third century BC to second century AD) contains a treasure trove of rare data and colorful fiction about the mythical figures, rituals, medicine, natural history, and ethnic peoples of the ancient world. The Classic of Mountains and Seas explores 204 mythical figures such as the gods Foremost, Fond Care, and Yellow, and goddesses Queen Mother of the West and Girl Lovely, as well as many other figures unknown outside this text. This eclectic Classic also contains crucial information on early medicine (with cures for impotence and infertility), omens to avert catastrophe, and rites of sacrifice, and familiar and unidentified plants and animals. It offers a guided tour of the known world in antiquity, moving outwards from the famous mountains of central China to the lands “beyond the seas.” Translated with an introduction and notes by Anne Birrell. |
Contents
Acknowledgements | xi |
BOOK FIVE | xxvii |
Chronological Table | xlvii |
Chapter 1 | 13 |
Chapter 4 | 28 |
Chapter 2 | 42 |
Chapter 1 | 67 |
Chapter 7 | 80 |
Chapter 11 | 93 |
BOOK | 107 |
BOOK NINE | 125 |
BOOK ELEVEN | 137 |
Notes on Chinese Names and Terms | 197 |
| 273 | |
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Common terms and phrases
animal author says bamboo bird body chih China Chinese cinnabar Classic colour Corpse Country lies creatures deities denotes dynasty earth east to empty eighty leagues further etiological myth fifty leagues further fish five books Five hundred leagues flows east flows north flows south flows west Four hundred leagues gave birth Girl goddess gold and jade graphs green jade head Hibiscus Hugefish human face hundred leagues further Jade is abundant land leagues further east leagues further north leagues further southeast located lower slopes Marsh motif Mound Mount Bell mountain called Mount mountain which looks mythical figure mythological noise north face northeast Offspringline paper mulberry parthenogenesis peak plants or trees quantities of gold rises ritual River Clear Sacrifice seventy leagues further Shaman silk mulberry snakes south face south to empty southeast to empty stones summit tail Three hundred leagues tiger twenty leagues further white jade wild