CHAPTER 03 · 92 passages
The Northern Mountains
北山經
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Range 1
English
The first northern range begins at Mount Dānhú [單狐], with many Jī [机] trees and flowering plants above. The Féng [漨] River rises here and flows west into the Yōu [泑], with many purple stones and patterned stones in its waters.
English
A further 250 li north stands Mount Qiúrú [求如]. Above is much Tóng, below much jade, but there are no plants or trees. The Huá [滑] River rises here and flows west into the Zhūpí [諸毗]. In it are many Huá Yú [滑], like eels with red backs, whose voices resemble Wú [梧]; eating them cures warts. There are also many Shuǐ Mǎ [水馬], like horses with patterned forelegs and ox tails, whose voices resemble shouting.
Translator’s note
梧 is an obscure sound comparison and is not identified here with a known animal or instrument.
English
A further 300 li north stands Mount Dài [帶]. Above is much jade, below much blue-green jade. There is a beast like a horse, with a single patterned horn, called Quán Shū [䑏疏]; it wards off fire. There is a bird like a crow, five-coloured with red markings, called Qí Tú [鵸䳜]. It is both female and male; eating it prevents deep sores. The Péng [彭] River rises here and flows west into the Píhú [芘湖]. In it are many Shū Yú [儵], like chickens with red hair, three tails, six legs, and four heads. Their voices resemble magpies; eating them dispels sorrow.
English
A further 400 li north stands Mount Qiáomíng [譙明]. The Qiáo [譙] River rises here and flows west into the Hé [河]. In it are many Hé Luó Yú [何羅], with one head and ten bodies, whose voices resemble barking dogs; eating them cures abscesses. There is a beast like a Huán [貆], with red bristles, whose voice is like “Liúliú [榴榴].” Its name is Mèng Huái [孟槐]; it wards off misfortune. The mountain has no plants or trees, but much blue-green realgar.
Translator’s note
Huán [貆]: An old animal-name often understood as a small badger-like mammal; traditional interpretations vary. 榴榴 is the sound-word given by the text.
English
A further 350 li north stands Mount Zhuōguāng [涿光]. The Xiāo [嚻] River rises here and flows west into the Hé [河]. In it are many Xíxí [鰼鰼] fish, like magpies with ten wings, all their scales at the feather tips. Their voices resemble magpies. They ward off fire, and eating them prevents heat illness. Above grow many pines and cypresses, below many palms and nanmu. Its beasts include Líng, its birds many Fān [蕃].
English
A further 380 li north stands Mount Guó [虢]. Above grow many lacquer trees, below many paulownias and Jū [椐] trees. Its southern slope has much jade, its northern slope much iron. The Yī [伊] River rises here and flows west into the Hé [河]. Its beasts include Tuó Tuó; its birds include many Yù [寓], shaped like mice with bird wings. Their voices resemble goat, and they ward off warfare.
English
A further 400 li north one reaches the end of Mount Guó [虢]. Above is much jade but no ordinary stone. The Yú [魚] River rises here and flows west into the Hé [河], with many Wén Bèi in its waters.
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Dānxūn [丹熏]. Above grow many trees of heaven and cypresses; its plants include garlic chives and Chinese onions, and there is much red mineral pigment. The Xūn [熏] River rises here and flows west into the Táng [棠]. There is a beast like a mouse, with a hare's head and an elk's body, whose voice resembles a barking dog. It flies by means of its tail and is called Ěr Shǔ [耳鼠]. Eating it prevents abdominal distension and wards off every poison.
English
A further 280 li north stands Mount Shízhě [石者]. Above are no plants or trees, but much fine blue-green jade. The Cǐ [泚] River rises here and flows west into the Hé [河]. There is a beast like a Bào, with a patterned forehead and white body, called Mèng Jí [孟極]. It is skilled at concealment and cries its own name.
English
A further 110 li north stands Mount Biānchūn [邊春], with many onions, mallows, garlic chives, peaches, and plums. The Gāng [杠] River rises here and flows west into Yōu [泑] Marsh. There is a beast like a yù [禺], with a patterned body, skilled at laughing; when it sees a person, it lies down. Its name is Yōu Yàn [幽鴳], and it cries its own name.
Translator’s note
yù [禺]: Traditionally a monkey-like animal, described by Guō Pú as larger than a macaque, with red eyes and a long tail.
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Mànlián [蔓聯], without plants or trees above. There is a beast like a yù [禺], but with a mane, an ox's tail, patterned arms, and horse hooves. It calls out when it sees a person. Its name is Zú Zī [足訾], and it cries its own name. There is a bird that dwells in flocks and flies in company, with feathers like a hen pheasant's. Its name is Jiāo [鵁], and it cries its own name. Eating it cures wind illness.
Translator’s note
yù [禺]: A traditionally monkey-like animal. “Wind illness” is an ancient medical category and is not equated with a single modern condition.
English
A further 180 li north stands Mount Dānzhāng [單張], without plants or trees above. There is a beast like a Bào, with a long tail, a human head, ox ears, and one eye. Its name is Zhū Jiān [諸犍]; it is skilled at roaring. When walking it holds its tail in its mouth; when resting it coils its tail. There is a bird like a pheasant, with a patterned head, white wings, and yellow feet, called Bái Yè [白鵺]. Eating it cures a sore throat and can cure convulsive illness. The Lì [櫟] River rises here and flows south into the Gāng [杠].
English
A further 320 li north stands Mount Guàntí [灌題]. Above grow many trees of heaven and silkworm thorns, below lie much shifting sand and many whetstones. There is a beast like an ox, with a white tail and a voice like shouting, called Nà Fù [那父]. There is a bird like a hen pheasant, with a human face, which leaps when it sees a person. Its name is Sǒng Sī [竦斯], and it cries its own name. The Jiànghán [匠韓] River rises here and flows west into Yōu [泑] Marsh, with much lodestone in its waters.
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Pānhóu [潘侯]. Above grow many pines and cypresses, below many hazels and Hù [楛]. Its southern slope has much jade, its northern slope much iron. There is a beast like an ox, with hair growing at all four joints; some call it a . The Biān [邊] River rises here and flows south into Lì [櫟] Marsh.
English
A further 230 li north stands Mount Xiǎoxián [小咸], without plants or trees, with snow in winter and summer.
English
280 li north stands Mount Dàxián [大咸], without plants or trees, but with much jade below. The mountain is square in form and cannot be climbed. There is a Shé called Long Snake [長蛇], with hair like pig bristles and a voice like striking a watchman's clapper.
English
A further 320 li north stands Mount Dūnhōng [敦薨]. Above grow many palms and nanmu, below much purple gromwell. The Dūnhōng [敦薨] River rises here and flows west into Yōu [泑] Marsh. It issues from the northeastern corner of Kūnlún [昆侖]; this is the source of the Hé [河]. In its waters are many Chì Guī [鮭]; its beasts include Sì [兕] and , its birds many Shī Jiū.
Translator’s note
The subject of “issues from” is not explicit; the source's geography has not been harmonised with a modern river system. Sì [兕] is traditionally a large horned animal, often understood as rhinoceros-like. 鮭 is kept as an ancient fish-name rather than automatically identified with modern salmon.
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Shǎoxián [少咸], without plants or trees, but with much blue-green jade. There is a beast like an ox, with a red body, human face, and horse feet, called Yà Yǔ [窫窳]. Its voice resembles an infant's, and it eats people. The Dūn [敦] River rises here and flows east into the Yànmén [鴈門]. In it are many Bèi Bèi Yú [䰽䰽]; eating them kills people.
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Yuèfǎ [嶽法]. The Huáizé [瀤澤] River rises here and flows northeast into Tài [泰] Marsh. In it are many Zǎo Yú [抄], like carp with chicken feet; eating them cures warts. There is a beast like a dog, with a human face, skilled at throwing. It laughs when it sees a person, and is called Shān Huī [山𤟤]. It travels like the wind; when it appears, great winds sweep all beneath heaven.
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Běiyuè [北嶽], with many trifoliate-orange trees, jujube bushes, and Gāng [剛] trees. There is a beast like an ox, with four horns, human eyes, and pig ears, called Zhū Huái [諸懷]. Its voice resembles a calling goose, and it eats people. The Zhūhuái [諸懷] River rises here and flows west into the . In it are many Yì Yú [鮨], with fish bodies and dog heads, whose voices resemble infants; eating them cures madness.
English
A further 180 li north stands Mount Húnxī [渾夕], without plants or trees, but rich in Tóng and jade. The Xiāo [嚻] River rises here and flows northwest into the sea. There is a Shé with one head and two bodies, called Féi Yí [肥遺]. When it appears, the country suffers great drought.
English
A further 50 li north stands Mount Běidān [北單], without plants or trees, but with many onions and garlic chives.
Translator’s note
The apparent contradiction is present in the source and has been retained.
English
A further a hundred li north stands Mount Píchà [羆差], without plants or trees, but with many horses.
English
A further 180 li north stands Mount Běixiān [北鮮], with many horses. The Xiān [鮮] River rises here and flows northwest into the Túwú [涂吾] River.
English
The first northern range, from Mount Dānhú [單狐] to Mount Dī [隄], comprises twenty-five mountains and extends 5,490 li. Its gods all have human faces and snake bodies. Their rites require the burial of a cock and a pig, together with a fine Guī [珪] jade tablet; no sacrificial grain is offered. The people north of these mountains all eat their food raw, without fire.
Translator’s note
The ritual sentence is compressed; cock and pig follows its received sequence 雄雞彘. 珪 denotes a ceremonial jade tablet.
Range 2
English
The second northern range lies east of the Hé [河]. Its beginning rests upon the Fén [汾] and is named Mount Guǎncén [管涔]. Above are no trees, but much grass; below is much jade. The Fén [汾] River rises here and flows west into the Hé [河].
English
A further 250 li west stands Mount Shǎoyáng [少陽]. Above is much jade, below much red silver. The Suān [酸] River rises here and flows east into the Fén [汾], with much fine red ochre in its waters.
Translator’s note
“Red silver” translates 赤銀 as written; the ancient material is not equated with a modern alloy.
English
A further 50 li north stands Mount Xiànyōng [縣雍]. Above is much jade, below much Tóng. Its beasts include Lǘ [閭] and Mí, its birds Bái Zhái and Bái Yǒu [䳑]. The Jìn [晋] River rises here and flows southeast into the Fén [汾]. In it are many Jì [鮆] fish, like Shū Yú [儵] with red scales and voices like scolding; eating them prevents itching.
Translator’s note
Shū [儵]: In ordinary fish comparisons, traditionally associated with a slender, swift-swimming fish; it need not be identical to the wondrous creature bearing the same written name elsewhere. Lǘ [閭] and Yǒu [䳑] are retained ancient animal names.
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Húqí [狐岐], without plants or trees, but with much blue-green jade. The Shèng [勝] River rises here and flows northeast into the Fén [汾], with much dark-green jade in its waters.
English
A further 350 li north stands Mount Báishā [白沙], extending 300 li around, entirely sand, without plants, trees, birds, or beasts. The Wěi [鮪] River rises above and sinks beneath the mountain. There is much white jade.
English
A further 400 li north stands Mount Ěrshì [爾是], without plants, trees, or water.
English
A further 380 li north stands Mount Kuáng [狂], without plants or trees. It has snow in winter and summer. The Kuáng [狂] River rises here and flows west into the Fú [浮], with much fine jade in its waters.
English
A further 380 li north stands Mount Zhūyú [諸餘]. Above are plentiful Tóng and jade, below many pines and cypresses. The Zhūyú [諸餘] River rises here and flows east into the Máo [旄].
English
A further 350 li north stands Mount Dūntóu [敦頭], rich in metals and jade above, but without plants or trees. The Máo [旄] River rises here and flows east into Yìn [印] Marsh. In it are many Bó Mǎ [𩣡], with ox tails, white bodies, one horn, and voices like shouting.
English
A further 350 li north stands Mount Gōuwú [鈎吾]. Above is much jade, below much Tóng. There is a beast with a goat's body and a human face, eyes beneath its armpits, tiger teeth, and human claws. Its voice resembles an infant's; its name is Páo Xiāo [狍鴞], and it eats people.
English
A further 300 li north stands Mount Běixiāo [北嚻], without ordinary stone. Its southern slope has much blue-green jade, its northern slope much jade. There is a beast like a Hǔ, with a white body, dog head, horse tail, and pig bristles, called Dú Yù [獨𤞞]. There is a bird like a crow, with a human face, called Pán Mào [𪄀𪃑]. It flies by night and hides by day; eating it cures illness from summer heat. The Cén [涔] River rises here and flows east into Qióng [邛] Marsh.
English
A further 350 li north stands Mount Liángqú [梁渠], without plants or trees, but rich in metals and jade. The Xiū [脩] River rises here and flows east into the Yànmén [鴈門]. Its beasts include many Jū Jì [居暨], like hedgehogs with red hair and voices like piglets. There is a bird like a Kuāfù [夸父], with four wings, one eye, and a dog's tail, called Xiāo [嚻]. Its voice resembles a magpie's; eating it relieves abdominal pain and stops diarrhoea.
Translator’s note
Kuāfù [夸父]: In this comparison, traditionally understood as a large ape-like animal; it is not necessarily the giant of the same name in the later sun-chasing story.
English
A further 400 li north stands Mount Gūguàn [姑灌], without plants or trees. It has snow in winter and summer.
English
A further 380 li north stands Mount Húguàn [湖灌]. Its southern slope has much jade, its northern slope much blue-green jade, and there are many horses. The Húguàn [湖灌] River rises here and flows east into the sea, with many Shàn in its waters. There grows a tree with willow-like leaves and red grain.
English
Travelling a further 500 li north by water and 300 li through shifting sand, one reaches Mount Huán [洹], rich in metals and jade above. Three mulberry trees grow there, all without branches, a hundred ren high. All kinds of fruit trees grow there. Below are many Guài Shé.
English
A further 300 li north stands Mount Dūntí [敦題], without plants or trees, but rich in metals and jade. It extends into the northern sea.
English
The second northern range, from Mount Guǎncén [管涔] to Mount Dūntí [敦題], comprises seventeen mountains and extends 5,690 li. Its gods all have snake bodies and human faces. Their rites require the burial of a cock and a pig; a Bì [璧] disk and a Guī [珪] tablet are cast as offerings, without sacrificial grain.
Translator’s note
璧 is a perforated jade disk; 珪 is a ceremonial jade tablet. The place into which they are cast is not expressly stated.
Range 3
English
The third northern range is the Tàiháng [太行] Mountains. Its beginning is Mount Guī [歸], with metals and jade above and blue-green jade below. There is a beast like an Líng, with four horns, a horse's tail, and spurs, called Huán [䮝]. It turns nimbly and cries its own name. There is a bird like a magpie, with a white body, red tail, and six legs, called Fén [䴅]. It is easily startled and cries its own name.
English
A further 200 li northeast stands Mount Lónghóu [龍侯], without plants or trees, but rich in metals and jade. The Juéjué [决决] River rises here and flows east into the Hé [河]. In it are many Rén Yú [人魚], like Dì Yú [䱱], with four legs and voices like infants. Eating them prevents mental dullness.
Translator’s note
Tí [䱱]: Traditionally an amphibious, four-legged aquatic creature, commonly associated with salamanders. This comparison supports an amphibian interpretation of 人魚 here, rather than a human-shaped mermaid. The ancient illness term is not a modern diagnosis.
English
A further 200 li northeast stands Mount Mǎchéng [馬成]. Above are many patterned stones, and the northern slope is rich in metals and jade. There is a beast like a white dog with a black head; when it sees a person, it flies. Its name is Tiān Mǎ [天馬], and it cries its own name. There is a bird like a crow, with a white head, green body, and yellow feet, called Qū Jū [鶌鶋]. It cries its own name. Eating it prevents hunger and cures Yù [寓].
Translator’s note
寓 is an uncertain illness term in this passage; no definite modern diagnosis is supplied.
English
A further 70 li northeast stands Mount Xián [咸]. Above is jade, below much Tóng. It has many pines and cypresses, and much purple gromwell. The Tiáojiān [條菅] River rises here and flows southwest into Cháng [長] Marsh. In it is much Qì Suān [器酸], which matures once every three years; eating it cures pestilential illness.
Translator’s note
Qì Suān [器酸]: An uncertain natural product or medicinal substance; its modern identity is not secure.
English
A further 200 li northeast stands Mount Tiānchí [天池], without plants or trees above, but with many patterned stones. There is a beast like a hare, with a rat's head, which flies by means of its back; its name is Fēi Shǔ [飛鼠]. The Miǎn [澠] River rises here and sinks beneath the mountain, with much yellow earth in its waters.
English
A further 300 li east stands Mount Yáng [陽]. Above is much jade, below much metal and Tóng. There is a beast like an ox, with a tail and a fleshy neck resembling a Gōuqú [句瞿]; its name is Lǐng Hú [領胡]. It cries its own name; eating it cures madness. There is a bird like a hen pheasant, patterned in five colours, both female and male, called Xiàng Shé [象蛇]. It cries its own name. The Liú [留] River rises here and flows south into the Hé [河]. In it lives the Xiàn Fù Yú [䱤父], like a crucian carp, with a fish head and pig body; eating it cures vomiting.
Translator’s note
The description of 領胡 is textually difficult, especially 而尾 and 其頸𦜜. Gōuqú [句瞿] is an uncertain comparison, traditionally associated with a neck swelling or crop-like form; the rendering is provisional.
English
A further 350 li east stands Mount Bìwén [賁聞]. Above is much dark-green jade, below much yellow earth and black mineral stone.
English
A further a hundred li north stands Mount Wángwū [王屋], with much stone. The Lián [㶌] River rises here and flows northwest into Tài [泰] Marsh.
English
A further 300 li northeast stands Mount Jiào [教], with much jade above but no ordinary stone. The Jiào [教] River rises here and flows west into the Hé [河]. It dries in winter and flows in summer; it is indeed a dry river. Within it stand two mountains. This mountain extends 300 paces around and is called Mount Fāwán [發丸]; above are metals and jade.
Translator’s note
The shift from “two mountains” to the singular description is in the source and is retained.
English
A further 300 li south stands Mount Jǐng [景]. To the south one sees Yánfàn [鹽販] Marsh, to the north Shǎo [少] Marsh. Above grow many plants and Shǔ Xù, including much Qín Jiāo. Its northern slope has much red ochre, its southern slope much jade. There is a bird like a Shé, with four wings, six eyes, and three legs, called Suān Yǔ [酸與]. It cries its own name; where it appears, fear comes upon the settlement.
English
A further 320 li southeast stands Mount Mèngmén [孟門]. Above are much dark-green jade and metal, below much yellow earth and black mineral stone.
English
A further 320 li southeast stands Mount Píng [平]. The Píng [平] River rises above and sinks beneath the mountain. There is much fine jade.
English
A further 200 li east stands Mount Jīng [京], with fine jade, many lacquer trees, and much bamboo. Its southern slope has red Tóng, its northern slope black whetstone. The Gāo [高] River rises here and flows south into the Hé [河].
English
A further 200 li east stands Mount Chóngwěi [虫尾]. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below much bamboo and blue-green jade. The Dān [丹] River rises here and flows south into the Hé [河]; the Báo [薄] River also rises here and flows southeast into Huáng [黃] Marsh.
English
A further 300 li east stands Mount Péngpí [彭毗], without plants or trees above, but rich in metals and jade, with much water below. The Zǎolín [蚤林] River rises here and flows southeast into the Hé [河]. The Féi [肥] River also rises here and flows south into the Chuáng [牀], with many Shé in its waters.
English
A further 180 li east stands Mount Xiǎohóu [小侯]. The Míngzhāng [明漳] River rises here and flows south into Huáng [黃] Marsh. There is a bird like a crow, with white markings, called Gū Xí [鴣𪄶]. Eating it prevents Zhuó [灂].
Translator’s note
灂 is an uncertain ailment-name in this passage; it is retained without a modern diagnosis.
English
A further 370 li east stands Mount Tàitóu [泰頭]. The Gòng [共] River rises here and flows south into the Hūchí [虖池]. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below much arrow bamboo.
English
A further 200 li northeast stands Mount Xuānyuán [軒轅]. Above is much Tóng, below much bamboo. There is a bird like an Xiāo, with a white head, called Huáng Niǎo [黃鳥]. It cries its own name; eating it prevents jealousy.
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Yèlì [謁戾]. Above grow many pines and cypresses, and there are metals and jade. The Qìn [沁] River rises here and flows south into the Hé [河]. Eastward is a forest called Dānlín [丹林]. The Dānlín [丹林] River rises there and flows south into the Hé [河]. The Yīnghóu [嬰侯] River also rises here and flows north into the Sì [汜].
English
300 li east stands Mount Jùrù [沮洳], without plants or trees, but with metals and jade. The Qí [濝] River rises here and flows south into the Hé [河].
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Fājiū [發鳩], with many silkworm-thorn trees above. There is a bird like a crow, with a patterned head, white beak, and red feet, called Jīng Wèi [精衛]. It cries its own name. She was the youngest daughter of Yándì [炎帝], named Nǚwá [女娃]. Nǚwá [女娃] swam in the Dōng [東] Sea, drowned, and did not return; thus she became Jīng Wèi [精衛]. She is always carrying wood and stones from the western mountains to fill the Dōng [東] Sea. The Zhāng [漳] River rises here and flows east into the Hé [河].
English
A further 120 li northeast stands Mount Shǎo [少]. Above are metals and jade, below Tóng. The Qīngzhāng [清漳] River rises here and flows east into the Zhuózhāng [濁漳].
English
A further 200 li northeast stands Mount Xī [錫]. Above is much jade, below whetstone. The Niúshǒu [牛首] River rises here and flows east into the Fǔ [滏].
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Jǐng [景], with fine jade. The Jǐng [景] River rises here and flows southeast into Hǎi [海] Marsh.
English
A further a hundred li north stands Mount Tíshǒu [題首], with jade and much stone, but no water.
English
A further 120 li north stands Mount Sōng [松]. The Yáng [陽] River rises here and flows northeast into the Hé [河].
English
A further 120 li north stands Mount Dūnyǔ [敦與], without plants or trees above, but with metals and jade. The Suò [溹] River rises on its southern slope and flows east into the Tàilù [泰陸]; the Zhī [泜] River rises on its northern slope and flows east into the Péng [彭]. The Huái [槐] River also rises here and flows east into Zhī [泜] Marsh.
English
A further 170 li north stands Mount Zhè [柘]. Its southern slope has metals and jade, its northern slope iron. The Lìjù [歷聚] River rises here and flows north into the Wěi [洧].
English
A further 300 li north stands Mount Wéilóng [維龍]. Above is blue-green jade; the southern slope has metal, the northern slope iron. The Féi [肥] River rises here and flows east into Gāo [皋] Marsh, with many Lěi [礨] stones in its waters. The Chǎngtiě [敞鐵] River also rises here and flows north into the great marsh.
English
A further 180 li north stands Mount Báimǎ [白馬]. Its southern slope has much stone and jade, its northern slope much iron and red Tóng. The Mùmǎ [木馬] River rises here and flows northeast into the Hūtuó [虖沱].
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Kōngsāng [空桑], without plants or trees, with snow in winter and summer. The Kōngsāng [空桑] River rises here and flows east into the Hūtuó [虖沱].
English
A further 300 li north stands Mount Tàixì [泰戲], without plants or trees, but rich in metals and jade. There is a beast like a goat, with one horn and one eye, its eye behind its ear, called Dòng Dòng [䍶䍶]. It cries its own name. The Hūtuó [虖沱] River rises here and flows east into the Lóu [漊]; the Yènǚ [液女] River rises on the southern slope and flows south into the Qìn [沁].
English
A further 300 li north stands Mount Shí [石], with rich stores of metals and jade. The Huòhuò [濩濩] River rises here and flows east into the Hūtuó [虖沱]; the Xiānyú [鮮于] River also rises here and flows south into the Hūtuó [虖沱].
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Tóngróng [童戎]. The Gāotú [皋塗] River rises here and flows east into the Lóuyè [漊液].
English
A further 300 li north stands Mount Gāoshì [高是]. The Zī [滋] River rises here and flows south into the Hūtuó [虖沱]. Its trees are chiefly palms, its plants chiefly Tiáo [條]. The Kòu [滱] River also rises here and flows east into the Hé [河].
English
A further 300 li north stands Mount Lù [陸], with much fine jade. The Jiāng [𨜰] River rises here and flows east into the Hé [河].
English
A further 200 li north stands Mount Yí [沂]. The Bān [般] River rises here and flows east into the Hé [河].
English
120 li north stands Mount Yàn [燕], with many Yīng [嬰] stones. The Yàn [燕] River rises here and flows east into the Hé [河].
English
Travelling a further 500 li north through mountains and 500 li by water, one reaches Mount Ráo [饒], without plants or trees, but with much fine blue-green jade. Its beasts include many camels, its birds many Liú. The Lìguó [歷虢] River rises here and flows east into the Hé [河]. In it live Shī Yú [師]; eating them kills people.
English
A further 400 li north stands Mount Qián [乾], without plants or trees. Its southern slope has metals and jade, its northern slope iron, but no water. There is a beast like an ox, with three legs, called Huán [獂]; it cries its own name.
English
A further 500 li north stands Mount Lún [倫]. The Lún [倫] River rises here and flows east into the Hé [河]. There is a beast like an Mí, with its Zhōu [州] above its tail; its name is Pí.
Translator’s note
州 is an uncertain anatomical term here. 羆 ordinarily denotes a large bear, but the unusual description is retained without replacing it with the modern animal.
English
A further 500 li north stands Mount Jiéshí [碣石]. The Shéng [繩] River rises here and flows east into the Hé [河], with many Pú Yí Yú [蒲夷] in its waters. Above is jade, below much blue-green jade.
English
Travelling a further 500 li north by water, one reaches Mt. Yàn Mén [鴈門], without plants or trees.
English
Travelling a further 400 li north by water, one reaches Tài [泰] Marsh. Within it stands Mount Dìdū [帝都], extending a hundred li around, without plants or trees, but with metals and jade.
English
A further 500 li north stands Mount Chúnyúwúféng [錞于毋逢]. To the north one sees Mount Jīhào [鶏號], whose wind is like a violent gust. To the west one sees Mount Yōudōu [幽都], where the Yù [浴] River rises. There is a great snake with a red head and white body, whose voice resembles an ox's. Where it appears, great drought comes upon the settlement.
Translator’s note
The opening mountain-name and its division are uncertain. The source gives 錞于毋逢 here, but 無逢 in the following summary.
English
The third northern range, from Mount Tàiháng [太行] to Mount Wúféng [無逢], comprises forty-six mountains and extends 12,350 li. Twenty of its gods have horse bodies and human faces; for each, a patterned Guī [珪] jade tablet is buried. Fourteen have pig bodies and bear jade; jade is offered to them, but not buried. Ten have pig bodies, eight legs, and snake tails; for each, a Bì [璧] jade disk is buried. All forty-four gods receive rice as sacrificial grain. None eat food cooked with fire.
Translator’s note
The text's forty-six mountains and forty-four gods are retained as separate stated totals. 珪 and 璧 are ceremonial jade forms, a tablet and a perforated disk respectively.
English
The foregoing record of the northern mountains comprises eighty-seven mountains and extends 23,230 li.