Eggsquisitely Mythical #8: China

Hello, fellow eggs and mythology lovers!

For our next Eggsquisitely Mythical issue, we are doing a deep dive on the mythical creatures of China. Please note that this is the second article in a three-part series. Check out part one to learn about deities and part three to learn about the myths, legends, and folktales of China!

MYTHICAL CREATURES

Abstract Creatures

Zhulong (燭龍), also known as the Torch Dragon, is a giant red solar dragon deity that has a human face and a snake body. It created night and day by opening/closing its eyes and seasonal winds by breathing.
The Four Guardians (四靈、四聖獸、四大神獸), also known as Four Auspicious Beasts, represent a cardinal direction and season.
- Azure Dragon of the East (青龍): spring
- Vermilion Bird of the South (朱雀): summer
- White Tiger of the West (白虎): autumn
- Black Tortoise of the North (玄武): winter
The Four Fiends (四凶), also known as the Four Perils, serve as counterparts to the Four Guardians / Four Auspicious Beasts. Each represent a negative quality as noted below.
- Hundun (混沌): chaos
- Taotie (饕餮): gluttony
- Táowù (梼杌): ignorance
- Qióngqí (窮奇): deviousness

Birds

Bi Fang bird (畢方) is a one-legged bird.
Crane is a bird that is often associated with immortality.
Fenghuang (鳳凰) often translates to "phoenix."
Jiān/biyiniao (鶼/比翼鸟) is a bird that has two heads, one male and one female. They have one pair of wings but are inseparable.
Jingwei (精衛) is a goddess who drowned in the Eastern Sea and turned into a bird known as a Jingwei. She is known for trying to fill the Eastern Sea with pebbles and twigs.
Jiufeng (九頭鳥) is a nine-headed bird, which is considered one of the earliest forms of the phoenix. It used to be known for scaring children.
Luán (鸾) / Jīnjī (金鶏)'s features are similar to a fenghuang, as it's red in color. Although the literal translation of Jīnjī is "golden chicken."
Peng (鵬/鹏) is a giant bird that can also transform into a giant fish.
Qing Niao (青鳥) are blue or green birds who serve as messengers to Xiwangmu.
Sanzuwu (三足烏) is a three-legged crow that represents the sun birds that were shot down by Houyi (who is often portrayed as the god of archery).
Shang-Yang (商羊) is a rainbird (capable of predicting rain) that is often associated with Yu Shi, the Lord of Rain.
Sù Shuāng (鷫鷞) is a water bird that is similar to the crane.
Vermillion Bird (朱雀) is one of the four symbols of the Chinese constellations that represents fire, south, and summer. It is a red bird that looks like a pheasant and is covered in flames. In other cultures, it is known as Suzaku (in Japan), Jujak (in Korea), and Chu Tước (in Vietnam).
Zhen / Zhenniao (鴆鳥) is also referred to as Poisonfeather Birds. It has been described as a goose with dark purple feathers and a long, copper-colored beak.

Dragons

Azure Dragon (青龍) is one of the four symbols of the Chinese constellations that represents east and spring. It is a blue or blue-green dragon. In other cultures, it is known as Seiryu (in Japan), Cheongnyong (in Korea), and Thanh Long (in Vietnam).
Bixi / Bi Xi is a dragon with the shell of a turtle, and one of the nine sons of the Dragon King.
Chi (螭) is a hornless dragon or mountain demon.
Dilong (地龍/地龙) is an earth dragon.
Dragon King are patron deities of water to the four seas and four cardinal directions: Ao Guang (敖廣 or 敖光) / Azure or Blue-Green Dragon (Qīnglóng, 靑龍 or Cānglóng, 蒼龍), who is the Dragon God of the east and essence of spring; Ao Qin (敖欽) / Red Dragon (Chìlóng, 赤龍 or Zhūlóng, 朱龍, literally translates to Cinnabar or Vermillion Dragon), who is the Dragon God of the South and the essence of summer; Ao Shun or Ao Ming (敖順 or 敖明) / Black Dragon (Hēilóng 黑龍), who is the Dragon God of the North and the essence of winter; Ao Run or Ao Jun or Ao Ji (敖閏 or 敖君 or 敖吉) / White Dragon (Báilóng, 白龍), who is the Dragon God of the West and the essence of autumn. The fifth dragon is the Yellow Dragon (Huánglóng, 黃龍).
Fuzanglong (伏藏龍/伏藏龙) is a treasure dragon.
Jiaolong (蛟龍/蛟龙) is a dragon of floods and sea.
Panhu (盤瓠) is a dragon-dog hybrid.
Panlong (蟠龍) is an aquatic dragon that looks like a river dragon and a crocodile.
Shen (蜃) is a shapeshifting dragon that was believed to be able to create mirages. It looks like a large clam, oyster, or mussel.
Shenlong (神龍/神龙) is a rain dragon.
Teng (螣) is considered a dragon-snake hybrid.
Tianlong (天龍/天龙) is a celestial dragon that is often associated with centipedes because they share similar qualities.
Yinglong (應龍/应龙) is a water dragon.
Zhulong (烛龙/燭龍): see the Abstract section of this post for more info.
Zhūlóng (玉豬龍) is a pig dragon. It has a pig-like head but dragon-like bodies.

Fish

Black Tortoise (玄武) / Xuanwu is one of the four symbols of the Chinese constellations that represents water, north, and winter. It is a red bird that looks like a pheasant and is covered in flames. In other cultures, it is known as Genbu (in Japan).
Kun, also referred to as Peng. See the Birds section of this post for more info.
Mermaid (人魚) is half human, half fish. They are known for spinning raw silk known as mermaid silk (jiaoxiao, 蛟綃) / mermaid woman's silk (jiaonujuan, 蛟女絹).

Mammals

Bai Ze (白澤) is an cattle-like creature with a human head.
Dēnglóng / Hǒu (蹬龙/犼) is a combination of multiple creatures, it has deer horns, a camel head, cat ears, shrimp-like eyes, a donkey-like mouth, lion hair, a snake-like neck, a belly like a Shen (see the Dragons section of this post), koi-like scales, eagle paws, and rear tiger paws. It is worshipped as the greatest creature in China because it helps drive away evil, takes away bad fortune, and gathers and guards money.
Diting (谛听) is a divine creature that has the head of a tiger, body of a dragon, tail of a lion, a unicorn horn, ears like a dog, and feet like a kirin.
Fuzhu (夫诸) is a deer with four horns. They usually appear when there's flooding.
Huodou (祸斗) is a creature that looks like a large black dog and can breathe fire.
Jiuwei Hu (九尾狐) / húlijīng (狐狸精) is a nine-tailed fox spirit / fox spirit.
Longma (龍馬) is a winged horse with dragon scales.
Luduan (甪端) is a deer-like creature with a green coat, the tail of a horse, and a horn on its head. It is known for traveling 9000 kilometers (5500 miles) in a single day and can speak all the languages in the world.
Lushu (鹿蜀) is a white headed horse with tiger markings and a red tail. When it opens its mouth, it sounds like someone singing a folk song.
Mo (貘) is a black and white tapir-like creature with an elephant trunk, rhinoceros eyes, a cow tail, and tiger paws.
Moon Rabbit is a rabbit that is often portrayed as the companion of the goddess of the moon. It is known for making medicine and mooncakes in some versions, and making the elixir of life in for the goddess of the moon in other versions.
Nian (年獸) is a beast that lives under the sea or in the mountains, known for feeding on humans.
Pixiu (貔貅) is a creature that resembles winged lions. They are considered the protectors of feng shui.
Qianlima / Senrima / Chollima / Cheollima is a winged horse that can travel several miles in one day. No mortal man has ever mounted one because of its speed and elegance.
Qilin (麒麟) / Kirin is a creature that resembles a chimera. The description of their appearance varies, but they are generally described as having Chinese dragon0like features by having a fully or partially scaled body and antlers. They are often shaped like an ox, deer, or horse and have hooves.
Rui Shi (瑞獅) / Shishi (石獅) is guardian lions / stone lions. Statues of these creatures are usually placed in front of Chinese Imperial palaces, Imperial tombs, etc.
Sky Fox (天狐) is a Celestial fox that has reached one thousand years of age and earned its ninth tail. It's the most powerful form of the fox spirit.
Tenghuang / Chenghuang / Feihuang / Guhuangm / Cuihuang (騰黃) is a fox-like beast, but it has wings and horns on its back like a dragon. Anyone who rides it can have their life span extended by two thousand years.
Tianma (天馬) is a heavenly, winged horse.
White Tiger (白虎,) is one of the four symbols of the Chinese constellations that represents west and autumn. It is a red bird that looks like a pheasant and is covered in flames. In other cultures, it is known as Byakko (in Japan).
Xiezhei (獬豸) is also referred to as Xie Cai. A creature that resembles an ox or goat. It has thick dark fur that covers its body, bright eyes, and a horn on his forehead like the luduan. It has the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, so it is considered a symbol of justice.
Xīniú (犀牛) is a rhinoceros that can use its curved horn to communicate with the sky.
Zouyu (騶虞) / Zouwu (騶吾) / Zouya (騶牙)'s description varies but it's been described as looking similar to a qilin or as a white tiger with black spots.

Snakes / Reptiles / Amphibians

Ao (鰲) is a giant marine turtle or tortoise.
Bashe (巴蛇) is a giant python known for eating elephants.
Hong (虹) is a two-headed rainbow serpent.
Jin Chan (金蟾) / Chan Chuy (蟾蜍) / Zhaocai Chan Chu (招财蟾蜍) is a bullfrog with red eyes that appears during full moons, near houses or businesses that will receive good news. It is often associated with wealth and prosperity.
Língguī (靈龜) / Spirit Turtle is a spirit tortoise that represents longevity.
Madame White Snake is a white serpent. See the next post for the folktale, "The Legend of the White Snake."
Xiangliu is a nine-headed snake monster that resembles the hydra in Greek/Roman mythology and is known for bringing flood and destruction.

Simians

Monkeys ward off evil spirits and are highly respected and loved.
Jué Yuán (玃猿) / Jué (玃) / Jué Fù (玃父) / Jiā (猳) / Jiā Guó (猳國) / Mǎ Huà (馬化) are monkey-like creatures that kidnap human women.
Shēng Shēng (狌狌) / Xīng Xīng (猩猩) is an ape-like creature that is covered in hair from head to toe, but has a human face. It also has a long tail.
Xiao (囂) is a long-armed ape or four-winged bird.
Yeren (野人) is an ape-like wild man.

Humanoid

Horse-Face (馬面) is a guardian of the underworld and the first being a dead soul encounters when they enter the underworld. In some versions, it escorts new dead souls to the underworld.
Jinnalaluo / Kimnara / Feiren / Yeishen is a divine creature with human bodies and animal heads. They usually resemble horses or birds and are known as celestial musicians.
Jiālíngpínqié (頻伽) / Kalaviṅka is an immortal creature with a human head and a bird's torso, with a long flowing tail.
Ox-Head (牛頭) is a guardian of the underworld and the first being a dead soul encounters when they enter the underworld. In some versions, it escorts new dead souls to the underworld.

Demons / Spirits / Ghosts

Ba jiao gui (芭蕉鬼) is a female ghost that inhabits a banana tree and wails under it at night. In some cultures, there is a folktale of how people try to get lottery numbers from this ghost in exchange for setting her free. If they do not fulfill their promise, the person will meet a horrible death.
Baku (獏) is a tapir-like creature that devours nightmares.
Di fu ling (地縛靈) is an earth-bound spirit, meaning they are bound to certain locations on Earth because they had a strong attachment to those locations when they were alive.
Diao si gui (吊死鬼) roughly translates to "hanged ghost." These are ghosts of those who have killed themselves.
Gui po (鬼婆) roughly translates to "old woman ghost." These are spirits that take on the form of a peaceful, friendly old woman and return to help their masters to take care of young children. There have been some evil gui po that have grotesque appearances too, though.
Hungry ghost (èguǐ) (餓鬼) are ghosts that are known for being incredibly hungry and appear during the Ghost Festival. These ghosts are usually people who have committed sins out of greed and are condemned to eternal hunger after death. They are usually depicted as having green/gray skin, a small mouth incapable of ingesting food, and a potbelly. Some may have the ability to breathe fire.
Jiangshi is a zombie-like vampire that moves by hopping around with its arms outstretched. It kills living creatures by absorbing their qi (lifeforce) at night. During the day, it sleeps in a coffin or hides out in dark places like caves.
Mogwai are evil spirits or demons that inflict harm on humans.
Nü gui (女鬼) is a female ghost with long hair who usually wears a white dress. It's usually the spirit of a woman who committed suicide while wearing a red dress after experiencing some form of injustice. In some versions, she seeks revenge over those who wronged her but in other versions, she is similar to a succubus where she seduces men and extracts their yang essence.
Penghou (彭侯) is a tree spirit.
Shui gui (水鬼) is a spirit who drowned. They usually lurk in the place where they died and drag unsuspecting individuals underwater to drown them and possess their bodies.
Wangliang (魍魎) is a mountain demon that feasts on corpses.
Yaoguai (妖怪) / Yaogui (妖鬼) / Yaomo (妖魔) / Yaojing (妖精) are malevolent animal or plant spirits that have a goal of achieving immortality and deification. In well-known texts like Journey to the West, these demons may kidnap individuals of holy status and eat them in order to meet their goal.
Ying ling (嬰靈) are spirits of dead fetuses.
You hun ye gui (游魂野鬼) are wandering spirits of the dead.
Yuan gui (冤鬼) are spirits of individuals who died wrongfully.
Zhi ren (紙人) are dolls made from paper that are burnt as offerings to the dead.
Zhong yin shen (中陰身) is a spirit who is in transition between death and reincarnation. The period in which they are trapped in this phase is usually forty-nine days.

Miscellaneous

Feng (封) is a two-eyed lump of meat that grows back as fast as it's eaten.

Plants

Fusang World Tree is a mythical tree of life.
Lingzhi Mushrooms are associated with immortality.
Peaches of Immortality (仙桃) are peaches that are consumed by Immortals that gives longevity. They symbolize immortality.
Yao Grass exists as two types (1) the type that grows on Guyao Mountain, which acts as a love potion. It is described as having yellow flowers; and (2) the type that grows on Taishi Mountain, which is used for mental clarity and preventing confusion of the mind. It is described as having white flowers and black fruits.