CHAPTER 06 · 23 passages
Beyond the Southern Seas
海外南經
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English
All that the earth bears, between the six directions and within the four seas, is illuminated by sun and moon, ordered by the stars, measured by the four seasons, and governed by the Great Year. The beings born of divine powers have differing forms; some die young, others live long. Only the sage can comprehend their way.
Translator’s note
The six directions are above, below, and the four cardinal directions. 太歲, rendered “Great Year,” is the traditional cyclical power or marker of the years, not simply a modern calendar year.
English
This is the region beyond the seas, from the southwestern corner to the southeastern corner.
English
The country of Jié Xiōng [結匈] lies to the southwest. Its people have knotted or protruding chests.
English
Mt. Nán [南] lies to its southeast. From this mountain onward, crawling creatures are called Shé, and Shé are called fish. Another account places Mt. Nán [南] southeast of Jié Xiōng [結匈]. The Bǐ Yì Niǎo [比翼] lie to its east. They are blue-green and red, and two birds join their wings. Another account places them east of Mt. Nán [南].
English
The country of Yǔ Mín [羽民] lies to the southeast. Its people have long heads, and feathers grow upon their bodies. Another account places it southeast of the Bǐ Yì Niǎo [比翼] and says its people have long cheeks.
English
There are twice eight divine beings, linked arm to arm, who keep the High God's night watch upon this plain, east of Yǔ Mín [羽民]. They are small people, with red cheeks and shoulders, sixteen in all.
Translator’s note
The description of cheeks and shoulders is compressed in the received text; the division of its words is uncertain.
English
The Bì Fāng Niǎo [畢方] lies to the east, west of the Qīng [青] River. It is a bird with one leg. Another account places it east of the sixteen gods.
English
The country of Huān Tóu [讙頭] lies to the south. Its people have human faces, wings, and bird beaks, and are catching fish. Another account places it east of Bì Fāng [畢方]; some call it the country of Huān Tóu [讙朱].
English
The country of Yàn Huǒ [厭火] lies to the south. Its people have beast bodies, black in colour, and fire comes from their mouths. Another account places it east of Huān Tóu [讙朱].
English
The Sānzhū [三株] trees lie north of Yàn Huǒ [厭火], growing upon the banks of the Chì [赤] River. They resemble cypresses, but all their leaves are pearls. Another account says the trees resemble brooms.
English
The country of Sān Miáo [三苗] lies east of the Chì [赤] River. Its people follow one another. Another account calls it the country of Sān Miáo [三毛].
English
The country of Dài [臷] lies to the east. Its people are yellow in colour and can wield Bow to shoot Shé. Another account places Zhì [臷] east of Sān Miáo [三毛].
English
The country of Guàn Xiōng [貫匈] lies to the east. Its people have holes through their chests. Another account places it east of Dài [臷].
English
The country of Jiāo Jìng [交脛] lies to the east. Its people have crossed lower legs. Another account places it east of Guàn Xiōng [穿匈].
English
The Bù Sǐ [不死] people lie to the east. They are black in colour, live long, and do not die. Another account places them east of the country of Guàn Xiōng [穿匈].
English
The country of Fǎn Shé [反舌] lies to the east. Its people's tongues are reversed. Another account calls it the country of Fǎn Shé [支舌], east of the people.
English
The height of Kūnlún [昆侖] lies to the east and is square. Another account places it east of Fǎn Shé [反舌] and likewise describes a square height.
English
Yì [羿] fought Záo Chǐ [鑿齒] on the plain of Shòuhuá [壽華] and shot him dead, east of the height of Kūnlún [昆侖]. Yì [羿] holds Bow and arrows; Záo Chǐ [鑿齒] holds a shield. Another account says he holds a Dagger-Axe.
English
The country of Sān Shǒu [三首] lies to the east. Its people have one body and three heads. Another account places it east of Záo Chǐ [鑿齒].
English
The country of Zhōu Ráo [周饒] lies to the east. Its people are short and small, wearing caps and belts. Another account calls it the country of Jiāo Jiǎo [焦僥], east of Sān Shǒu [三首].
English
The country of Cháng Bì [長臂] lies to the east. Its people catch fish in the water, each hand holding one fish. Another account places it east of Jiāo Jiǎo [焦僥] and says they catch fish in the sea.
English
On Mt. Dí [狄], Emperor Yáo [堯] is buried on the southern slope and Emperor Kù [嚳] on the northern slope. There are Xióng, Pí, Wén Hǔ, Wèi [蜼], Bào, Lí Zhū [離朱], and Shì Ròu [視肉]. Xūyàn [吁咽] and King Wén [文] are also buried there. Another account calls it Mount Tāng [湯]. Another says there are Xióng, Pí, Wén Hǔ, Wèi [蜼], Bào, Lí Zhū [離朱], Chī Jiǔ [𩿨久], Shì Ròu [視肉], and Hū Jiāo [虖交]. There is Fànlín [范林] Forest, three hundred li square.
Translator’s note
Wèi [蜼] is traditionally a long-tailed monkey-like animal. Shì Ròu [視肉] is a wondrous flesh-like being or substance, described in later commentary as renewing after being eaten; this explanation is not added to the translated narrative. The remaining unusual names are retained without secure modern identifications.
English
In the south is Zhù Róng [祝融], with a beast's body and a human face, riding two dragons.