CHAPTER 05 · 213 passages
The Central Mountains
中山經
Select a chapter to begin. Hover over or tap a Chinese character to see its pinyin pronunciation. Select an underlined name to explore its Taiji card. Keyboard: focus a passage, then use Left and Right Arrow to inspect characters. Escape closes pronunciation.
Range 1
English
The first central range, the Báo [薄] Mountains, begins at Mount Gānzǎo [甘棗]. The Gòng [共] River rises here and flows west into the Hé [河]. Above grow many Niǔ [杻] trees. Below is a plant with a mallow-like root, apricot-like leaves, yellow blossoms, and podded fruit, called Tuò [籜]; it can cure dimness of sight. There is a beast like a Dúshǔ [𤠢鼠], with a patterned forehead, called Nuó [㔮]; eating it cures goitre.
Translator’s note
Dúshǔ [𤠢鼠]: An ancient rodent-like creature-name, sometimes associated with a flying squirrel or a similar small mammal. Its precise identification is uncertain.
English
A further twenty li east stands Mount Lìér [歷兒], with many Jiāng [橿] and Wàn Mù [櫔] trees above. The latter has a square stem, round leaves, yellow blossoms, and hair; its fruit resembles chinaberry. Taking it prevents forgetfulness.
English
A further fifteen li east stands Mount Qúzhū [渠豬], with much bamboo above. The Qúzhū [渠豬] River rises here and flows south into the Hé [河]. In it are many Háo Yú [豪], resembling , with red mouths, red tails, and red fins; they can cure white ringworm.
English
A further 35 li east stands Mount Cōnglóng [蔥聾], with many great valleys containing much white, black, blue-green, and yellow clay.
English
A further fifteen li east stands Mount Wō [涹], with much red Tóng above and much iron on its northern slope.
English
A further 70 li east stands Mount Tuōhù [脫扈]. There is a plant with mallow-like leaves and red blossoms, bearing pods like palm seed-pods, called Zhí Chǔ [植楮]. It cures anxious illness; eating it prevents nightmares.
English
A further twenty li east stands Mount Jīnxīng [金星], with much Tiān Yīng [天嬰], resembling dragon bones, which can cure sores.
Translator’s note
Dragon bones, 龍骨, is an ancient material term used for fossil bones in later materia medica. This traditional identification explains the comparison without identifying 天嬰 itself.
English
A further 70 li east stands Mount Tàiwēi [泰威], within which is Xiāo [梟] Valley, rich in iron.
English
English
A further 120 li east stands Mount Wúlín [吳林], with much Jiān [葌] grass.
English
A further thirty li north stands Mount Niúshǒu [牛首]. There is a plant called Guǐ Cǎo [鬼草], with mallow-like leaves, a red stem, and an ear like grain. Taking it dispels sorrow. The Láo [勞] River rises here and flows west into the Yù [潏]. In it are many Fēi Yú, resembling crucian carp; eating them cures haemorrhoids and diarrhoea.
English
A further forty li north stands Mount Huò [霍], whose trees are chiefly paper mulberries. There is a beast like a wildcat, with a white tail and a mane, called Fěi Fěi [朏朏]; keeping it dispels sorrow.
English
A further 52 li north stands Mount Hégǔ [合谷], with many Zhānjí [薝棘] shrubs.
English
A further 35 li north stands Mount Yīn [陰], with many whetstones and patterned stones. The Shǎo [少] River rises here. There are many Diāo Táng [彫棠] trees, with elm-like but square leaves and fruit like red beans; eating the fruit cures deafness.
English
A further 400 li northeast stands Mount Gǔdèng [鼓鐙], with much red Tóng. There is a plant called Róng Cǎo [榮草], with willow-like leaves and a root like a hen's egg; eating it cures wind illness.
Translator’s note
“Wind illness” is an ancient medical category, not a single modern diagnosis.
English
The first Báo [薄] range, from Mount Gānzǎo [甘棗] to Mount Gǔdèng [鼓鐙], comprises fifteen mountains and extends 6,670 li. Mount Lìér [歷兒] is a chief mountain. Its rites require the full animal sacrifice, with fine jade suspended as an offering. For the other thirteen, a goat is offered, with patterned Guī [珪] jade suspended; it is buried, and no sacrificial grain is used. The patterned tablet is of patterned jade, square below and pointed above, pierced through the middle and fitted with metal.
Translator’s note
The full sacrifice, 太牢, conventionally consists of cattle, goat, and pigs. The summary's numbers are preserved even where they do not agree neatly with one another or the individual distances.
Range 2
English
A further 200 li southwest stands Mount Fāshì [發視]. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below many whetstones. The Jíyú [即魚] River rises here and flows west into the Yī [伊].
English
A further 300 li west stands Mount Háo [豪], rich in metals and jade above, but without plants or trees.
English
A further 300 li west stands Mount Xiān [鮮], rich in metals and jade, but without plants or trees. The Xiān [鮮] River rises here and flows north into the Yī [伊]. In it are many Míng Shé [鳴蛇], like Shé with four wings, whose voices resemble musical stones. Where they appear, the settlement suffers great drought.
English
A further 300 li west stands Mount Yáng [陽], with much stone but no plants or trees. The Yáng [陽] River rises here and flows north into the Yī [伊]. In it are many Huà Shé [化蛇], with human faces, jackal bodies, and bird wings, moving like Shé. Their voices resemble scolding cries; where they appear, the settlement suffers great floods.
English
A further 200 li west stands Mount Kūnwú [昆吾], with much red Tóng above. There is a beast like a pig, but horned, whose voice resembles wailing. Its name is Lóng Chí [蠪蛭]; eating it prevents nightmares.
English
A further 120 li west stands Mount Jiān [葌]. The Jiān [葌] River rises here and flows north into the Yī [伊]. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below much blue-green realgar. There grows a tree like a crabapple, but with red leaves, called Máng Cǎo [芒草]; it can poison fish.
English
A further 150 li west stands Mount Dúsū [獨蘇], without plants or trees, but with much water.
English
A further 120 li west stands Mount Mànqú [蔓渠]. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below much arrow bamboo. The Yī [伊] River rises here and flows east into the Luò [洛]. There is a beast called Mǎ Fù [馬腹], with a human face, tiger body, and voice like an infant's. It eats people.
English
The first Jì [濟] range, from Mount Huīzhū [煇諸] to Mount Mànqú [蔓渠], comprises nine mountains and extends 1,670 li. Its gods all have human faces and bird bodies. The rite uses a furred animal and one fine jade, cast as an offering, without sacrificial grain.
Translator’s note
The kind of animal and the place into which the jade is cast are not expressly stated.
Range 3
English
The third central range, the Fù [萯] Mountains, begins at Mt. Áo Àn [敖岸]. Its southern slope has much Tūfú [㻬琈] jade, its northern slope much red ochre and gold. The god Xūn Chí [熏池] dwells here, and fine jade constantly emerges. To the north one sees Hélín [河林], whose form is like Sù [莤] and like Jǔ [舉]. There is a beast like a Bái Lù, with four horns, called Fū Zhū [夫諸]; where it appears, the settlement suffers great floods.
Translator’s note
莤 and 舉 are difficult comparison terms in this sentence. Their exact referents are uncertain, so no familiar plant or shape has been substituted.
English
A further ten li east stands Mount Qīngyào [青要], the High God's secret capital. There are many Jià [駕] birds. Southward lies Shànzhǔ [墠渚], where Yǔ [禹]'s father underwent transformation; there are many Pú Lèi and Pú Lú. The spirit Wǔ Luó [武羅] governs it, with a human face, leopard markings, a slender waist, and white teeth, wearing metal rings through her ears. Her voice resembles ringing jade. This mountain favours women. The Zhěn [畛] River rises here and flows north into the Hé [河]. There is a bird called Yāo [鴢], like a duck, with a green body, vermilion eyes, and red tail; eating it favours childbearing. There is a plant like Jiān [葌], with a square stem, yellow blossoms, red fruit, and a root like Chinese lovage. Its name is Xún Cǎo [荀草]; taking it beautifies the complexion.
Translator’s note
Jiān [葌]: An ancient grass-name, traditionally associated with fragrant grass; its precise botanical identity is uncertain. The source does not specify the form taken by 禹's father at this place.
English
A further ten li east stands Mount Guī [騩], with fine jujubes above and Tūfú [㻬琈] jade on its northern slope. The Zhènghuí [正回] River rises here and flows north into the Hé [河]. In it are many Fēi Yú, like piglets with red markings; wearing them removes fear of thunder and wards off warfare.
English
A further forty li east stands Mount Yísū [宜蘇]. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below many Mànjū [蔓居] trees. The Yōngyōng [滽滽] River rises here and flows north into the Hé [河], with many Huáng Bèi in its waters.
English
A further twenty li east stands Mount Hé [和], without plants or trees above, but with much fine blue-green jade. It is indeed the ninefold capital of the Hé [河]. The mountain has five bends; nine rivers rise here, join, and flow north into the Hé [河], carrying much dark-green jade. The auspicious god Tài Féng [泰逢] governs it. He is human in form, with a tiger's tail, and delights in dwelling on the southern slope of Mount Fù [萯]. Light attends his coming and going. He stirs the breath of heaven and earth.
English
The first Fù [萯] range, from Mt. Áo Àn [敖岸] to Mount Hé [和], comprises five mountains and extends 440 li. For Tài Féng [泰逢], Xūn Chí [熏池], and Wǔ Luó [武羅], a ram is split open and fine jade hung as an offering. For the other two gods, a cock is buried, with rice as the sacrificial grain.
Range 4
English
The fourth central range, the Lí [釐] Mountains, begins at Mount Lùtí [鹿蹄]. Above is much jade, below much metal. The Gān [甘] River rises here and flows north into the Luò [洛], with many Líng [泠] stones in its waters.
English
50 li west stands Mount Fúzhū [扶豬], with many Ruǎn [礝] stones above. There is a beast like a raccoon dog, with human eyes, called Yín [䴦]. The Guó [虢] River rises here and flows north into the Luò [洛], with many Ruǎn [瓀] stones in its waters.
Translator’s note
礝 and 瓀 are ancient names of jade-like stones; they are not assigned modern mineral species.
English
A further 120 li west stands Mount Lí [釐]. Its southern slope has much jade, its northern slope much madder. There is a beast like an ox, with a dark-green body and a voice like an infant's. It eats people and is called Xī Qú [犀渠]. The Yōngyōng [滽滽] River rises here and flows south into the Yī [伊]. There is a beast called Xié [𤢺], like a Nòuquǎn [獳犬], but with scales and hair like pig bristles.
Translator’s note
Nòuquǎn [獳犬]: Traditionally understood as a small or short-muzzled dog; the exact comparison is uncertain.
English
A further 200 li west stands Mount Jīwěi [箕尾], with many paper mulberries and much Tú [涂] stone; above is much Tūfú [㻬琈] jade.
English
A further 250 li west stands Mount Bǐng [柄]. Above is much jade, below much Tóng. The Tāodiāo [滔雕] River rises here and flows north into the Luò [洛]. There are many Qiān Yáng [羬]. There is a tree like a tree of heaven, with paulownia-like leaves and podded fruit, called Bá [茇]; it can poison fish.
English
A further 200 li west stands Mount Báibiān [白邊]. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below much blue-green realgar.
English
A further 200 li west stands Mount Xióngěr [熊耳]. Above grow many lacquer trees, below many palms. The Fúháo [浮濠] River rises here and flows west into the Luò [洛], with many rock crystals and in its waters. There is a plant like perilla, with red blossoms, called Tíng Zhù [葶薴]; it can poison fish.
Translator’s note
: In the mountain chapters, traditionally associated with a four-legged aquatic animal such as a salamander, rather than necessarily a human-shaped mermaid.
English
A further 300 li west stands Mount Mǔ [牡]. Above are many patterned stones, below much arrow bamboo and Mèi [䉋] bamboo. Its beasts include Zuó Niú [㸲] and Qiān Yáng [羬], its birds many Chì Bì [鷩].
English
A further 350 li west stands Mount Huānjǔ [讙舉]. The Luò [雒] River rises here and flows northeast into the Xuánhù [玄扈]. In it are many things called Mǎcháng [馬腸]. These two mountains lie within the Luò [洛] region.
Translator’s note
馬腸 literally means “horse intestines,” but the natural object intended is uncertain. The second mountain in the closing sentence is not clearly introduced in this paragraph.
English
The first Lí [釐] range, from Mount Lùtí [鹿蹄] to Mount Xuánhù [玄扈], comprises nine mountains and extends 1,670 li. Its gods all have human faces and beast bodies. Their rites require a white chicken offered in prayer, without sacrificial grain, and coloured cloth as clothing.
Range 5
English
The fifth central range, the Báo [薄] Mountains, begins at Mount Gǒuchuáng [苟牀], without plants or trees, but with many strange stones.
English
300 li east stands Mount Shǒu [首]. Its northern slope has many paper mulberries and oaks; its plants include atractylodes and daphne. Its southern slope has much Tūfú [㻬琈] jade and many locust trees. On its northern side is Jī [机] Valley, with many Dì Niǎo [䲦], like Xiāo with three eyes and ears. Their voices resemble Lù [錄]; eating them cures a sinking or fainting illness.
Translator’s note
錄 is an obscure sound comparison. 墊, the ailment in the final clause, has no secure modern diagnostic equivalent.
English
A further 300 li east stands Mount Xiànzhú [縣劚], without plants or trees, but with many patterned stones.
English
A further 300 li east stands Mount Cōnglóng [蔥聾], without plants or trees, but with many [] stones.
Translator’s note
The pronunciation of the stone-name is unrecorded in the Kangxi Dictionary; the character is retained without an invented pinyin reading.
English
500 li northeast stands Mount Tiáogǔ [條谷]. Its trees include locust trees and paulownias; its plants include peonies and asparagus roots.
English
A further ten li north stands Mount Chāo [超]. Its northern slope has much dark-green jade; on its southern slope is a well with water in winter, but dry in summer.
English
A further 500 li east stands Mount Chénghóu [成侯]. Above grow many Chūn [櫄] trees, and its plants include much Péng [芃].
English
A further 500 li east stands Mount Cháogē [朝歌], whose valleys contain much fine clay.
English
A further 500 li east stands Mount Huái [槐], whose valleys contain much metal and tin.
English
A further ten li east stands Mount Lì [歷]. Its trees are chiefly locust trees, and its southern slope has much jade.
English
A further ten li east stands Mount Shī [尸], with much dark-green jade. Its beasts include many Jīng. The Shī [尸] River rises here and flows south into the Luò [洛], with much fine jade in its waters.
English
A further ten li east stands Mount Liángyú [良餘]. Above grow many paper mulberries and oaks, but there is no stone. The Yú [餘] River rises on the northern slope and flows north into the Hé [河]; the Rǔ [乳] River rises on the southern slope and flows southeast into the Luò [洛].
English
A further ten li southeast stands Mount Gǔwěi [蠱尾], with many whetstones and much red Tóng. The Lóngyú [龍餘] River rises here and flows southeast into the Luò [洛].
English
A further twenty li northeast stands Mount Shēng [升]. Its trees include paper mulberries, oaks, and jujube bushes; its plants include Xù [藇], Huì [蕙], and much rice-paper plant. The Huángsuān [黃酸] River rises here and flows north into the Hé [河], with much fine Xuán [璇] jade in its waters.
English
A further twenty li east stands Mount Yángxū [陽虛], with much metal, overlooking the Xuánhù [玄扈] River.
English
The first Báo [薄] range, from Mount Gǒulín [苟林] to Mount Yángxū [陽虛], comprises sixteen mountains and extends 2,982 li. Mount Shēng [升] is a chief mountain: its rites require the full animal sacrifice, with fine jade hung as an offering. Mount Shǒu [首] is divine: its rite uses rice, black sacrificial animals, the full three-animal offering, and malt-brewed wine; shields are danced with, drums are set out, and a jade disk is hung as an offering. The Shī [尸] River joins with heaven. Fat animals are offered to it: a black dog above, a hen below, and a female goat whose blood is let and presented. Fine jade is hung, coloured, and offered for enjoyment.
Translator’s note
The summary says 苟林, whereas the opening gives 苟牀. Its sixteen-mountain total is retained. The full sacrifice conventionally comprises cattle, goat, and pigs. The last clauses are terse ritual language; “coloured” follows 采 without specifying an unstated process.
Range 6
English
The sixth central range, the Gǎodī [縞羝] Mountains, begins at Mount Píngféng [平逢]. To the south one sees the Yī [伊] and Luò [洛], to the east Mount Gǔchéng [穀城]. There are no plants, trees, or water, but much sand and stone. There is a god shaped like a person with two heads, called Jiāo Chóng [驕蟲], a god of stinging creatures; this is indeed the dwelling of bees. His rite requires a cock used to avert harm, but not killed.
English
Ten li west stands Mount Gǎodī [縞羝], without plants or trees, but rich in metals and jade.
English
A further ten li west stands Mount Guī [廆]. Its northern slope has much Tūfú [㻬琈] jade. On the northern side is Guàn [雚] Valley, whose trees are chiefly willows and paper mulberries. There is a bird like a pheasant, with a long tail, red as cinnabar fire, and a green beak, called Líng Yāo [鴒䳩]. It cries its own name; wearing it prevents nightmares. The Jiāoshāng [交觴] River rises on the southern slope and flows south into the Luò [洛]; the Yúsuí [俞隨] River rises on the northern slope and flows north into the Gǔ [穀].
English
A further thirty li west stands Mount Zhānzhū [瞻諸]. Its southern slope has much metal. The Xiè [㴬] River rises here and flows southeast into the Luò [洛]; the Shǎo [少] River rises on the northern slope and flows east into the Gǔ [穀].
English
A further thirty li west stands Mount Lóuzhuō [婁涿], without plants or trees, but rich in metals and jade. The Zhān [瞻] River rises on the southern slope and flows east into the Luò [洛]; the Bēi [陂] River rises on the northern slope and flows north into the Gǔ [穀], with many purple stones and patterned stones in its waters.
English
A further forty li west stands Mount Báishí [白石]. The Huì [惠] River rises on the southern slope and flows south into the Luò [洛], with many rock crystals in its waters. The Jiàn [澗] River rises on the northern slope and flows northwest into the Gǔ [穀], with many Mí [麋] stones and much Lúdān [櫨丹] in its waters.
English
A further 50 li west stands Mount Gǔ [榖]. Above grow many paper mulberries, below many mulberries. The Shuǎng [爽] River rises here and flows northwest into the Gǔ [榖], with much blue-green material in its waters.
English
A further 72 li west stands Mount Mì [密]. Its southern slope has much jade, its northern slope much iron. The Háo [豪] River rises here and flows south into the Luò [洛]. In it are many Xuán Guī [旋龜], with bird heads and soft-shelled turtle tails, whose voices resemble splitting wood. There are no plants or trees.
English
A further a hundred li west stands Mount Chángshí [長石], without plants or trees, but with much jade. To its west is Gòng [共] Valley, with much bamboo. The Gòng [共] River rises here and flows southwest into the Luò [洛], with many ringing stones in its waters.
English
A further 140 li west stands Mount Fù [傅], without plants or trees, but with much fine blue-green jade. The Yànrǎn [厭染] River rises on the southern slope and flows south into the Luò [洛], with many in its waters. To the west is a forest called Fánzhǒng [墦冢]. The Gǔ [穀] River rises here and flows east into the Luò [洛], with much Jùn [㻒] jade in its waters.
Translator’s note
: Traditionally associated in these mountain descriptions with a salamander-like aquatic animal; its name alone should not be taken to mean a mermaid.
English
A further 50 li west stands Mount Tuó [橐]. Its trees include many trees of heaven and Bèi [𣖾]. Its southern slope has plentiful metals and jade, its northern slope much iron and mugwort. The Tuó [橐] River rises here and flows north into the Hé [河]. In it are many Xiū Pì Yú [脩辟], like Mǐn with white mouths, whose voices resemble owls; eating them cures white ringworm.
English
A further 90 li west stands Mount Chángzhēng [常烝], without plants or trees, but with much clay. The Jiào [潐] River rises here and flows northeast into the Hé [河], with much dark-green jade in its waters. The Zāi [菑] River also rises here and flows north into the Hé [河].
English
A further 90 li west stands Mount Kuāfù [夸父]. Its trees include palms, nanmu, and arrow bamboo; its beasts include Zuó Niú [㸲] and Qiān Yáng [羬]; its birds include many Bì [鷩]. Its southern slope has much jade, its northern slope much iron. Northward is Táolín [桃林] Forest, extending 300 li around, with many horses. The Hú [湖] River rises here and flows north into the Hé [河], with much Jùn [㻒] jade in its waters.
English
A further 90 li west stands Mount Yánghuá [陽華]. Its southern slope is rich in metals and jade, its northern slope in blue-green realgar. Its plants include Shǔ Xù and much Kǔ Xīn [苦辛], shaped like Sù [橚], with fruit like melons, sour and sweet to the taste; eating it cures recurring fever. The Yáng [楊] River rises here and flows southwest into the Luò [洛], with many in its waters. The Mén [門] River also rises here and flows northeast into the Hé [河], carrying much black whetstone. The Zuógū [𦁎姑] River rises on the northern slope and flows east into the Mén [門]; above is much Tóng. The Mén [門] River issues from the Hé [河] and, after 790 li, enters the Luò [雒].
Translator’s note
Sù [橚] is a difficult plant comparison, sometimes read in relation to autumn millet. is traditionally an amphibious, salamander-like creature in these accounts. The two statements about the 門 River's course are both retained.
English
The first Gǎodī [縞羝] range, from Mount Píngféng [平逢] to Mount Yánghuá [陽華], comprises fourteen mountains and extends 790 li. A sacred peak stands among them. If it is sacrificed to in the sixth month according to the rites of the sacred peaks, all beneath heaven will be at peace.
Range 7
English
The seventh central range, the Kǔ [苦] Mountains, begins at Mount Xiūyú [休輿]. Above are stones called Dì Tái Zhī Qí, patterned in five colours and shaped like quail eggs. These are Dìtái [帝臺]'s stones, used in prayer to the hundred gods; wearing them protects against venomous sorcery. There is a plant like yarrow, with red leaves and a clustered root, called Sù Tiáo [夙條]; it can be used for arrow shafts.
English
300 li east stands Mount Gǔzhōng [鼓鍾], where Dì Tái [帝臺] entertains the hundred gods with wine. There is a plant with a square stem, yellow blossoms, and round leaves in three tiers, called Yān Suān [焉酸]; it can be made into poison. Above are many coarse whetstones, below many fine whetstones.
English
A further 200 li east stands Mount Gūyáo [姑媱]. The High God's daughter died here; her name was Nǚshī [女尸]. She became the Yao Grass, Bloom of Di-Nü, whose leaves grow in layers, whose blossoms are yellow, and whose fruit resembles Túqiū [菟丘]. Taking it makes one pleasing to others.
Translator’s note
Túqiū [菟丘]: An old plant-name traditionally associated with dodder. The exact botanical comparison is uncertain.
English
A further twenty li east stands Mount Kǔ [苦]. There is a beast called Shān Gāo [山膏], shaped like Zhú [逐], red as cinnabar fire, and skilled at cursing. Above grows a tree called Huáng Jí [黃棘], with yellow blossoms, round leaves, and fruit like Lán [蘭]; taking it prevents childbearing. There is a plant with round leaves and no stem, red blossoms and no fruit, called Wú Tiáo [無條]; taking it prevents goitre.
Translator’s note
逐 in the beast comparison is doubtful and is often understood as a corruption of 豕, “pig.” 蘭 is an ancient fragrant plant-name whose scope does not correspond neatly to modern orchids; the fruit comparison remains uncertain.
English
A further 27 li east stands Mount Dǔ [堵], where the god Tiānyú [天愚] dwells; there are many strange winds and rains. Above grows a tree called Tiān Biǎn [天楄], with a square stem and a form like mallow; taking it prevents choking.
English
A further 52 li east stands Mount Fànggāo [放皋]. The Míng [明] River rises here and flows south into the Yī [伊], with much dark-green jade in its waters. There is a tree with leaves like a locust tree, yellow blossoms, and no fruit, called Méng Mù [蒙木]; taking it prevents bewilderment. There is a beast like a bee, with a branching tail and a reversed tongue, skilled at calling; its name is Wén Wén [文文].
English
A further 57 li east stands Mount Dàkǔ [大𩇵], with much Tūfú [㻬琈] jade and Mí [麋] jade. There is a plant with elm-like leaves, a square stem, blue-green spines, and a root with blue-green markings, called Niú Shāng [牛傷]. Taking it prevents collapse and wards off warfare. The Kuáng [狂] River rises on the southern slope and flows southwest into the Yī [伊]. In it are many Sān Zú Guī; eating them prevents grave illness and cures swelling.
Translator’s note
The word 傷 in the plant's description is understood as a thorn or spine. The old illness term 厥 is rendered broadly as collapse, without a specific modern diagnosis.
English
A further 70 li east stands Mount Bànshí [半石]. Above grows a plant that puts forth an ear as it grows, more than a zhang high, with red leaves and yellow blossoms but no fruit. Its name is Jiā Róng [嘉榮]; taking it protects against thunderbolts. The Láixū [來需] River rises on the southern slope and flows west into the Yī [伊]. In it are many Lún Yú [鯩], like crucian carp with black markings; eating them prevents sleep. The Hé [合] River rises on the northern slope and flows north into the Luò [洛]. In it are many Téng Yú [鰧], like mandarin fish, dwelling in Kuí [逵], with blue-green markings and red tails. Eating them prevents abscesses and treats draining sores.
Translator’s note
Zhang is an ancient length unit, left unconverted. 逵, the fish's dwelling-place, is uncertain in this context; the text does not provide enough detail for a secure interpretation.
English
A further 50 li east stands Mount Shàoshì [少室], where all kinds of plants and trees grow in rounded clusters. Above grows a tree called Dì Xiū [帝休], with poplar-like leaves, branches dividing five ways, yellow blossoms, and black fruit; taking it prevents anger. Above is much jade, below much iron. The Xiū [休] River rises here and flows north into the Luò [洛]. In it are many Dì Yú [䱱], resembling Zhōuwèi [𥂕蜼], with long spurs and paired white feet. Eating them prevents venomous illness and wards off warfare.
Translator’s note
Zhōuwèi [𥂕蜼]: A difficult creature-name used for comparison; its identity is not securely known.
English
A further thirty li east stands Mount Tàishì [泰室]. Above grows a tree with pear-like leaves and red grain, called Yǒu Mù [栯]; taking it prevents jealousy. There is a plant like atractylodes, with white blossoms and black fruit, glossy like wild grapes, called Yao Grass with Black Fruit; taking it prevents nightmares. Above are many fine stones.
English
A further thirty li north stands Mount Jiǎng [講], with much jade, many silkworm thorns, and many cypresses above. There grows a tree called Dì Wū [帝屋], with leaves like Sichuan pepper, backward-pointing spines, and red fruit; it wards off misfortune.
English
A further thirty li north stands Mount Yīngliáng [嬰梁], with much dark-green jade above, resting upon black stone.
English
A further thirty li east stands Mount Fúxì [浮戲]. There grows a tree with leaves like a tree of heaven and red fruit, called Kàng Mù [亢]; eating it protects against venomous sorcery. The Sì [汜] River rises here and flows north into the Hé [河]. To the east is a valley accordingly called Shé [蛇] Valley, with much wild ginger above.
English
A further forty li east stands Mount Shǎoxíng [少陘]. There is a plant called Wǎng Cǎo [𦱌], with mallow-like leaves, a red stem, white blossoms, and fruit like wild grapes; eating it prevents foolishness. The Qìnán [器難] River rises here and flows north into the Yì [役].
English
A further ten li southeast stands Mount Tài [太]. There is a plant called Lí [棃], with reed-like leaves and red blossoms, which cures deep sores. The Tài [太] River rises on the southern slope and flows southeast into the Yì [役]; the Chéng [承] River rises on the northern slope and flows northeast into the Yì [役].
English
A further twenty li east stands Mount Mò [末], with much red metal above. The Mò [末] River rises here and flows north into the Yì [役].
English
A further 25 li east stands Mount Yì [役], with much white metal and iron above. The Yì [役] River rises here and flows north into the Hé [河].
English
A further 35 li east stands Mount Mǐn [敏]. Above grows a tree like a chaste tree, with white blossoms and red fruit, called Jì Bǎi [葪柏]; taking it prevents cold. Its southern slope has much Tūfú [㻬琈] jade.
English
A further thirty li east stands Mount Dàguī [大騩]. Its northern slope has much iron, fine jade, and blue-green clay. There is a plant like yarrow, but hairy, with green blossoms and white fruit, called Láng [𦵧]. Taking it prevents untimely death and treats abdominal illness.
English
The first Kǔ [苦] range, from Mount Xiūyú [休輿] to Mount Dàguī [大騩], comprises nineteen mountains and extends 1,184 li. Sixteen of its gods have pig bodies and human faces. Their rites require a goat of unblemished colouring and a patterned jade hung as an offering and buried. Mounts Kǔ [苦], Shàoshì [少室], and Tàishì [太室] are all chief mountains; their rites require the full three-animal sacrifice and fine jade hung as an offering. Their gods all have human faces and three heads. The remaining gods have pig bodies and human faces.
Translator’s note
The full sacrifice conventionally comprises cattle, goat, and Shǐ. The spelling 太室 in this summary differs from 泰室 in the earlier entry.
Range 8
English
A hundred li northeast stands Mount Jīng [荊]. Its northern slope has much iron, its southern slope much red metal. There are many Lí Niú, Bào, and Hǔ. Its trees include pines and cypresses; its plants include much bamboo, many mandarin oranges, and pomelos. The Zhāng [漳] River rises here and flows southeast into the Jū [雎], with much gold and many Jiāo Yú [鮫] in its waters. Its beasts include Lǘ [閭] and Mí.
Translator’s note
鮫 is conventionally associated with sharks in later usage, but that modern identification is not imposed on this inland ancient river description.
English
A further 150 li northeast stands Mount Jiāo [驕]. Above is much jade, below much Qīngwò [青雘]. Its trees include pines, cypresses, and much Táozhī [桃枝] and Gōuduān [鉤端] bamboo. The god Tuó Wéi [𧕛圍] dwells here, with a human face, goat horns, and tiger claws. He is always roaming the pools of the Jū [雎] and Zhāng [漳], and light attends his coming and going.
Translator’s note
Qīngwò [青雘]: An ancient blue-green mineral or pigment, without a secure modern material identification.
English
A further 120 li northeast stands Mount Nǚjǐ [女几]. Above is much jade, below much gold. Its beasts include Bào, Hǔ, Lǘ [閭], Mí, Jīng, and muntjac; its birds include Bái Jiāo [鷮], Dí, and Zhèn [鴆].
Translator’s note
Zhèn [鴆] is a bird traditionally associated with poison, without a secure identification as a modern species; Jiāo [鷮] is a pheasant-like bird.
English
A further 200 li northeast stands Mount Yízhū [宜諸]. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below much Qīngwò [青雘]. The Wéi [洈] River rises here and flows south into the Zhāng [漳], with much white jade in its waters.
Translator’s note
Qīngwò [青雘]: An ancient blue-green mineral or pigment.
English
A further 200 li east stands Mount Lùguǐ [陸䣀]. Above is much Tūfú [㻬琈] jade, below much clay. Its trees are chiefly Niǔ [杻] and Jiāng [橿].
English
A further 130 li east stands Mount Guāng [光]. Above is much blue-green jade, below many trees. The god Jì Méng [計蒙] dwells here, with a human body and dragon head. He is always roaming Zhāng [漳] Pool; whenever he comes or goes, there are whirlwinds and violent rain.
English
A further 150 li east stands Mount Qí [岐]. Its southern slope has much red metal, its northern slope much white jade-like stone. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below much Qīngwò [青雘]. Its forests have many trees of heaven. The god Shè Tuó [涉𧕛] dwells here, with a human body, a square face, and three legs.
Translator’s note
Qīngwò [青雘]: An ancient blue-green mineral or pigment.
English
A further 130 li east stands Mount Tóng [銅], with much gold, silver, and iron above. Its trees include paper mulberries, oaks, hawthorns, chestnuts, mandarin oranges, and pomelos; its beasts include many Zhuó [犳].
English
A further 300 li northeast stands Mount Líng [靈]. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below much Qīngwò [青雘]. Its trees include peaches, plums, Chinese plums, and apricots.
Translator’s note
Qīngwò [青雘]: An ancient blue-green mineral or pigment. 梅 is distinguished from 李 as Chinese plum, without adding a scientific species-name to the text.
English
A further 70 li northeast stands Mount Lóng [龍]. Above are many parasitic trees and much blue-green jade, below much red tin. Its plants include much Táozhī [桃枝] and Gōuduān [鉤端] bamboo.
Translator’s note
寓木 denotes plants growing upon other trees, often interpreted as mistletoe-like growths. “Red tin” retains the ancient material term 赤錫.
English
A further 50 li southeast stands Mount Héng [衡], with many parasitic trees, paper mulberries, and oaks above, and much yellow and white clay.
English
A further 70 li southeast stands Mount Shí [石]. Above is much metal, below much Qīngwò [青雘]; there are many parasitic trees.
Translator’s note
Qīngwò [青雘]: An ancient blue-green mineral or pigment.
English
A further 120 li south stands Mount Ruò [若], with much Tūfú [㻬琈] jade, red ochre, and Guī [邽] stone above, and many parasitic trees and silkworm thorns.
English
A further 120 li southeast stands Mount Zhì [彘], with many fine stones and silkworm thorns.
English
A further 150 li southeast stands Mount Yù [玉]. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below blue-green jade and iron. Its trees are chiefly cypresses.
English
A further 70 li southeast stands Mount Huān [讙], with many Tán [檀] trees, many Fēng [封] stones, and much white tin. The Yù [郁] River rises above and sinks beneath the mountain, with many whetstones in its waters.
English
A further 150 li northeast stands Mount Rénjǔ [仁舉]. Its trees are chiefly paper mulberries and oaks. Its southern slope has much red metal, its northern slope much red ochre.
English
A further 50 li east stands Mount Shīměi [師每]. Its southern slope has many whetstones, its northern slope much Qīngwò [青雘]. Its trees include cypresses, Tán [檀], and silkworm thorns; its plants include much bamboo.
Translator’s note
Qīngwò [青雘]: An ancient blue-green mineral or pigment.
English
The first Jīng [荊] range, from Mount Jǐng [景] to Mount Qíngǔ [琴鼓], comprises twenty-three mountains and extends 2,890 li. Its gods all have bird bodies and human faces. Their rites require a cock offered in prayer and buried, a patterned jade tablet, and rice as the sacrificial grain. Mount Jiāo [驕] is a chief mountain; its rite presents wine and the lesser sacrifice in prayer and burial, with a jade disk hung with the animal offering.
Translator’s note
The lesser sacrifice conventionally comprises a goat and a pig. The final arrangement of the suspended offering is expressed tersely in the source.
Range 9
English
The ninth central range, the Mín [岷] Mountains, begins at Mount Nǚjǐ [女几]. Above is much black mineral pigment. Its trees are chiefly Niǔ [杻] and Jiāng [橿]; its plants include chrysanthemums and atractylodes. The Luò [洛] River rises here and flows east into the Jiāng [江], with much realgar in its waters. Its beasts include Hǔ and Bào.
English
A further 300 li northeast stands Mount Mín [岷]. The Jiāng [江] River rises here and flows northeast into the sea, with many fine Guī and Tuó in its waters. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below much white jade-like stone. Its trees include Chinese plums and crabapples; its beasts include Xī, Xiàng, and Kuí Niú [夔]; its birds include Hàn [翰] and Bì [鷩].
Translator’s note
Kuí Niú [夔] is a named ancient kind of bovine; it is not automatically identified with the one-legged 夔 described in a later chapter. 翰 and 鷩 are pheasant-like birds.
English
A further 140 li northeast stands Mount Lái [崍]. A Jiāng [江] River rises here and flows east into the Jiāng [江]. Its southern slope has much gold, its northern slope many Mí and Zhǔ [麈]. Its trees include Tán [檀] and silkworm thorns; its plants include Chinese onions, garlic chives, Yào [葯], and Kōngduó [空奪].
Translator’s note
The source gives 江 for both this stream and the river it joins. Zhǔ [麈] is traditionally a large deer-like animal.
English
A further 150 li east stands Mount Jū [崌]. A Jiāng [江] River rises here and flows east into the great Jiāng [江], with many Guài Shé and Zhì Yú [䲀] in its waters. Its trees include oaks, Niǔ [杻], Chinese plums, and catalpas. Its beasts include Kuí Niú [夔], Líng, Chuò [㚟], Xī, and Sì [兕]. There is a bird like an Xiāo, with a red body and white head, called Qiè Zhī [竊脂]; it wards off fire.
Translator’s note
Sì [兕] is an ancient horned animal, traditionally considered ox-like or rhinoceros-like. The repeated river-name is retained.
English
A further 300 li east stands Mount Gāoliáng [高梁]. Above is much clay, below many whetstones. Its trees include much Táozhī [桃枝] and Gōuduān [鉤端] bamboo. There is a plant like mallow, with red blossoms, podded fruit, and white calyxes; it can make horses run swiftly.
English
A further 400 li east stands Mount Shé [蛇]. Above is much gold, below much clay. Its trees include Xún [栒], oaks, and camphor trees; its plants include Jiā Róng [嘉榮] and wild ginger. There is a beast like a fox, with a white tail and long ears, called Shì Láng [𤜣狼]; when it appears, there is war within the country.
English
A further 500 li east stands Mount Gé [鬲]. Its southern slope has much metal, its northern slope much white jade-like stone. The Púhōng [蒲𪈘] River rises here and flows east into the Jiāng [江], with much white jade in its waters. Its beasts include Xī, Xiàng, Xióng, Pí, Yuán, and Wèi [蜼].
Translator’s note
Wèi [蜼]: Traditionally a long-tailed monkey-like animal, without a secure identification as a modern species.
English
A further 300 li northeast stands Mount Yúyáng [隅陽]. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below much Qīngwò [青雘]. Its trees are chiefly catalpas and mulberries, its plants chiefly purple gromwell. The Xú [徐] River rises here and flows east into the Jiāng [江], with much Cinnabar in its waters.
Translator’s note
Qīngwò [青雘]: An ancient blue-green mineral or pigment.
English
A further 250 li east stands Mount Qí [岐]. Above is much white metal, below much iron. Its trees include Chinese plums, catalpas, Niǔ [杻], and oaks. The Jiǎn [減] River rises here and flows southeast into the Jiāng [江].
English
A further 300 li east stands Mount Gōunǐ [勾檷]. Above is much jade, below much gold. Its trees include oaks and silkworm thorns; its plants include many peonies.
English
A further 150 li east stands Mount Fēngyǔ [風雨]. Above is much white metal, below much black mineral pigment. Its trees include Zōu [棷], Shàn [椫], and poplars. The Xuānyú [宣余] River rises here and flows east into the Jiāng [江], with many Shé in its waters. Its beasts include Lǘ [閭], Mí, Zhǔ [麈], Bào, and Hǔ; its birds include many Bái Jiāo [鷮].
English
A further 150 li east stands Mount Xióng [熊]. There is a cavern, the Xióng' cavern, from which divine beings constantly emerge. It opens in summer and closes in winter; if it opens in winter, there will surely be war. Above is much white jade, below much white metal. Its forests include many trees of heaven and willows; its plants include much rice-paper plant.
English
A further 140 li east stands Mount Guī [騩]. Its southern slope has much fine jade and red metal, its northern slope much iron. Its trees include Táozhī [桃枝] bamboo, chaste trees, and Qǐ [𦬊].
English
A further 200 li east stands Mount Gé [葛]. Above is much red metal, below many Jiān [瑊] stones. Its trees include hawthorns, chestnuts, mandarin oranges, pomelos, oaks, and Niǔ [杻]; its beasts include Líng and Chuò [㚟]; its plants include much Jiā Róng [嘉榮].
English
A further 170 li east stands Mount Jiǎchāo [賈超]. Its southern slope has much yellow clay, its northern slope much fine red ochre. Its trees include hawthorns, chestnuts, mandarin oranges, and pomelos. There is much Lóngxiū [龍脩].
English
The first Mín [岷] range, from Mount Nǚjǐ [女几] to Mount Jiǎchāo [賈超], comprises sixteen mountains and extends 3,500 li. Its gods all have horse bodies and dragon heads. Their rites require a cock buried as an offering, with rice as the sacrificial grain. Mounts Wén [文], Gōunǐ [勾檷], Fēngyǔ [風雨], and Guī [騩] are all chief mountains. Their rites present wine and the lesser sacrifice, with one fine jade hung with the animal offering. Mount Xióng [熊] is an imperial mountain: its rite presents wine and the full animal sacrifice, with a jade disk suspended. Shields are danced with and weapons used to avert harm; in prayer, there is dancing with jade and ceremonial caps.
Translator’s note
The summary's 文山 differs from the earlier 岷山. The lesser sacrifice comprises goat and pig; the full sacrifice adds cattle. 璆冕 in the closing ritual is difficult; the rendering retains its jade and headdress elements without reconstructing an unstated ceremony.
Range 10
English
The tenth central range begins at Mount Shǒuyáng [首陽], rich in metals and jade above, but without plants or trees.
English
A further 50 li west stands Mount Hǔwěi [虎尾]. Its trees include Sichuan pepper and Jū [椐]; there are many Fēng [封] stones. Its southern slope has much red metal, its northern slope much iron.
English
A further 50 li southwest stands Mount Fánhuì [繁繢]. Its trees are chiefly oaks and Niǔ [杻], its plants chiefly Zhīgōu [枝勾].
English
A further twenty li southwest stands Mount Yǒngshí [勇石], without plants or trees, but with much white metal and water.
English
A further twenty li west stands Mount Fùzhōu [復州]. Its trees are chiefly Tán [檀], and its southern slope has much gold. There is a bird like an Xiāo, with one leg and a pig's tail, called Qí Zhǒng [跂踵]; when it appears, a great epidemic comes upon the country.
English
A further thirty li west stands Mount Chǔ [楮], with many parasitic trees, Sichuan pepper, Jū [椐], and silkworm thorns, and much clay.
English
A further twenty li west stands Mount Yòuyuán [又原]. Its southern slope has much Qīngwò [青雘], its northern slope much iron. Its birds include many Qú Yù.
Translator’s note
Qīngwò [青雘]: An ancient blue-green mineral or pigment.
English
A further 50 li west stands Mount Zhuō [涿]. Its trees include paper mulberries, oaks, and Niǔ [杻]; its southern slope has much Tūfú [㻬琈] jade.
English
A further 70 li west stands Mount Bǐng [丙]. Its trees include catalpas, Tán [檀], Shěn [弞], and Niǔ [杻].
English
The first Shǒuyáng [首陽] range, from Mount Shǒu [首] to Mount Bǐng [丙], comprises nine mountains and extends 267 li. Its gods all have dragon bodies and human faces. Their rites require a cock buried as an offering, with the five kinds of grain. Mount Dǔ [堵] is a chief mountain: its rite uses the lesser sacrifice and wine, with a jade disk hung with the animal offering and buried. Mount Guī [騩] is an imperial mountain: its rite presents wine and the full animal sacrifice. A shaman and an invocator dance together, and a jade disk is suspended.
Translator’s note
The lesser sacrifice comprises goat and pig; the full sacrifice adds cattle. Mounts 堵 and 騩 are named in the summary even though they are not listed in this short range. The opening mountain-name is shortened to 首 in the source's summary.
Range 11
English
The eleventh central range, the Jīng [荊] Mountains, begins at Mount Yìwàng [翼望]. The Tuān [湍] River rises here and flows east into the Jì [濟]; the Kuàng [貺] River also rises here and flows southeast into the Hàn [漢], with many Jiāo [蛟] in its waters. Above grow many pines and cypresses, below many lacquer trees and catalpas. Its southern slope has much red metal, its northern slope much jade-like stone.
Translator’s note
Jiāo [蛟]: A dragon-like aquatic creature in traditional accounts, not a securely identified modern species.
English
A further 150 li northeast stands Mount Cháogē [朝歌]. The Wǔ [潕] River rises here and flows southeast into the Xíng [滎], with many in its waters. Above grow many catalpas and nanmu; its beasts include Líng and Mí. There is a plant called Mǎng Cǎo [莽草], which can poison fish.
Translator’s note
: Traditionally associated with a salamander-like aquatic animal in these mountain descriptions.
English
A further 200 li southeast stands Mount Dìqūn [帝囷]. Its southern slope has much Tūfú [㻬琈] jade, its northern slope much iron. The Dìqūn [帝囷] River rises above and sinks beneath the mountain. There are many Míng Shé [鳴蛇].
English
A further 50 li southeast stands Mount Shì [視], with much garlic chive above. There is a well called the Tiān [天] Well, full in summer and dry in winter. Above are many mulberries and much fine clay, metal, and jade.
English
A further 200 li southeast stands Mount Qián [前]. Its trees include evergreen oaks and cypresses. Its southern slope has much metal, its northern slope much red ochre.
English
A further 300 li southeast stands Mount Fēng [豐]. There is a beast like an Yuán, with red eyes, a red muzzle, and a yellow body, called Yōng Hé [雍和]; when it appears, great fear comes upon the country. The god Gēng Fù [耕父] dwells here, always roaming Qīnglíng [清泠] Pool, with light attending his coming and going. When he appears, the country suffers ruin. There are Jiǔ Zhōng here, which know when frost comes and ring. Above is much metal, below many paper mulberries, oaks, Niǔ [杻], and Jiāng [橿].
English
A further 800 li northeast stands Mount Tùchuáng [兔牀]. Its southern slope has much iron. Its trees include many Shǔxù [藷芧]; its plants include much Jī Gǔ [雞穀], with a root like a hen's egg, sour and sweet to the taste. Eating it benefits people.
Translator’s note
藷芧 is traditionally associated with acorns or their trees, although its classification and reading in this list are uncertain.
English
A further 60 li east stands Mount Pí [皮], with much clay and red ochre. Its trees are chiefly pines and cypresses.
English
A further 60 li east stands Mount Yáobì [瑤碧]. Its trees are chiefly catalpas and nanmu. Its northern slope has much Qīngwò [青雘], its southern slope much white metal. There is a bird like a pheasant, always eating Fēi [蜚], called Zhèn [鴆].
Translator’s note
Fēi [蜚]: Here traditionally understood as an insect, often associated with cockroaches; it need not be the monstrous beast with the same written name elsewhere. Qīngwò [青雘] is an ancient blue-green mineral or pigment.
English
A further forty li east stands Mount Zhīlí [支離]. The Jì [濟] River rises here and flows south into the Hàn [漢]. There is a bird called Yīng Sháo [嬰勺], like a magpie, with red eyes, a red beak, a white body, and a ladle-like tail. It cries its own name. There are many Zuó Niú [㸲] and Qiān Yáng [羬].
English
A further 50 li northeast stands Mount Zhìdiāo [祑𥮐], with many pines, cypresses, Jī [机], and Huán [桓] trees above.
English
A further a hundred li northwest stands Mount Jǐnlǐ [堇理]. Above grow many pines, cypresses, and fine catalpas. Its northern slope has much red mineral pigment and metal; its beasts include Bào and Hǔ. There is a bird like a magpie, with a green body, white beak, white eyes, and white tail, called Qīng Gēng [青耕]. It wards off epidemics and cries its own name.
English
A further thirty li southeast stands Mount Yīgū [依軲], with many Niǔ [杻], Jiāng [橿], and Jū [苴] trees above. There is a beast like a dog, with tiger claws and armour, called Lín [獜]. It is skilled at leaping; eating it prevents wind illness.
Translator’s note
“Wind illness” is an ancient medical category, not a specific modern diagnosis.
English
A further 35 li southeast stands Mount Jígǔ [即谷], with much fine jade, many Xuán Bào, Lǘ [閭], Zhǔ [麈], Líng, and Chuò [㚟]. Its southern slope has much jade-like stone, its northern slope much Qīngwò [青雘].
Translator’s note
Qīngwò [青雘]: An ancient blue-green mineral or pigment. Zhǔ [麈] is a traditional deer-like animal; precise species identifications for the retained beast-names are uncertain.
English
A further forty li southeast stands Mount Jī [雞], with many fine catalpas and mulberries above, and much garlic chive among its plants.
English
A further 50 li southeast stands Mount Gāoqián [高前]. Above is water, very cold and clear, the drink of Dìtái [帝臺]; whoever drinks it is spared pain in the heart. Above is metal, below red ochre.
English
A further thirty li southeast stands Mount Yóuxì [遊戲], with many Niǔ [杻], Jiāng [橿], and paper-mulberry trees, much jade, and many Fēng [封] stones.
English
A further 35 li southeast stands Mount Cōng [從]. Above grow many pines and cypresses, below much bamboo. The Cōng [從] River rises above and sinks beneath the mountain. In it are many Sān Zú Biē with branching tails; eating them prevents venomous illness.
English
A further thirty li southeast stands Mount Yīngzhēn [嬰䃌]. Above grow many pines and cypresses, below many catalpas and Chūn [櫄] trees.
English
A further twenty li southeast stands Mount Lèmǎ [樂馬]. There is a beast like a hedgehog, red as cinnabar fire, called Liè [𤟑]. When it appears, a great epidemic comes upon the country.
English
A further forty li east stands Mount Yīng [嬰]. Below is much Qīngwò [青雘], above plentiful metals and jade.
Translator’s note
Qīngwò [青雘]: An ancient blue-green mineral or pigment.
English
A further thirty li east stands Mount Hǔshǒu [虎首], with many Jū [苴], Chóu [椆], and Jū [椐] trees.
English
A further twenty li east stands Mount Yīnghóu [嬰侯]. Above are many Fēng [封] stones, below much red tin.
English
A further 50 li east stands Mount Dàshú [大孰]. The Shā [殺] River rises here and flows northeast into the Shì [視], with much white clay in its waters.
English
A further forty li east stands Mount Bēi [卑]. Above grow many peaches, plums, Jū [苴], and catalpas, and many vines.
English
A further thirty li east stands Mount Yǐdì [倚帝]. Above is much jade, below much metal. There is a beast like a Fèishǔ [鼣鼠], with white ears and a white muzzle, called Jū Rú [狙如]. When it appears, great war comes upon the country.
Translator’s note
Fèishǔ [鼣鼠]: An ancient rodent-name, traditionally described as a small animal whose call resembles a dog's bark. Its exact modern identification is uncertain.
English
A further thirty li east stands Mount Ní [鯢]. The Ní [鯢] River rises above and sinks beneath the mountain, with much fine clay in its waters. Above is much metal, below much Qīngwò [青雘].
Translator’s note
Qīngwò [青雘]: An ancient blue-green mineral or pigment.
English
A further thirty li east stands Mount Yǎ [雅]. The Lǐ [澧] River rises here and flows east into the Shì [視], with many Dà Yú in its waters. Above grow many fine mulberries, below many Jū [苴] trees, and there is much red metal.
English
A further 55 li east stands Mount Xuān [宣]. The Lún [淪] River rises here and flows southeast into the Shì [視], with many Jiāo [蛟] in its waters. Above is a mulberry tree fifty chi in girth, whose branches divide four ways. Its leaves are more than a chi across; it has red grain, yellow blossoms, and green calyxes. It is called Mulberry of Dì Nǚ.
Translator’s note
Chi is an ancient length unit. The measurement “fifty chi” is understood as girth in the traditional reading; the source simply says “great, fifty chi.” Jiāo [蛟] is a dragon-like aquatic creature.
English
A further 45 li east stands Mount Héng [衡], with much Qīngwò [青雘] and many mulberries above. Its birds include many Qú Yù.
Translator’s note
Qīngwò [青雘]: An ancient blue-green mineral or pigment.
English
A further forty li east stands Mount Fēng [豐]. Above are many Fēng [封] stones. Its trees include many mulberries and Yáng Táo [羊桃], like peach trees but with square stems; these can be used for skin swelling.
Translator’s note
皮張 is difficult and is provisionally understood as swollen or stretched skin. 羊桃 has been applied to different plants over time, so it is not automatically rendered as a modern fruit-name.
English
A further 70 li east stands Mount Yù [嫗]. Above is much fine jade, below much metal. Its plants include much Jī Gǔ [雞穀].
English
A further thirty li east stands Mount Xiān [鮮]. Its trees include oaks, Niǔ [杻], and Jū [苴]; its plants include asparagus roots. Its southern slope has much metal, its northern slope much iron. There is a beast like a Móquǎn [膜犬], with a red muzzle, red eyes, and a white tail, called Yí Jí [𤝻即]. Where it appears, fire comes upon the settlement.
Translator’s note
Móquǎn [膜犬]: An uncertain dog-like comparison in the received text; it is not assigned a modern breed or species.
English
A further thirty li east stands Mount Zhāng [章]. Its southern slope has much metal, its northern slope many fine stones. The Gāo [臯] River rises here and flows east into the Fēng [豐], with many brittle stones in its waters.
English
A further 25 li east stands Mount Dàzhī [大支]. Its southern slope has much metal, and its trees include many paper mulberries and oaks. It has no plants or trees.
Translator’s note
Both the trees and the statement that there are no plants or trees occur in the source; the contradiction is retained.
English
A further 50 li east stands Mount Qūwú [區吳], whose trees are chiefly Jū [苴].
English
A further 50 li east stands Mount Shēngxiōng [聲匈], with many paper mulberries and much jade, and many Fēng [封] stones above.
English
A further 50 li east stands Mount Dàguī [大騩]. Its southern slope has much red metal, its northern slope many whetstones.
English
A further ten li east stands Mount Zhǒngjiù [踵臼], without plants or trees.
English
A further 70 li northeast stands Mount Lìshí [歷石]. Its trees include chaste trees and Qǐ [𦬊]. Its southern slope has much gold, its northern slope many whetstones. There is a beast like a wildcat, with a white head and tiger claws, called Liáng Qú [梁渠]. When it appears, great war comes upon the country.
English
A further a hundred li southeast stands Mount Qiú [求]. The Qiú [求] River rises above and sinks beneath the mountain, with fine red ochre in its waters. Its trees include many Jū [苴] and much Mèi [䉋] bamboo. Its southern slope has much metal, its northern slope much iron.
English
A further 200 li east stands Mount Chǒuyáng [丑陽], with many Chóu [椆] and Jū [椐] trees above. There is a bird like a crow, with red feet, called Zhī Tú [䳅鵌]; it wards off fire.
English
A further 300 li east stands Mount Ào [奧]. Above grow many cypresses, Niǔ [杻], and Jiāng [橿]. Its southern slope has much Yàngfú [瀁琈] jade. The Ào [奧] River rises here and flows east into the Shì [視].
English
A further 35 li east stands Mount Fú [服]. Its trees are chiefly Jū [苴]. Above are many Fēng [封] stones, below much red tin.
English
A further 110 li east stands Mount Yǎo [杳], with much Jiā Róng [嘉榮] grass and plentiful metals and jade above.
English
A further 350 li east stands Mount Jǐ [几]. Its trees include oaks, Tán [檀], and Niǔ [杻]; its plants are often fragrant. There is a beast like a pig, with a yellow body, white head, and white tail, called Wén Lìn [聞𧲂]. When it appears, great winds sweep all beneath heaven.
English
The first Jīng [荊] range, from Mount Yìwàng [翼望] to Mount Jǐ [几], comprises forty-eight mountains and extends 3,732 li. Its gods all have pig bodies and human heads. Their rites require a cock offered in prayer, a jade tablet buried, and the finest of the five grains. Mount Hé [禾] is an imperial mountain: its rite requires the full animal sacrifice, presented and buried with the animals inverted, together with a jade disk; the cattle are not fixed in number or kind. Mounts Dǔ [堵] and Yù [玉] are chief mountains. Their sacrifices are all inverted, using the lesser animal offering, with fine jade suspended.
Translator’s note
The named chief mountains are retained as the summary gives them. 倒毛, 倒祠, and 牛無常 are difficult ritual expressions; inversion and an unspecified cattle requirement are provisional readings. The full sacrifice comprises cattle, goat, and pigs; the lesser comprises goat and pig.
Range 12
English
The twelfth central range, the Dòngtíng [洞庭] Mountains, begins at Mount Piānyù [篇遇], without plants or trees, but with much gold.
English
A further 50 li southeast stands Mount Yún [雲], without plants or trees. There is Guì Zhú [桂], exceedingly poisonous; anyone it wounds must die. Above is much gold, below much Tūfú [㻬琈] jade.
Translator’s note
The bamboo is listed despite the preceding absence of plants and trees; both statements are retained.
English
A further 130 li southeast stands Mount Guī [龜]. Its trees include paper mulberries, oaks, Chóu [椆], and Jū [椐]. Above is much gold, below much blue-green realgar and Fú [扶] bamboo.
English
A further 70 li east stands Mount Bǐng [丙], with much Guì [筀] bamboo, gold, Tóng, and iron, but no trees.
English
A further 50 li southeast stands Mount Fēngbó [風伯]. Above are plentiful metals and jade, below many Suān [痠] stones, patterned stones, and much iron. Its trees include willows, Niǔ [杻], Tán [檀], and paper mulberries. Eastward is Mǎngfú [莽浮] Forest, with many fine trees, birds, and beasts.
English
A further 150 li east stands Mount Fūfū [夫夫]. Above is much gold, below much blue-green realgar. Its trees are chiefly mulberries and paper mulberries; its plants include bamboo and Jīgǔ [雞鼓]. The god Yú Ér [于兒] dwells here, human in body and holding two Shé. He is always roaming the pools of the Jiāng [江], with light attending his coming and going.
English
A further 120 li southeast stands Mount Dòngtíng [洞庭]. Above is much gold, below much silver and iron. Its trees include hawthorns, pears, mandarin oranges, and pomelos; its plants include Jiān [葌], Míwú [蘼蕪], peonies, and lovage. The High God's two daughters dwell here, always roaming the pools of the Jiāng [江]. The winds of the Lǐ [澧] and Yuán [沅] meet the pools of the Xiāo [瀟] and Xiāng [湘]; this is among the nine rivers. Their coming and going is always accompanied by whirlwinds and violent rain. There are many Guài Shén, human in form but bearing Shé, holding Shé in their left and right hands. There are many strange birds.
Translator’s note
The phrase linking the winds and pools is terse and its syntax uncertain. Míwú [蘼蕪] is a fragrant herb traditionally associated with lovage-like plants; Jiān [葌] is an uncertain ancient fragrant grass-name.
English
A further 180 li southeast stands Mount Bào [暴]. Its trees include palms, nanmu, chaste trees, Qǐ [𦬊], arrow bamboo, Mèi [䉋], and Jùn [箘] bamboo. There are much gold and jade, and below many patterned stones and much iron. Its beasts include Mí, Lù, muntjac, and Jiù [就].
Translator’s note
就 at the end of the beast list is uncertain; no modern animal has been supplied in its place.
English
A further 159 li southeast stands Mount Yáo [堯]. Its northern slope has much yellow clay, its southern slope much gold. Its trees include chaste trees, Qǐ [𦬊], willows, and Tán [檀]; its plants include Shǔ Xù and atractylodes.
English
A further 200 li east stands Mount Zhēnlíng [真陵]. Above is much gold, below much jade. Its trees include paper mulberries, oaks, willows, and Niǔ [杻]; its plants include much Róng Cǎo [榮草].
English
A further 230 li east stands Mount Róngyú [榮余]. Above is much Tóng, below much silver. Its trees are chiefly willows and Qǐ [𦬊]; its crawling creatures include many Guài Shé and Guài Chóng.
English
The first Dòngtíng [洞庭] range, from Mount Piānyù [篇遇] to Mount Róngyú [榮余], comprises a hundred thousand mountains and extends 2,800 li. Its gods all have bird bodies and dragon heads. Their rites require a cock and a female pig, their blood let, with rice as the sacrificial grain. Mounts Fūfū [夫夫], Jígōng [即公], Yáo [堯], and Yángdì [陽帝] are all chief mountains; their rites lay out and bury the offerings, using wine in prayer, the lesser animal sacrifice, and one fine jade hung with the animals. are divine mountains; their rites likewise lay out and bury the offerings, with wine and the full animal sacrifice, fifteen jade tablets and disks suspended, and adornment in five colours.
Translator’s note
The source reads 十萬山, “a hundred thousand mountains,” evidently a textual error in a short range. It has been retained and flagged rather than silently replaced. The lesser sacrifice comprises goat and pig; the full sacrifice adds cattle. 惠之 in the last phrase is interpreted as an act of adornment.
English
The foregoing central mountains comprise 197 mountains and extend 21,371 li.
English
All the famous mountains beneath heaven number 5,370 and occupy a total extent of 64,056 li.
The Five Mountain Books: Closing Record
English
Yǔ [禹] said: “The famous mountains beneath heaven, as recorded, number 5,370 and occupy an extent of 64,056 li. These are spoken of as the Five Treasuries; the remaining lesser mountains are so numerous that they are not recorded. Heaven and earth extend 28,000 li from east to west and 26,000 li from north to south. Mountains from which waters issue extend 8,000 li, and those receiving waters extend 8,000 li. Mountains producing Tóng number 467; those producing iron, 3,690. These are the regions divided by heaven and earth for growing grain, the sources of dagger-axes and spears, and the beginnings of knives and long-bladed weapons. The able have a surplus, the unskilled too little. Seventy-two houses performed the summit offering at Mount Tài [太] and the earth offering at Liángfù [梁父]. The reckoning of their gains and losses lies within this account. This is called the resources of the state.”
Translator’s note
“Five Treasuries” translates 五臧, the traditional collective designation of the five mountain books. The figures and ritual claims belong to the source's account and have not been reconciled with external histories.
English
The foregoing Five Treasuries Mountain Classic consists of five books, with a total of 15,503 characters.
Translator’s note
This is the source's own transmitted character count, not a count of the present English edition.