monster handbook

I have created a modern interpretation of the Shan Hai Jing a Chinese classic text that is at least 2,200 years old. The book records a wide range of beliefs held by the Chinese about their world, encompassing mythology, geography, religion, fauna, flora, minerals and medicine. I have concentrated on the exotic animals and plants that are described in detail, creating a world of fantastic and strange creatures. 

蝮虫

蝮虫，色如绶纹，鼻上有针，大者百余斤，一名反鼻虫。

 Fu-Viper 

It is found in abundance on Gibbon-wings Mountain. It is red in color with needles protruding from it's nose, reaching a weight of more than one hundred jin. 

敞付 

有鸟焉，其状如鸡，而三首，六目，六足，三翼，其名曰敞付，食之无卧。

Chang Fu- Bird

There is a bird dwelling here on Foundation Mountain whose from resembles a chicken with three heads, six feet, and three wings. It is called the Chang Fu. Eating it will prevent sleep.

赤蠕

其状如鱼而人面，其音如鸳鸯，食之不疥。

 Red Ru- Fish

The Eminent River flows forth from Green-Hills Mountain southward into Carp-Wings Lake. Many Red  Ru- Fish are found in the lake. It has the basic form of a fish with a human face and makes a sound like a mandarin duck. Eating it will prevent scabies.

帝江

有神焉其状如黄囊，赤如丹火，六足四翼，混沌五面目，是识歌舞，实为帝江也。

 Di Jiang

There is a god here whose from resembles a yellow sake with a red aura like cinnabar. He has six legs and four wings and exists in a state of confusion with no face or eyes. He knows how to sing and dance for he is, in fact, Di Jiang. 

文鳐鱼 

状如鲤鱼，鱼身而鸟翼，苍文而白首赤喙，常行西海，游于东海，以夜飞。 其音如鸾鸡，其味酸甘，食之已狂，见则天下大穰。

Mottled Flying- Fish

Its form resembles a carp with a fish's body, bird's wings, blue- black markings, a white head, and a red mouth. It often courses in the Western Sea and swims to the Eastern Sea. The Mottled Fling- Fish flies by night and makes a sound like a Luan-Chicken. It has a sweet- and sour taste. Eating it can sure insanity. If seen by people, it is an omen of a bountiful harvest throughout the world.

愚

有鸟焉，其状如枭，人面四目而有耳，其名曰俞，其鸣自号也，见则天下大旱。

 Yu- Bird

There is a bird here whose from resembles an owl but with a human face, four eyes, and ears. It is called the Yu and makes a sound like its name. If seen by people, it is an omen of a great drought throughout the world.

虎蛟 

其状鱼身而蛇尾，其音如鸳鸯，食者不肿，可以已痔。

Tiger- Dragon

The Tiger- Dragon has a fish's body and a snake's tail. It makes a sound like a mandarin duck. Eating it prevents swellings and hemorrhoids.

鯥

有鱼焉，其状如牛，陵居，蛇尾有翼，其羽在鱼下去，其音如留牛，其名曰鯥，冬死而复生，食之无肿疾。

Liu- Fish

There is a fish here whose from resembles an ox. It dwells in the hills and possesses a snake's tail, wings, and feathers on its ribs. It is said to make a sound like the Lingering- Ox and is called the Liu. It lives during the summer and dies in the winter. Eating it will prevent swellings.

旋龟 

其状鸟首而憋尾，其音如判木。

Twisting- Turtle

Black turtles that have the form of a turtle but with a bird's head and a viper's tail. They are called Twisting- Turtle, whose make a sound like wood splitting. Wearing a piece of one form the belt as a talisman will prevent deafness, and it can also remove calluses.

博施 

有兽焉，其状如羊，九尾四耳，其目在背。

Bo Shi

There is a beast here whose form resembles a goat with nine tails and four ears, with is eyes on its back, It is called the Bo Shi. wearing part of it form the belt will prevent fear.

狸力

有兽焉，其状如豚，有距，其音如狗吠，其名曰狸力。

 Power Cat

White jade and fine grain of cinnabar, There is a beast here whose form resembles a pig with spurs on its feet. It makes a sound like a dog barking. it is called the Lili. If seen by people, it is an omen that there will be much public earthwork construction in the district. 

蛊雕 

有兽焉，名曰蛊雕，其状如雕而有角，其音如婴儿之音，是食人。

 Poison-Eagle

There is a beast here named the Poison-Eagle. It has the basic form of an eagle with a horn, and though it makes a sound like a baby. It is a man-eater. Curiously, the Guide ways classifies the Poison-Eagle as a beast instead of as a bird, perhaps because of its power and malevolence. The portrait in the Wu Renchen edition(1667) consequently depicted this creature with the head of an eagle but with a body resembling a wildcat's. 

驹如

有鸟焉，其状如鹪而白首，三足，人面，其名曰驹如，其名自号也。

 Ju Ru- Bird

There is a bird here on Pray-and -pass Mountain whose from resembles a Jiao-Duck but with a white head, three feet, and a human face. It makes a sound like its name.

肥遗 

有蛇焉，名曰肥遗，六足四翼，见则天下大旱。

Fei Yi- Snake

There is a snake here called the Fei Yi. It has six feet and four wings. If seen by people, it is an omen of a great drought throughout the world.

猾鱼 

䱻魚，其狀如蛇，而四足。

Hua- Fish

It has the form of a snake with four legs and consumes other fish.

獾

有兽焉，其状如狸，一目而三尾，名曰獾，其音如哚百声，是可以御凶，食之已瘅。

 Huan

There is a beast dwelling here whose form resembles a wildcat with one eye and three tails. It is called the Huan, and it is capable of uttering all kinds of sounds. This creature can repel evil forces. If a piece is worn against the skin, it will cure jaundice.

当户 

其状如雉，以其髯飞，食之不顺目。

Dang Hu- Bird

The Dang Hu- Bird's form resembles a pheasant, and it flies by means of its throat feathers. Eating it will prevent the deterioration of eyesight.

蛮蛮 

其状鼠身而鳖首，其音如吠犬。

Man Man

The Man Man's form resembles a rat's body with a turtle's head, and it makes a sound like a dog barking. 

冉遗鱼

鱼身蛇首六足，其目如马耳，食之使人不眯，可以御凶。

 Ran Yi- Fish

The Ran Yi- Fish has the body of a fish with a snake's head, six feet, and eyes like a horse's ears. Eating it will prevent blindness. It can also repel evil forces. 

孺毗鱼

其状如覆瑶，鱼首而鱼翼鱼尾，音如磐石之声，是生珠玉。

 Ru Pi- Fish

The Ru Pi- Fsh has the form of an overturned cooking pan with a bird's head, fish's wings, and a fish's tail. It makes a sound like stone chimes and gives birth to pearls and jade.

孰湖

有兽焉，其状马身而鸟翼，人面蛇尾，是好举人，名曰孰湖。

Shu HU

There is a beast here whose from resembles the body of a horse but with bird's wings, a human face, and a snake's tail. It likes to lift people up and is called the Shu Hu. 

习习鱼 

其状如雀而十翼，鳞皆在羽端，其音如鹊，可以御火，食之不瘅。

Xi Xi- Fish

The Xi Xi- Fish's form resembles a magpie with ten wings, and its scales are all on the tip of its feathers. It makes a sound like a magpie and can repel fire. Eating it can prevent jaundice.

何罗鱼 

一首而十身，其音如吠犬，食之已痈。

He Luo-Fish

The He Luo- Fish has one head and ten bodies and makes a sound like a barking dog. Eating it will cure tumors. It also would let out a cry when it flew by at night and was said to be scared on by thunder.

幽魇 

有兽焉，其状如俞而文身，善笑，见人则卧，名曰幽安，其鸣自呼。

You Yan

There is a beast here whose from resembles a Yu- Ape but with marks on its body. It is adept at laughing and falls asleep when it sees people. It is called the You Yan, and it makes a sound like its name.

诸犍 

有兽焉，其状如豹而长尾，人首而牛耳，一目，名曰诸犍，善托，行则衔其尾，居则蟠其尾。

Zhu Jian

There is a beast here whose from resembles a leopard but with a long tail, a human head, an OX's ears, and a single eye. It is called the Zhu Jian. It is adept at angry shouting. When walking, it bites hold of its tail and when seated, coils it. 

旨鱼

鱼身而犬首，其音如婴儿，食之已狂。

 Zhi- Fish

The Zhi-Fish has the body of a fish but with a dog's head. It makes a sound like a baby. Eating it will cure madness. This fish was similar to ocean fish known in his own time such as the Tiger- Fish, Deer- Fish, and the Sea- Pig, all of which had the bodies of fish and the heads of animals. 

藻鱼

其状如鲤而鸡足，食之已疣。

 Zao-Fish

The Zao- Fish's form resembles a carp with chicken's legs. Eating it will cure warts.

嚣

有鸟焉，其状如夸父，四翼，一目，犬尾，名曰嚣，其音如鹊，食之已腹痛，可以止胴。

Raucous-Bird

There is a bird dwelling here whose form resembles kuafu the Boaster but with four wings, one eye, and a dog's tail. It is called the Raucous- Bird, and it makes a sound like a magpie. Eating it will cure abdominal pain, and it can also stop diarrhea.

狍枭

有兽焉，其状如羊身人面，其目在腋下，虎齿人爪，其音如婴儿，名曰狍崤，是食人。

Pao Xiao

There is a beast dwelling here whose form resembles a goat's body with a human's face. Its eye are behind its armpits, and it has tiger's teeth and human hands. It makes a sound like a baby and is called the Pao Xiao. It is a man- eater. How gluttonous is the Pao Xiao! Behind his forelegs are his eyes.He cannot finish his human chow.  

酸与 

有鸟焉，其状如蛇，而四翼，六目，三足，名曰酸与，其名自叫，见则其邑有恐。

SuanYu-Bird

There is a bird dwelling here whose form resembles a snake but with four wings, six eyes, and three legs. It is called the Suan Yu, and it makes a sound like its name. If seen by people, it is an omen of panic in the town. The Suan Yu- Bird is eaten to prevent drunkenness.

鸫鸫

有兽焉，其状如羊，一角一目，目在耳后，起名曰栋栋，其鸣自叫。

Dong Dong

There is a beast dwelling here whose form resembles a goar with one horn and one eye. Its eye is behind its ears. It is called the Dong Dong and makes a sound like its name.

戎戎 

其状如犁牛，其音如彘鸣。

Rong Rog- Fish

The Rong Rong- Fish's form resembles a Plow- Ox and it makes a sound like the grunt of a pig. Plow-Ox has marking like those of a tiger. The Ox- Fish found in the Eastern Sea, which has hairs on its skin that stand up at high tide and flatten at low tide.

丑俞 

有兽焉,其状如菟而鸟喙,鸱目蛇尾,见人则眠,名曰犰狳,其鸣自訆,见则螽蝗为败。

Chou Yu

There is a beast dwelling here whose form resembles a rabbit but with a bird's beak, an owl's eyes, and a snake's tail. When it sees people, it falls asleep. It is called the Chou Yu and makes a sound like its name. If it is seen, it is an omen of a plague of locusts. This creature only feigns sleep to protect itself. 

垄枳

有兽焉，其状如狐，而九尾，九首，虎爪，名曰垄枳，其音如婴儿，是食人。

Long Zhi

There is a beast here whose form resembles a fox but with nine tails, nine heads, and a tiger's claws. It is called the Long Zhi. It makes a sound like a baby but is a man-eater.

珠憋鱼

其状如肺而有目，六足有珠，其味酸甘，食之无疠。

Pearl- Turtles

The Pearl- Turtle's form resembles a lung with eyes and six feet, and it possesses pearls. Its flavor is sweet and sour. Eating it will protect against seasonal epidemic.

蛤蛤
有鱼焉，其状如鲤，而六足鸟尾，名曰蛤蛤之鱼，其鸣自叫
Ge Ge- Fish

There is a fish dwelling here whose form resembles a carp but with six feet and a bird's tail. It is called the Ge Ge. And it makes a sound like its name.

鸣蛇

其状如蛇而四翼，其音如磐，见则其邑大旱。

Chiming-Snakes

The Chiming-Snake resembles a snake but with four wings and makes a sound like a chime. If seen, it is an omen of a great drought in the town.

飞鱼
Flying-Fish

Here dwell many Flying- Fish. The Flying- Fish's form resembles a carp. Eating it will cure hemorrhoids.

缔鸟
Di- Birds

The Di- Bird resembles an owl but with three eyes and also ears. The Di- Bird makes a sound like a deer. Eating it will cure Dian-Sickness.

 婕
Jie

There is a beast here named Jie. Its form resembles an angry dog but with scales, while its hairs are like pig's bristles. The hair grew in between the scales.