Chou of the Shenyi jing

Overview

The Central Wilderness section of the Shenyi jing describes Chou as ape-like in face, hands, feet, and coat, but as large as a donkey. These creatures climb tall trees and are all female, with no males among them. The account says that they seize men on the road and carry them into remote mountain heights for forced reproduction.

The passage then describes the creature gathering fruit, stealing grain, and eventually giving birth. Its reproductive rule and coercive conduct belong to a literary monster narrative; they are not evidence about the behaviour of actual apes or a human population. The description remains non-graphic and preserves the source’s claim without turning abduction into romance. No named captive, escape story, or human offspring’s later career is narrated in this directly read witness.

Origins & earliest records

China; Shenyi jing received text

Records & interpretation

Directly read named primary-text passage. Hosted introductory discussion disputes attribution to Dongfang Shuo; no secure Han composition date asserted.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Shenyi jing

   Traditionally attributed to Dongfang Shuo; attribution disputed

   Central Wilderness; western all-female ape-like beings; received text and displayed notes distinguished.

Family & connections

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Primary records and illustrations

References

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1. Primary-text transcriptionShenyi jing: Central Wilderness; western all-female ape-like beingsResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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